Ellsworth Jr./Sr. High School seventh grader Willa Finnegan correctly spelled the word “auburn” Feb. 26 at the school’s Performing Arts Center to win the 2025 Ellsworth County Spelling Bee.

Finnegan, the daughter of Dan and Dawn Finnegan, Ellsworth, will now represent Ellsworth County in the Sunflower State Spelling Bee competition Saturday, March 22, at Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina.

The state spelling bee is sponsored by the Kansas Press Association.

“I feel good,” Finnegan said after besting 42 other spellers from Ellsworth, Kanopolis, Wilson and Holyrood to win the county spelling bee.

Taking second place was Zoey Bogner of Central Plains Elementary School, Holyrood. Ledger White of EJSHS took third, Maddison Ward of EJSHS fourth and Will Rupe of Central Plains Elementary School, fifth.

Finnegan won a Kindle for her efforts. She and the other four top spellers also received medals.

Dr. Kristy Rodriguez, principal of Kanopolis Middle School, served as the coordinator of the spelling bee.

“Congratulations for making it this far and good luck,” she told the spellers before the competition started.

Mike Keith moderated the bee and Bill Parsons and Gina McGowan were the judges.