Ashley Garr and Gregory Chvany competed at the King/Snohomish County Regional Spelling Bee at Seattle’s Town Hall on March 19.

Garr, an eighth grader at IMS, competed for the third time in her grade school career, previously representing West Mercer Elementary for two consecutive years. Ashley made it to the final 12 contestants of 90 total, exiting on the word “apteryx.”

Chvany, a fifth grader at West Mercer Elementary, made it to the second round and may have the opportunity to compete again another year.

The winner of the regional bee travels to Washington, D.C. to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The most recent Mercer Island resident to win that distinction was Kela Harrington from IMS in 2010. The Bee includes grades K-8.