Congratulations are in order for a Rockmart Middle School student who took the top prize in the 2023 Polk School District Spelling Bee.

Lane Slater, an eighth grader at Rockmart Middle, will go onto represent the district during the Region Spelling Bee coming up on February 26.

The annual event sponsored by the Polk County Rotary Club saw eight competitors spelling it out against one another for the top spot.

Slater beat out Taylor Jarrell from Cedartown Middle, Cherokee Elementary’s Madilynn Lancaster, Eastside’s Mahognei Rowland, Bella Paulsaint from Northside, Chloe McAlister at Van Wert, Brock Evans at Westside and Aubrey Smith from Van Wert Elementary School.

This year’s alternates were Cedartown Middle’s Kassidy Andrews, Cherokee Elementary’s Abbie Lumpkin, Blaze Deering at Eastside, Ryder Weaver at Northside, Maggy Swift from Rockmart Middle, Joshua Levine at Van Wert Elementary, Westside Elementary’s Landyn Rabon and Knox Nettles at Young’s Grove Elementary.

Spelling Bee Caller and Judges included Andrea Sorrells, Kathy Carr, Debbie Ross, and Rebecca Crymes.

The morning spelling bee kicked off at 9 a.m. Stormy weather later this afternoon that prompted an immediate dismissal of schools had no impact on the competition.