Christopher Anthony, an eighth grader at Avalon Middle School in Avalon, Texas, was declared the county champion at the Ellis County Spelling Bee competition in Maypearl, Texas, February 21, 2011. He will compete at the Dallas Morning News Regional Spelling Bee on March 26, 2011. The competition will be televised on WFAA Channel 8.

Chris has been competing in the Avalon district spelling bee program since 4th grade. He’s been Avalon’s district champion for the past three consecutive years. Chris has represented the district at the county spelling bee and completed in third place and sixth place for two of those years. All of his hard work studying has finally paid off.

Chris’s mother should be considered a champion among moms. She and her husband, David, have been instrumental in encouraging Chris to study his spelling words over the years during the competition. Dr. Shirley Clary-Anthony is a psychotherapist and unit manager at Methodist Children’s Home in Waxahachie, Texas. Chris has three brothers attending Avalon schools, Stephen, Jon, and Zack. Jon and Zack began competing in the spelling bee this year and plan to continue in the program next year.