Hanceville Elementary fifth-grader Stephen Briscoe reacts after misspelling a word Monday night at the 2020 Cullman County Spelling Bee.

Monday night was “lucrative” for Fairview Elementary fourth-grader Ava Pruett, as she correctly spelled the word to be named champion of the 2020 Cullman County Spelling Bee.

Pruett outlasted 23 other students from around Cullman County to win the title, including Hanceville Middle School sixth-grader Jacob Kane, who placed second in the competition after a final head-to-head round between the two.

In the final round, Pruett correctly spelled “spatula” and “buffet” before winning the night with the spelling of “lucrative.”

Pruett will go on to compete in the Alabama Spelling Bee on March 21 at UAB, where she will compete against winners from Alabama’s 66 other counties, along with the winner of a homeschool division. 

The winner of the Alabama Spelling Bee will move on to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is held in May in Washington D.C.

Serving as pronouncers for the Cullman County Spelling Bee were Cullman County Schools Reading Specialist Renee Chambers and Athens State University Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education Elizabeth Pruett.

Circuit Judge Greg Nicholas, District Judge Rusty Turner and Southern Solutions Counseling owner Leah Bolin were the judges for the event.