Feb. 14 was a very special Valentine’s Day for Ellsworth Jr./Sr. High School eighth grade student Kinly Place.

Kinly, the daughter of Kelvi and Karlton Place of Ellsworth, won the 2024 Ellsworth County Spelling Bee in the school’s Performing Arts Center.

Kinly out-spelled 49 other students from EJSHS, Kanopolis Middle School, Wilson School, Central Plains Elementary School and Central Plains Jr./Sr.

High School to claim the title.

By correctly spelling the word luthier, which means a maker of stringed instruments, Kinly earned a medal, an Amazon Kindle and the chance to represent Ellsworth County at the Sunflower State Spelling Bee March 23 at Kansas Wesleyn University, Salina.

“I feel pretty good,” Kinly said after the bee concluded. “I did not think I would make it this far.”

Kinly said she is looking forward to competing at the state spelling bee in Salina.

In preparation for the Ellsworth County Spelling Bee, Kinly said she and her cousin, Mallory Peschka, studied with their grandmother, Nancy Peschka. CPJSH seventh grader Zoey Bogner placed second, EJSHS eighth grader Carson Jacobs placed third, CPES fifth grader Otto Bogner placed fourth for the second year in a row, and Kanopolis Middle School KMS sixth grader Maddison Ward placed fifth.

Second through fifth place competitors each received a medal.

“It’s a great thing for the kids,” Ellsworth County Spelling Bee Coordinator and KMS Principal Kristi Rodriguez said, adding the county spelling bee always gets great participation from students in both the Ellsworth and Central Plains school districts.

Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo USD 327 School Board President Cynthia Edgerle served as moderator for the bee and Cindy Harms and Gina McGowan were judges.