EAST MACHIAS – The Washington County division of the Bangor Daily News Spelling Bee will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 6, at the Elm Street School.

SAD 77 Superintendent Joseph McBrine said 22 spellers will represent 11 Washington County school systems, which include five school unions, four districts, Maine Indian Education and the Christian schools.

Each of the contestants will receive an Olympic-style medal, and trophies will be presented to the county’s champion and runner-up.

The winner from each of Maine’s 16 counties will attend the state championship bee at Eastern Maine Technical College in Bangor on March 22. The state champion will attend the Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., May 25 and 30.

Last year’s Washington County champion, Molly Nichols of Elm Street School, went on to become one of the top 15 spellers in the nation.

McBrine said all contestants in Thursday’s spelling bee are asked to arrive by 6:40 p.m. to receive their identification number and instructions for the contest.

Gregory Gray, a teacher at Jonesport Elementary School, will serve as this year’s pronouncer.