Students will compete for a chance to compete in D.C. (Photo: ESPN)

A total of 27 students, who hail from public, private and even home schools from across the Lower Shore, will participate in the event, which is sponsored by and held at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne.

The top speller of Saturday’s competition will win a trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which airs on ESPN in late May.

Nine of the 27 competitors are returning champions and will try to replicate success from last year.

The students who will be representing their schools are:

· Areeba Bakht, Princess Anne Elementary
· Amanda Blackford, Washington Academy
· Alexis Brown, Greenwood Elementary
· Elijah Cockey, Cockey Academy of Fine Arts
· Tiffany Colon, Northwestern Elementary
· Josh Croxton, Crisfield Academy
· Rhianna Denaque, Fruitland Intermediate
· Stacey Fisher, Mardela Middle
· Rosy Gao, Salisbury Middle
· James Gordy, Somerset Intermediate
· Mar’Kiera Green, Woodson Elementary
· David Harkins, The Salisbury School
· Julia Limbeck, Holly Grove Christian School
· Aarna Lulla, North Salisbury Elementary
· Isabel Mena, Pemberton Elementary
· Leanna Morris, Pittsville Elementary / Middle
· Leah Osmon, Bennett Middle
· Caleb Parks, Deal Island Elementary
· Kirsten Parsons, Wicomico Middle
· Adrianna Pearson, Pinehurst Elementary
· Ethan Richardson, Delmar Elementary
· Ali Siddique, Wicomico Day School
· Hailey Soriano, Prince Street Elementary
· Erin Welch, St. Frances de Sales Catholic
· Jada Whyte, Westside Intermediate
· Kas’Mier Williams, East Salisbury Elementary
· Monay Wilson, Glen Avenue Elementary

The event begins at 10 a.m. in Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center on the UMES campus.

For additional information or potential weather induced changes visit https://www.umes.edu/bee/ for updates.