An eighth grader at Thomas County Middle School survived 32 rounds of competition to win this year’s spelling bee for the county schools. To narrow down the competition, prior spelling bees were held at Cross Creek Elementary and Thomas County Middle School for students in fourth through eighth grades.

Charlie Emmett walked away a winner after defeating an eighth grade classmate from the middle school, Natalie Carlisle, who was runner up.

“It is exciting to watch our students participate in the system spelling bee each year,” Erin Rehberg, Digital Learning and Media Services Coordinator, said.  “This type of academic competition allows our students to put their literary knowledge to the test.  We are excited for our winner, Charlie Emmett, and look forward to seeing how he does at the next level.”

Emmett will compete in the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE) Region Spelling Bee on February 27 in Bainbridge.