North Idaho's most stellar young spellers will complete Saturday in the 12th annual North Idaho Regional Spelling Bee.

This year, 53 fourth- through eighth-graders from throughout the region will participate in the spelling bee at North Idaho College.

The winner will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the end of May.

Each contestant qualified for the regional bee by winning a grade-level district spelling bee, or a bee held for home-schooled and private school students.

"Congratulations to those who qualified for the regional bee this year - it's an amazing accomplishment," said North Idaho Regional Spelling Bee Coordinator Mindy Patterson.

The spellers will compete against each other, regardless of grade level, beginning at 9 a.m. in Boswell Hall Schuler Performing Arts Center on NIC's main campus. Registration for participants will begin at 8:30 a.m.

The event is sponsored by Hagadone Newspapers and hosted by NIC.

Information: (208) 769-3316.

Boundary County School District #101 participants:

Bianca Dally, Fourth grade, Mt. Hall Elementary

Tyler Stockdale, Fifth grade, Naples Elementary

Chase Tucker, Sixth grade, Boundary County Middle School

Katelyn Hutchinson, Seventh grade, Boundary County Middle School

Jamin Bontrager, Eighth grade, Boundary County Middle School

Coeur d'Alene School District #271 participants:

Jasmine Mielke, Fourth grade, Fernan Elementary

Andrew Mangini, Fifth grade, Fernan Elementary

Grant O'Brien, Sixth grade, Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy

Kendall Foster, Seventh grade, Canfield Middle School

Kiana LaCroix, Eighth grade, Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy

Home School District participants:

Abby McEwan, Fourth grade, INCH Home Schooler

Joshua Bobbitt, Fifth grade, INCH Home Schooler

Josiah Pinkerton, Sixth grade, NIHEA Home Schooler

Erika Gallus, Seventh grade, NIHEA Home Schooler

Esther Pinkerton, Eighth grade, NIHEA Home Schooler

Kellogg School District #391 participants:

Serenidy Christmann, Fourth grade, Sunnyside Elementary

Karlee Pearson, Fifth grade, Pinehurst Elementary

Xander Sharp, Sixth grade, Kellogg Middle School

Corrine Hill, Seventh grade, Kellogg Middle School

Shea Curran, Eighth grade, Kellogg Middle School

Kootenai School District #274 participants:

Alaina Hebert, Fourth grade, Harrison Elementary

Gemma Palmiter, Fifth grade, Harrison Elementary

Mandy Cabral, Sixth grade, Kootenai Jr./Sr. High School

Garrett Renner, Seventh grade, Kootenai Jr./Sr. High School

Hayden Villa, Eighth grade, Kootenai Jr./Sr. High School

Lake Pend Oreille School District #84 participants:

Kirby Abad, Fourth grade, Northside Elementary

Truxton Glahe, Fifth grade, Hope Elementary

Tristan Helms, Sixth grade, Kootenai Elementary

Johnny Spurlock, Seventh grade, Sandpoint Middle School

Tristan Johnson, Eighth grade, Sandpoint Middle School

Lakeland School District #272 participants:

Dalten Rhoads, Fourth grade, Athol Elementary

Ryley Smith, Fifth grade, John Brown Elementary

Kaylie Needham, Sixth grade, Betty Kiefer Elementary

Carrson Hughes, Seventh grade, Timberlake Junior High School

Willie Gomes, Eighth grade, Timberlake Junior High School

Private School District participants:

Ella Hosfeld, Fourth grade, Lutheran Academy of the Master

Chase Tedder, Fifth grade, Lutheran Academy of the Master

Hunter Ellingburg, Sixth grade, House of the Lord Christian Academy

Lauren Goold, Seventh grade, Christian Center School

Preston Pfau, Eighth grade, North Idaho Christian School

St. Maries School District #41 participants:

Lexi Chappell, Fourth grade, Heyburn Elementary

Colby Renner, Fifth grade, Heyburn Elementary

Morgan Martin, Sixth grade, St. Maries Middle School

Brett Traister, Seventh grade, St. Maries Middle School

Hailey Crawford, Eighth grade, St. Maries Middle School

Wallace School District #393 participants:

Payton Stuart, Fourth grade, Silver Hills Elementary

Jade, House, Fifth grade, Silver Hills Elementary

Megan O'Connell, Sixth grade, Silver Hills Elementary

Amberly Phillips, Seventh grade, Wallace Jr./Sr. High School

Jayde, Rupp, Eighth grade, Wallace Jr./Sr. High School

West Bonner County School District #83 participants:

Faith, Spaude, Fourth grade, Priest Lake Elementary

Shane, Gamber, Fifth grade, Idaho Hill Elementary

Siobhan, Evans, Sixth grade, Idaho Hill Elementary