Kendrick Taylor, an eighth-grader from Walnut Grove School, competed in the Junior High State Spelling Bee on Saturday, May 12, the first time a local student has advanced to state level. Taylor won the Stanislaus County Spelling Bee in November; local speller Danyelle DeForest earned alternate state spot at the county competition.

On Saturday, after three hours of competing, Kendrick came in 10th out of 58 students from California. Twenty-eight counties from around the state were represented and a student from Marin County took top honors.

Kendrick said it was a great experience and he enjoyed the support of his family and three of his teachers, Michelle Porterfield, Irma Hupe, and Summer Henley, who all in attendance rooting for him.

“Last year, I won first place on my second try at the Stanislaus County competition,” Kendrick said. “Since the state’s competition is also open for ninth- graders, next year while I am in ninth- grade, I want to give it a second try to win the state’s title.”

The 2012 California State Junior High Spelling Bee for sixth, - seventh, - and eighth- graders was at Miller Creek School, in San Rafael and hosted by the Marin County Office of Education.

Another Stanislaus County student, Bethany Harper, an eighth-grader from Ustach Middle School in Modesto, placed high in the competition and earned 15th place.