Forreston Junior High 8th grade student Anna Sider is in National Harbor, Maryland today to participate in the National Spelling Bee Contest.
Last February, Anna defeated 25 elementary students from grades 3 through 8 who competed in the spelling bee event between Ogle and Lee Counties.
Competition begins on today with a computer based spelling and vocabulary exam between the contestants.
Rounds 2 and 3 of the spelling of words will take place on Wednesday.
The finals will be held on Thursday involving the top 12 spellers. There are 281 contestants this year at the National Spelling Bee event near Washington, D.C.
