Spelling bee champ Jeremiah Giddens and Marcia Boatright, bee coordinator. -- Photo: Marcia Norris Boatright

Elocution was everything at the Suwannee District Spelling Bee, it turned out. The contest, held. Jan. 20 at the district office, went 11 rounds, before Jeremiah Giddens, a 5th grader at Westwood Christian School, correctly spelled the term, which refers to the proper pronunciation of words — and claimed the crown.

Contestants were champions of their schools: Dylan Miller from Branford Elementary;

Sara Hartsfield from Branford High; Jeffrey Embler from Melody Christian Academy;

Maggie Reaves from Suwannee Intermediate School; Jacob Hendry from Suwannee Middle School (runner-up) and Giddens. The judges were Lisa Garrison of Suwannee County Schools, Jeff Lee, of community business partner Live Oak Pest Control, and Marlene Mitchell of the public library. The pronouncer for the bee was Dr. Bill Brothers, Director of Human Resources at county schools.

District winner Jeremiah is the son of David and Jennifer Giddens. He enjoys hunting, baseball and football. He will compete at the Florida Times-Union Regional Spelling Bee on Saturday, Feb. 19.