A Blackmon Road Middle School student won the Muscogee County School District’s Annual Spelling Bee today at the Columbus Museum.

“I’m very happy,” said Pooja Prabakaran, an eighth-grader who correctly spelled “gargoyle.”

She was given the winning word after runner-up Nicolas Duncan of Veterans Memorial Middle School misspelled “nonchalant”. Both students will compete in the regional, district 6 spelling bee on Feb. 23 in Fort Valley. Victor Williams, an eighth-grader at Fort Middle School, will serve as an alternate.

The winner in the regional competition will advance to the state spelling bee, said Lisa Roberts, spelling bee coordinator.