Felicity Jenkins is at it again, spelling her way to more victories in local contests.

The eighth grade Symmes Valley student is once again headed to the state spelling bee, only the most recent accomplishment in several years of spelling success for Felicity.

Locally, the student has dominated for the past five years and has done well outside Lawrence County, too. In 2010, she made it to the national spelling bee and performed well among the best of the best. We hope to see her have continued success this year.

Some cynics say that spelling bees are antiquated and outdated because of modern technology and the tendency to rely on spell check in word-processing programs. That could not be farther from the truth.

Spelling bees still serve many important roles in our schools and for you.

First, they provide a form of competition for students who may not get that in other avenues.

Secondly, they can also give students a sense of achievement.

Third, and perhaps most important, spelling bees help develop vocabulary and an understanding of the English language that you cannot get from the computer.

Jenkins should be commended for her success and all the county should be proud because her achievements reflect positively on our entire region.