Wesley Vernon of Woodington Middle School won his third LCPS Spelling Bee title and will represent the district in state competition. Gracie Grantham of EB Frink Middle School, right, was first runner-up and Betty Singletary of Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School was second runner-up. 

Wesley Vernon three-peated as winner of the LCPS Spelling Bee last week and credited his having been in the district-wide contest twice before – and having won both times – with making his third appearance a little easier.

“I was pretty confident,” the Woodington Middle School eighth grader said. “I studied a lot and with the last two years under my belt, it went perfectly.”

As the district winner, Wesley will represent LCPS in the North Carolina Regional Spelling Bee in Charlotte on March 5.

Fourteen school spelling champs from the district’s elementary and middle schools qualified for the LCPS contest, held at the Lenoir County Agricultural Extension Office before a large crowd of family members and school supporters.

After four rounds of spelling, the field had been narrowed to three students – Wesley, EB Frink Middle School eighth grader Gracie Grantham, who finished as first runner-up, and fourth grader Betty Singletary, who represented the elementary grades at Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School and finished as second runner-up.

Wesley correctly spelled “shrivel” after a miss by Gracie and then spelled the final word, “aggravate,” for the win.

His was gracious in victory, complimenting his fellow top spellers, both of whom were competing in their first district spelling bee. “I think they did awesome for their first year,” he said.

This is, for Wesley, his last year, since he’s headed to high school in the fall. He’s already looking back on the spelling bee nostalgically. “I’m going to miss it a lot, but I’m excited I could do well my last year,” he said.

In addition to the three winners, school spelling champs qualifying for the district event were Eli Chavez of Banks Elementary, Gentle Haze of the middle school division of Contentnea-Savannah K-8, Ava Chapin of La Grange Elementary, Logan Smith of Lenoir County Learning Academy, Reagan Bumgarner of Moss Hill Elementary, Saya Heath of Northeast Elementary, Ashlyn Santos Mayen of Northwest Elementary, Jeanna Grant of Pink Hill Elementary, Jariyaha Crowley of Rochelle Middle, D’Zhiya Brown of Southeast Elementary and Kadence Tanner of Southwood Elementary.

Caller for the spelling bee was Assistant Superintendent Nicholas Harvey II. Judges were EB Frink principal Michael Moon, retired Beginning Teacher Coordinator Kim Hazelgrove and Beginning Teacher Coordinator Lynn Morris.

Superintendent Brent Williams and Associate Superintendent Frances Herring delivered opening remarks and presented trophies and certificates. Stacy Cauley, director of elementary education and organizer of the event, welcomed the audience.