For the second year running, a Starkville scholar will be competing in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
Soyeon Park, 12, a sixth grader at Armstrong Middle School, won the 2017 Mississippi Spelling Bee Tuesday, spelling the word “spiracle” in the 39th round.
In March 2016, Park also won the Mid-South Regional Spelling Bee in Memphis, correctly spelling the word “segmentate.”
Matthew Simpson, a fifth grader at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School in Long Beach won the runner-up spot.
The event was sponsored by the Mississippi Association of Educators.
Park will compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee from May 29 to June 2. The event will be nationally televised.
Mississippi Public Broadcasting Managing Editor of News Ezra Wall served as pronouncer of the Mississippi event.
MPB said it plans to air the Mississippi Spelling Bee event again, with local listings providing the exact date and time of the rebroadcast.