Spelling bee sectional competition in Lake County

Students from 123 public and nonpublic schools in Lake County will participate in three sectional spelling bee contests next week.

The contests are co-sponsored by the Lake County Regional Superintendent of Schools and the Jelly Belly Candy Company.

Four finalists from each sectional will compete in the Lake County Final Spelling Bee at the College of Lake County Thursday, March 15.

One final winner will go on to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., to compete May 30 and 31. All expenses for the seven-day trip will be paid cooperatively by the Lake County Regional Office of Education and the Jelly Belly Candy Company.

The section schedule is:

Ÿ Section 1: Wednesday, Feb. 22, at South Park School, 1421 Hackberry Road, Deerfield.

Ÿ Section 2: Thursday, Feb. 23, at Forrestal Elementary School, 2833 E. Washington St., Great Lakes.

Ÿ Section 3: Tuesday, Feb. 21, at Prairie Crossing Charter School, 1531 Jones Point Road, Grayslake.

Participants will arrive at their respective sectional site by 6:15 p.m. Students will not be allowed to be seated as contestants once the practice round begins.