Alyssa DiBella of Bethel Elementary had to be “ecstatic” Friday to win the Watauga County Schools Spelling Bee on that very word.

DiBella, a sixth-grader, emerged victorious after six rounds of competition with the student winners from each K-8 school.

Also competing were Rebecca Anderson of Hardin Park, Katie Hanna of Parkway, Caitlin Vines of Cove Creek, Zachary Holtkamp of Blowing Rock, Benjamon Oakes of Mabel, Erin Griego of Green Valley and Morgan Hoyt of Valle Crucis.

Human resources director Stephen Martin read the list of spelling words, which included: sultan, access, humble, cosmetic, talc, baton, powwow, tragic, academy, rehearse, confidence, manicure, typhoon, periscope, anchovy, leotard, irony, popularity, praline, hyphen, sarcasm, pursuit, juvenile and ecstatic.

Each student was rewarded with an array of prizes from local sponsors for their skillful participation.

The competition, sponsored by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, included as moderators school board Chairwoman Deborah Miller, teacher Kim Bentley and chamber president Dan Meyer.

“It’s good to know that good spelling is alive and well,” Superintendent David Kafitz said.

DiBella now will progress to the state-level competition held in Winston-Salem in March.