“Apology” was the word of the day for one Stanly County Schools speller last Thursday.
Oakboro Choice STEM School student Hank Nelson became a back-to-back district champion by spelling the word correctly in the SCS District Spelling Bee Feb. 27.
Lune Shealy, representing North Stanly Middle School, was runner-up.

North Stanly Middle School student Lune Shealy, center, is joined by supporters after finishing second in the SCS District Spelling Bee. (Contributed)

Others representing their schools were: Tyler Talbert, Albemarle Middle School; Carter Bundy, Aquadale Elementary School; Bentley Gulledge, Badin Elementary School; Leighton Byrd, Central Elementary School; Hunter Pigeon, East Albemarle Elementary School; Adlee Morton, Endy Elementary School; Emory Lowder, Locust Elementary School; Jenson Elam, Millingport Elementary School; Jovie Chisom, Norwood Elementary School; Millie Twyman, Oakboro Choice STEM School; Ali Williams, Richfield Elementary School; Austin Medlin, South Stanly Middle School; Kyndall Hughes, Stanfield Elementary School; and Eli Gillen, West Stanly Middle School.