Next Saturday, Lawrence County is sending five students to compete in the regional spelling bee in Athens.

Organizers estimate this is one of the largest groups the county has ever had at the bee, with those taking part having won at their individual schools, and then qualified by taking an online spelling test.

We congratulate Hannah McKenzie, of South Point Middle; Justin Goodwin, of Chesapeake Middle; Molly Dunlap, of Fairland West Elementary; Meredith Rogers, of Rock Hill Elementary; and Dean Clark, of Chesapeake Elementary, for making the cut this year.

Each of these students is deeply involved in academic activities at their schools and have earned multiple honors.

And making it this far in the spelling competition is a testament to their drive and motivation.

In McKenzie’s case, she has been winning at bees for five years, culminating in getting the trophy at this year’s county bee.

The bee, which is open to fourth through eighth grades, serves a great purpose, focusing students on literacy, expanding their vocabulary, and getting them to study the roots of our English language.

We congratulate each of these students for qualifying and wish them all the best of luck on March 23.