Woodley Elementary student wins HPSD Spelling Bee

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Woodley Elementary 5th grade student, Joel Vaughn is moving forward to the Forrest county Spelling Bee.

Seven students from grades 3 to 8 represented their school in the Hattiesburg Public School District annual Spelling Bee.

The word "applause" is the championship word that got Vaughn this year's title.

Vaughn told FOX 23 news, “I just feel really good and I feel accomplished, of all the work that I have put in."

He said he is looking forward to the next step, "I know its going to be really hard, because there is other top spellers too, but I think I am going to make it.”

The winner of the Forrest county Spelling Bee will move on to Regionals.

First place runner-up was Aviyana Myers from Hawkins Elementary and 2nd place runner-up Tony Waldrup from N.R. Burger school.