It was a bittersweet victory for Elise Dunning at the Highline Homeschool Center 2008-09 Spelling Bee in Burien Dec. 11.

The Enumclaw 9-year-old, fourth-grade student won the competition which included 33 homeschooled students from the South Sound region, but only students in sixth through eighth grade qualify to go on to the regional spelling bee.

Dunning settled for the title of “unofficial winner.” The runnerup, who is in sixth grade, will go on to compete in the regional spelling bee.