Will Randle, an eighth grade student at South Effingham Middle School, won the annual Effingham County Spelling Bee held at Marlow Elementary School on Friday.

The final two words to determine the winner were “genteel” and “intellectual.”

Emily Hendrix, an eighth grade student at Effingham County Middle School, was the runner up.

There were 17 students representing the eight elementary and three middle schools in the county with one student representing each elementary school, and one student representing each grade level from the three middle schools.

Randle will receive a trophy on awards day for his achievement.