FAYETTEVILLE — Sam Bishop, a fifth-grader at St. Joseph Catholic School, correctly spelled “absolutely” to win the Washington County Spelling Bee.

Sam lasted longer than the 46 other entrants and qualified for the state spelling bee March 1 in Little Rock. “Absolutely” was the 306th word in the 32nd round, said Janell Elser, chairman of the event for the host school, Haas Hall Academy.

Sam received $200 from the Bank of Fayetteville and a plaque.

Alex Lin, an eighth-grader at Woodland Junior High School, won second place. He received a $100 prize from the Springdale Lions Club.

Third place was awarded to Sojas Wagle, a seventh-grader at Helen Tyson Middle School in Springdale. He won a $50 prize from the Rotary Club of Fayetteville.

The winner of the state bee qualifies for the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May in Washington.