In the modern technological age, manypeople rely on spell-check to assist them with their spelling ofwords. Nevertheless, the spelling bee remains an educationalinstitution.

    Tuesday night the Lincoln County Spelling Bee was held at the BogueChitto gymnasium.

    After six rounds of competition, the field of six students wasnarrowed to just two.

    Then, in round seven, Camryn White, a fourth-grader at Bogue ChittoAttendance Center, correctly spelled “technician” to take firstplace.

    McKenzie Pyles, a sixth-grader at West Lincoln Attendance Center,finished second. Other students competing were Morgan Barron ofBrookhaven Academy, Gavin Burris of West Lincoln, Aleasha Godboltof Bogue Chitto and David Nash of Brookhaven Academy.

    White was the youngest student in the competition and admitted shewas nervous. However, she fought through it and remainedfocused.

    White said she reviewed the list of words the students were givenevery day for about 30 minutes a day. Her advice to other studentsin spelling bees and in school was simple.

    “Try your best,” she said. “Even if you don’t succeed, you’ll knowyou did your best.”

    White now advances to the Mississippi state competition on March 20at 10 a.m. at the Mississippi Public Broadcasting Building. Thestate bee will be shown on MPB.

    State spelling bee coordinator Jerri McGee said it’s not unusualfor forth-graders to advance.

    “We’ve had several fourth-graders compete at the state level,” saidMcGee, who was in attendance at Lincoln County’s bee Tuesdaynight.

    McGee said there will be 28 state contestants this year. Sheadvised all students competing to come prepared.

    “I’d tell them to study,” said McGee. “The words come fast, and ifyou’re not prepared for it that could be the end.”

    The winner of the Mississippi state spelling bee will go toWashington, D.C., to compete in the national bee in late May. Thatevent will be televised on ESPN.