St. Mary’s Central School’s eight-grader Adeline Jackson smiles as she competes in the 39th annual spelling bee. Jackson won the bee. (T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA)

Eighteen Belmont County students competed in the 39th-annual bee.

In addition to bragging rights, Jackson received a trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee with one parent and one teacher or coach, $500 cash prize, a first place trophy, Merriam-Webster Unabridged Online Certificate, the Samuel Louis Sugarman Award, a plaque with two winning words for school display and a one-year subscription to the Britannica Online Premium.

This is Jackson’s first year winning but third time competing in the county bee.

She said that she has been participating in spelling bees since fourth grade.

“I like to win,” Jackson said when asked what keeps her passion alive for competing. “I worked really hard and I got second place last year, and I said to myself that I wanted to win this year, so I worked really hard.”

Her mother Elizabeth Jackson said that she kept a strict schedule of practicing nightly.

“We’re super proud of her. She worked really hard to get here,” Elizabeth said. “She practiced every night. She had a schedule that we all had to follow and she worked really hard.”

Jackson’s father Scott Jackson said that her aunt Gwendolen Jackson won the county spelling bee in 1995.

St. Mary’s Central School principal Angel Glitch also expressed pride in Jackson for the student’s accomplishment.

“It’s wonderful. It’s great for our school. Adeline has worked so so hard for this,” Glitch said. “I feel that she really deserves it.”

She added that St. Mary’s Central School’s eight-grader Teddy Steele also competed in the bee.

“We’re proud to have Teddy Steele, too, participating. He worked real hard. But we’re just just thrilled for Addie,” Glitch said.

The contest went nine rounds with St. Clairsville-Richland City Schools eighth-grader Mason Klene finishing second.

In the final round, Klene was given the word “coracidium” which he spelled incorrectly. Following his slip-up Jackson was given “parcheesi” and “amygdala” to spell, which she did correctly.

Klene received a $250 cash prize and an eleventh addition of a Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary.

Another perk of receiving second place is that if Jackson isn’t able to compete for whatever reason, Klene would go to the national spelling bee in her place.

Event sponsors were the Times Leader, Belmont Savings Banks, Uniglobe Travel, LED Executive Services, Wilson Funeral Home, Wilson Furniture, Ohio River Valley Elks, East Central Ohio Educational Service Center, Weaver’s Honey and Lendon Floral and Garden.