Christian Hodges is this year’s top speller in Effingham County.

Hodges, a fifth-grader at Sand Hill Elementary School, won the county spelling bee held last week at the Effingham College and Career Academy. He correctly spelled “herbivore” as his final word.

Guyton Elementary fourth-grader Andria Hunter was the runner-up.

The spelling bee winner from each elementary and middle school advanced to the county spelling bee. Participants ranged from fourth- to eighth-graders.