WILLOW WOOD — Felicity Jenkins, eighth grader at Symmes Valley Middle School, once again qualified to compete in the state spelling bee in March.

Debbie Saunders, Symmes Valley Local School District’s Spelling Bee Coordinator, was notified of the achievement.

Jenkins is Lawrence County’s spelling bee champion for 2011-12. Jenkins participated in the Ohio University’s Scripps College of Communication Regional Spelling Bee for district winners from the state.

“Felicity is a talented and gifted student,” Nelrose Coffman, Director of Instruction and Curriculum at Symmes Valley LSD, said in a email. “(She) takes two accelerated classes at the high school that include Spanish I and Honors Algebra II.”

Jenkins had a perfect score on the online spelling, she now advances to the state spelling bee along with 70 other contestants from the state of Ohio. The competition will be held on March 10, at Ohio University in Athens.

The winner of the state competition will receive an all expense paid trip to Washington D.C., to compete in the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee held in June.

Jenkins competed in the National Spelling Bee in 2010 where she ranked 49 in a field of 276 national competitors.

Jenkins is a five time spelling bes champion of the Symmes Valley School District and a five time winner of the annual Lawrence County spelling bee.

“She was the leading scorer in the county’s quiz bowl competition and participated in the Lawrence County Model United Nations competition, where she was chosen as one of the best delegates,” Coffman said in the email.

Jenkins spends about 45 minutes a day practicing her spelling skills using a computer program called New Nat’s Flips.

Jenkins is president of the student council and was selected first chair alto saxophone for the second year in a row, and is an accomplished pianist.

Jenkins is the daughter of Scott and Rhonda Jenkins of Kitts Hill.