POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- An Advance, Mo., student will represent Southeast Missouri at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., this summer.

Summer Johnston is the winner of this year's regional Scripps spelling bee, which took place Feb. 26 on the campus of Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff. The college announced Johnston's win in a news release.

"It was both nerve-racking and fun, just like a sport," Johnston said after her win. "Spelling is something that I really enjoy. This is a really big accomplishment for me; I set this goal to win again."

This is the second straight year Johnston has won the competition and the second year the college has hosted the official Scripps bee. Johnston is an eighth-grade student at Advance, the daughter of Sam and Jill Johnston.

According to the news release, Johnston was one of almost 40 students, all elementary and middle-school age, in the competition. Last year Johnston made it through three preliminary rounds of the national competition before she was eliminated.

Pertinent address:

2080 Three Rivers Boulevard, Poplar Bluff, MO

Advance, MO