Every year, organizers of the Toronto City School District Spelling Bee present the Gary Wilson Award to a fifth-grader who places highest in the event. The award was named for the late, long-time Toronto educator who was a strong supporter of the spelling bee competition, according to officials. This year, the award recipient was Braxton Zeigler, who not only received the Gary Wilson Award, but placed first in the district bee. Zeigler will continue on in the competition, along with the remaining four top finishers and an alternate during the Jefferson-Harrison County Regional Spelling Bee set for March 14 at Buckeye North Elementary School. Toronto teacher Justin Wiley, the event’s coordinator, congratulated Zeigler on his win.

— Warren Scott