Managing editor
It was a word that is known to most students or anyone who operates a computer — gigabyte.
Hannah Funk, a seventh-grade student at Hillsboro Middle School, spelled “gigabyte” correctly Feb. 16 at USD 408 Performing Arts Center, Marion, and won the Marion County Spelling Bee.
Justin Bina, Centre Junior High School, placed second, and Taylor Helmer, a Hillsboro Elementary School fifth-grader, came in third.
The bee was to be Feb. 9 but was postponed because of a snowstorm.
Twenty elementary and middle school students from schools within the county participated in the single-elimination contest.
Sixteen contestants successfully finished round one. After the second round, only five remained. After the third round, the final three were determined.
Justin and Hannah moved on to the fifth round after successfully spelling their words in the fourth round.
“Literacy” and “yeti” were spelled correctly by Justin and Hannah, respectively, in the fifth round.
In the next round, Justin misspelled “peripheral” but Hannah correctly spelled “legalese.”
To win the competition, Hannah needed to spell the next word or she and Justin would be tied again and there would be another round.
“Gigabyte, g-i-g-a-b-y-t-e,” Hannah spelled.
“Correct,” Marion Elementary School Principal and moderator Rod Garman said. “We have a winner.”
Hannah will represent Marion County on March 12 at the state spelling bee in Great Bend.