Heading to Washington D.C.

With the word “poinsettia,” New Prague Middle School eighth grader Nick Thompson won the Regional Spelling Bee Tuesday, Feb. 12, in North Mankato. Thompson went 14 rounds against 41 opponents to come out on top.

Thompson will represent New Prague at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in June in Washington, DC. He is believed to be the first New Prague student to achieve this level.

"I’m really excited to go to the National Spelling Bee," said Thompson, who lives with his grandparents Joe and Sandy Hrimnak of Lonsdale. "I’m really happy I won."