Editor's Note: Keep reading; we will have updates from more North Okaloosa County schools, leading up to next month's countywide spelling competition.
CRESTVIEW — Bob Sikes Elementary School is sending two students to Okaloosa County's portion of the 2014-2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Bob Sikes fifth-grader Carsyn Brooks and third-grader Leigha Fickling will represent the Bullpups at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4 in the Fort Walton Beach High School auditorium, 400 Hollywood Blvd SW.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is an annual competition where fourth through eighth-graders compete to be the U.S. spelling champion.
Bob Sikes' preliminary contest to choose three finalists began Nov. 7 in the school cafeteria, where 42 third-, fourth- and fifth-graders put forth their best efforts.
Participating students spelled words from a website provided by the Okaloosa School District, according to Bob Sikes guidance counselor Loren Caison, who coordinated the events.
"We used third-, fourth- and fifth-grade words (Nov. 7), and (for the finals) we used sixth-grade words."
The preliminary bee's top three students competed Thursday to represent the school at the county level. After 20 minutes, Carsyn won the event. Leigha came in second, followed by fourth-grader Jesse Little.
"It ran very smoothly and the students were happy to participate," Caison said.
Okaloosa County contestants could advance to the regional finals in Tallahassee in February 2015, and maybe the state finals. The entire event for this year culminates the week of May 24-29.
The Scripps bee, founded in 1879, is organized by the E.W. Scripps Company and event sponsors.
Email Editorial Assistant Renee Bell, follow her on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bob Sikes sending 2 finalists to county spelling bee