MINGO JUNCTION — Kaden Haddox, a sixth-grader at Indian Creek Middle School, will represent the area in the 100th Scripps National Spelling Bee this week.

Haddox, the son of Nick and Jessica Haddox of Steubenville, is advancing to the national competition after winning the Jefferson-Harrison Regional Spelling Bee presented by the Herald-Star on March 8.

He will be one of 243 youth from all 50 states, several U.S. territories and Department of Defense schools in Europe and four other countries to compete in the national bee, which will run from Tuesday through Thursday.

The winner of the national bee will receive a $50,000 cash prize, commemorative medal, the Scripps Cup trophy, a $2,500 cash prize and reference library from Merriam-Webster, and $400 in reference works, including a three-year membership to Britannica Online@Premium from Encyclopaedia Britannica.

As winner of the regional bee, Haddox won an all-expense paid trip, among other prizes, to the Washington, D.C. area to compete in the national bee, which will be held at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md.

It will begin with preliminary rounds from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and continue with quarterfinals from 8 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Wednesday and semifinals aired by the Ion television cable network from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday.

Ion will broadcast the finals portion of the competition from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday.

All portions of the competition will be streamed on Bounce XL and spellingbee.com.

Haddox faced 29 challengers and endured 41 rounds at the regional bee, which was coordinated by the Jefferson County Educational Service Center and the Herald-Star with support from many sponsors.

It was Haddox’s second time at the bi-county spell-off and he kept busy learning the list of words for that event, something which he has continued to do as he prepares for the national competition.

“I study really hard and use a mobile App on my iPad to study,” he said.

Haddox said he has practiced for two to three hours per day, three days a week, and sometimes on weekends with some help from his parents.

Still, he said he has a few butterflies about his big day.

“I feel a little better about it now,” he said.

Haddox said he’s looking forward to taking in the sights while in Washington with his family, including three younger brothers, grandparents and an aunt.

He said he hopes to see the Washington Monument and Smithsonian Museum.

To show their support, staff and students at his school raised some extra spending money for him through a Hat Day fundraiser in which students paid a dollar to wear their favorite hats.

Haddox plays in the Jefferson Kiwanis Youth Soccer Club league and has been named to the Indian Creek Middle School Special Recognition Club, which honors students for good behavior and attendance.