Special to the Herald

Springfield -- Seventeen students from elementary and middle schools throughout the Effingham County School District competed on Jan. 25, in the annual system-wide spelling bee at the Effingham College and Career Academy.

Elementary students competing included: Nathan Rojas (Blandford Elementary), Braxton Hargrove (Ebenezer Elementary), Alijah McClendon (Guyton Elementary), Khloe LeBlanc (Marlow School), Madison Ferrell (Rincon Elementary), Sophia Gallant (Sand Hill Elementary), Jehiel Tyrill (South Effingham Elementary), and Audrey Rodgers (Springfield Elementary).

Participants from middle schools included Chloe Baker, Kalvin DeJesus, and Trevon Ivey from Ebenezer Middle School; Eliott Spence, Daniel Richardson, and Joaquin Lara from Effingham County Middle School; and Jasmine Le, Esau Luke, and Stephen Crouch from South Effingham Middle School.

After numerous rounds and eliminations, including two vocabulary rounds, Jehiel Tyrill from South Effingham Elementary was declared the winner; Sophia Gallant from Guyton Elementary School was named runner-up.

Tyrill will represent the Effingham County School District at the Region 8 Spelling Bee on Feb. 24 at Georgia Southern University, Armstrong Campus. Gallant will serve as the Effingham County School District’s alternate.

Dr. Mimi Vaquer, from South Effingham High School, was the official “pronouncer” for the event. Dr. Melodie Wall, Human Resources Coordinator was the Master of Ceremonies. Serving as the Head Judge was Anna Barton, Curriculum Director. Additional judges were Vanessa Denison, Middle School Curriculum Coordinator, and Diane Owens, High School Curriculum Coordinator from the Effingham County Board of Education. Owens also served as the system Spelling Bee Coordinator. Lisa Byrd, Administrative Assistant, served the Spelling Bee through preparation, registration, and student and program support. Special thanks to Troy Johns, Hunter Booth, and Kimberly Larson for technology and photography assistance throughout the spelling bee.