Sophia Hoffman, sixth-grader at Highland Park Elementary in Lee's Summit, will represent Jackson-Clay County this week at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor, Maryland. 

Beginning Sunday, May 24, through Friday, May 29, Hoffman will compete against students from all over the country. The onstage rounds of competition begin Wednesday, May 27 and can be watched on ESPN3.   

Hoffman advanced from the Highland Park Elementary school bee, to Jackson-Clay County Division Bees, to the Jackson-Clay County Championship Spelling Bee. After multiple rounds of competition, Hoffman won the Jackson-Clay County Championship Spelling Bee winner Saturday, February, 28. 

Hoffman competed in the Jackson County Spelling Bee in 2014, becoming first-runner up. 

The Jackson-Clay County Spelling Bee is sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers,  Kansas City Public Library, Mid-Continent Public Library, and the Local Investment Commission (LINC).  

Download the 2015 Bee Week guide to learn more about this year's Scripps spellers.