Thomas Hunter Middle School held a spelling bee on Dec. 14 for students in grades fifth through eighth in the school’s J. Murray Brooks Auditorium. Winners were, from left, Corey Zheng (first place), Charlotte Bailey (second place) and Ayla Martinez (third place). All three students who placed are in the seventh grade. A total of 21 students participated. Zheng will advance to the WHRO regional bee which will be held Feb. 11; the winner of that contest will earn a spot in the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee. The Howard-Dooley Café donated a $25 gift certificate to the local winner; Eric Engler donated gift certificates to every participant to purchase five books from the Friends of the Library, and several parents donated books so that every participant could walk away with a book to read over winter break.
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