Four Centerburg students qualify for Knox County Spelling Bee

Grade-level champions will compete Jan. 14 against peers from districts across the county

Champions and runners-up in the Centerburg Local Schools spelling bee include, from left, Ethan Arms, Lucas Roth, Brayden Opsinls, Avaya Hibbits, Kiley Frye, Willow Barnard, Santiago Garcia and Zachary Haynes.

Knox ESC

Knox Educational Service Center Knox Educational Service Center For Knox Weekly News

Published December 13, 2025 - 5:00 a.m.

Four Centerburg Local Schools students have won the privilege to compete in next month’s Knox County Spelling Bee.

They were winners in recent grade-level bees in their schools.

Avaya Hibbits is the fifth-grade champion. She correctly spelled “receptionist” to close out the seventh round of competition. Brayden Opsinls was runner-up in a field of 10 spellers.

Ethan Arms won the sixth-grade title, correctly spelling “bracken” and “neon” to end the 13th round. Santiago Garcia was runner-up in a field of 10.

Willow Barnard emerged as the seventh-grade champion by correctly spelling “equestrian” and “prestigious” to end the fifth round. Zachary Haynes was runner-up among 10 competitors.

Lucas Roth is the eighth-grade winner. He correctly spelled “whittled” to end competition among nine spellers in the third round. Kiley Frye was runner-up.

The four champions will advance to compete against grades 5-8 bee winners from Danville, East Knox, Fredericktown and Mount Vernon in the Knox County Spelling Bee at 7 p.m. Jan. 14 in the Mount Vernon High School auditorium. The Knox County Commissioners will again serve as judges.

In-school bees in all districts will conclude in December.

The county bee is facilitated by the Knox County Educational Service Center (ESC) with financial support from the Mount Vernon Rotary Club.

Taylor Gingery, the ESC’s gifted and talented coordinator, helps to arrange the in-school bees in each district and will be the pronouncer at the county bee.