Ann Campbell Vinson, a sixth-grade student at Lake Oconee Academy, clinched the title of District Spelling Bee Winner on January 17, 2024. Expressing her joy, Ann Campbell shared, "I feel really proud that I won and am relieved! I’m so grateful that some of my sweet friends and family came to watch and cheer me on. I’m grateful that I get to keep studying because I know my Mama will help me as much as she can. We have so much fun studying together!"

Lake Oconee Academy held the school-wide spelling bee in November of 2023, where 4th-grade student Archer Logan was the elementary Spelling Bee winner, and Ann Campbell was the middle school Spelling Bee winner. Both students advanced to the District Spelling Bee held at the Greene County Board of Education. Competing against 3 other students from Greene County Schools, Ann Campbell advanced to the regional Spelling Bee on February 24, 2024, at Putnam County Middle School.

“I felt really excited and really nervous at the same time. I came in 6th place last year out of about 40 competitors as a 5th grader, and I hope to place even higher this year and advance to the State Bee,” says Ann Campbell in preparing for the next competition.

Ann Campbell is a High Honors student who sings, acts, and plays club soccer, basketball, football, sideline cheer, and tennis. She loves to read and participates in the TOME Literacy Society (a book club for students). She is a Citizenship Cornerstone Award recipient, one of LOA’s most prestigious awards. Ann Campbell loves spending time with family, friends, and her two dogs.

A lot of preparation goes into participating in the spelling bee for Ann Campbell. She uses multiple practice methods, including transcribing, memorization, language of origin and root word study, and repetition drills to prepare. She studies with her mother and mentor, Hailey Heinen, LOA’s 2023 Valedictorian who also attended the Scripps National Spelling Bee as a high school student. Ann Campbell is an avid reader, noting that her participation in the Club TOME is also great practice. She loves the movie Akeelah and the Bee, an inspirational movie about the spelling bee. Even with her passion for words, Ann Campbell shares that her favorite subject is math. However, her favorite language of origin is Latin, which fits this spelling bee champion.

Ann Campbell’s parents, Ben and Ansley Vinson, shared their pride in their daughter: "We are thrilled for Ann Campbell! The courage and composure of all the kids who participate in spelling bees is something truly special. It is a nerve-racking competition that takes a lot of preparation and grit, and we are so proud of the effort Ann Campbell has put forward in her studies. I am grateful we get to keep studying together, which is a special time for us. We both really love words and learning about them,” says Ansley.

The Regional Spelling Bee will be held February 24, 2024 at Putnam County Middle School. “I’m so grateful that I have my Mama to help me study and that I have such a wonderful school, Lake Oconee Academy, that participates in the Spelling Bee and supports me,” says Ann Campbell.