Cumberland County Public Schools once again competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is the nation’s largest and longest-running educational promotion and is sponsored by the E. W. Scripps Company.

Local competitions are co-sponsored by newspapers, such as the Richmond Times-Dispatch, or other high-profile community organizations and businesses. The spelling bee was established to “help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts, and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives.”

To participate in the contest, students must be under 16 years of age, be enrolled in eighth grade or below, and attend a school that has officially enrolled in the program.

The Cumberland Division Spelling Bee winner was Brady Mitchell, an eighth grader. The runner up was Emily Eroh, a fifth grader. All grade level winners and runners-up were recognized by the members of the Cumberland School Board at the April meeting.

Winners were as follows: Grade 1, Alexa Blackwell (winner), Nikki Brandt (runner-up); Grade 2, Kristian Coleman- Hawk (winner), Aundrea Foster (runner- up); Grade 3, Peyton Turner (winner), Victoria Bond (runner-up); Grade 4, Katherine Kinney (winner), Kamerien Brown (runner-up); Grade 5, Emily Eroh (winner), Briana Barker (runner- up); Grade 6, Noah Long (winner), Yazmine Montanez (runner-up); Grade 7, Drew Davenport (winner), Callie Dominick (runner-up) and Grade 8, Brady Mitchell (winner); Jordan Wilson (runner-up).