An Atchison Elementary School fifth grade student is named the champion of the Atchison County Spelling Bee.

Julia Greco took first place honors Tuesday at the spelling bee, held at Saint Benedict Catholic School, in Atchison.

She correctly spelled “pterodactyl” after properly spelling “decrepitude.”

7th Grade Atchison County Community Junior High School Student Shelby Burge earned the silver medal when the word “cayenne” was misspelled.

Greco and Burge were among the fourty-four 5th through 8th grade students that took part in the spelling bee, that included all schools in Atchison County,

KAIR Radio's Neil Wieland served as the pronouncer for the spelling bee, while Eddie Gibson, Kate Werring, and Piper Wentz served as judges.

Greco and Burge now advance to the Kansas State Regional Bee in Topeka on Saturday, March 4, at Shawnee Heights High School.