George Washington Carver fifth grader Kinslee Hickson won the Bryan County Schools District Level Spelling Bee on Friday at the Bryan County Schools Board of Education building.

Hickson won by correctly spelling the word “conference”.

Students from four elementary schools and two middle schools in Bryan County hosted school-level Spelling Bees to determine the candidate to advance to the district level competition. All students competing at the district level competition did a phenomenal job, school officials said. It took nine rounds total, including four championship rounds, before Hickson was able to out spell Siyon “Mika” Lee, a fifth grade student from McAllister Elementary.

Hickson's teacher, Kelli Waldrop, said, “Kinslee is a model student and citizen. She perseveres and problem solves to give her best in all situations. She always sets a good example and kindly leads those around her to do what is right.”

In addition to Hickson and Lee, the school champions were Kobryn Sanchez, Bryan County Elementary;  Liam Warnock, Francis Meeks Elementary;  Wyatt Butler, Bryan County Middle High School, and Parker Sullivan, Richmond Hill Middle School.

Hickson will now compete in  the GAE Region 8 Spelling Bee to on Feb. 25 at Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong Campus in Savannah. The winner of the GAE Region 8 Spelling Bee will advance to the GAE State Spelling Bee on March 17 at Georgia State University in Atlanta.