The Ellis County Spelling Bee champion Mackenzie Hagerman, seventh grader from Hays Middle School, was crowned Tuesday night at the Beach Schmidt Performing Arts Center.

Hagerman won the competition by correctly spelling the word excruciating.

Second place went to Carson Brooksher, eighth grader at Hays Middle School.

The Fort Hays State University chapter of National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association sponsored the event.

Students from Hays and Ellis both public and Catholic schools competed in the contest.