School spelling champions will convene at Harlan County High School on Jan. 28, to compete in the Harlan County Spelling Bee.

There will be two divisions. The first competition features primary students from first- through third-grades, followed by school winners from fourth- through eighth-grades. The primary division is for students in the eight Harlan County schools. The fourth- through eighth-grade division will feature students from Harlan County, Harlan Independent and Harlan County Christian School.

Spellers should arrive no later than 5:15 p.m. for registration. The primary students will compete at 5:30 p.m.

Sponsors for this year’s event are Kentucky River Coal, Monticello Banking Co., Harlan County Farm Bureau and Harlan County Public Schools.

All students competing receive medals.

In the middle school grades, awards for the top three finishers are $100, $50 and $25. The winner of this division advances to the Kentucky Derby Spelling Bee to be held in Louisville on March 16.

Trophies will be presented to the top three winners in both divisions.

Students competing this year in the fourth- through eighth-grade division are:

Black Mountain — Madison Combs, eighth grade, daughter of Greg and Emma Combs.

Cawood — Aiden Stewart, fifth grade, son of Danny and Cherish Stewart.

Cumberland — Jacob Brown, seventh grade, son of Michael Brown.

Evarts — Alyssa Wynn, eighth grade, daughter of Kevin and Tasha Wynn.

Green Hills — Brooklyn Whitehead, eighth grade, daughter of Walden and Natasia Whitehead.

Harlan County Christian School — Brayden Brock, eighth grade, son of Billy and Candace Brock.

Harlan — Sayed Damaa, fifth grade, son of Dr. Georges and Jamile Damas.

James A. Cawood Elementary — Dalton Neff, seventh grade, son of Stacey Neff.

Rosspoint — Jacob Shoemaker, seventh grade, son of Russell and Mary Jo Shoemaker.

Wallins — Jayden Simpson, eighth grade, daughter of Steve and Danielle Simpson.

Winners and the second place honorees from the eight county elementary schools compete in the primary division. Those students are:

Black Mountain — Hunter Brewer, third grade, son of James and Angel Brewer and Madison Blanton; second grade, daughter of Jearmie Blanton and granddaughter of Nancy Blanton Hensley.

Cawood — Lilly Skidmore, third grade, daughter of Travis Skidmore; and Addison Daniels, second grade, daughter of Heather Hensley and Billy Callahan.

Cumberland — Carson Clark, third grade, son of Michael Clark and Melissa Cornett; and Hayden Grace, third grade, son of Emmitt and Ashley Grace.

Evarts — Jaelyn Edwards, third grade, daughter of James and Summer Edwards; and Riley Anglian, son of D.J. and Rebekah Anglian.

Green Hills — Kaylee Lockhart, third grade, granddaughter of Wayne and Carla Simpson; and Kaiden Turner, first grade, son of Brian and Whitney Turner

James A. Cawood — Gracie Middleton, second grade, daughter of Angelia Ledford; and Jarrod Dople, third grade, son of Jarrod and Skyla Dople.

Rosspoint — Peyton Osborne, third grade, daughter of Tabitha and Bradley Johnson; and Aiselyn Sexton, third grade, daughter of Amber Halcomb and Nick Sexton.

Wallins — Cameron Stephens, third grade, son of Bradley and Jerrica Stephens; and Layken Saylor, second grade, daughter of Brian and Heather Saylor.