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Aug. 14, 2007
The Great Bend Tribune and Barton County Community College Bring State Spelling Bee (Sunflower Spelling Bee) to Great Bend, Kansas on March 8, 2008
Written by Dale Hogg, Great Bend Tribune
This was published in the July 22, 2007 edition of the Great Bend Tribune:
What’s all the buzz about?
Tribune, BCCC bring state spelling bee to Great Bend
"State."
"Spelling bee."
"Great Bend."
"Tribune."
"Barton County."
"Community College."
How’d ya do? Check your results quickly so we can move on to the next question – what do all these words have in common? Give up?
Well, the Great Bend Tribune and Barton County Community College joined forces to bring a state spelling bee (dubbed the sunflower Spelling Bee) to Great Bend next March 8 in the BCCC auditorium, the winner of which advances to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. There, that wasn’t so bad, simple as the “i” before “e,” except after “c” rule.
“We submitted our name for sponsorship because we wanted to be certain kids in our area would continue to have this educational opportunity,” said Tribune Publisher Mary Hoisington.
The Tribune stepped into the spelling breech after the Topeka Capitol-Journal, long the sponsor of the statewide bee, dropped all but the 26 northeast counties in its coverage area. The Capitol-Journal almost made the cut last year, but decided it was to short of notice to find a sponsor to fill the void.
This makes Great Bend’s bee one of only three national-qualifying contests in the state. The others are Topeka and the City of Olathe, which covers only Olathe. With the exception of these two and three southwest counties which go to Amarillo, Texas, the rest of the state’s spelling whiz kids will come here If spelling’s your game, not math, that means spellers from 76 counties from Johnson in the east and Washington in the west will meet in Barton County, dictionaries a blazin’.
“Being centrally located in Kansas, champions will not have to travel as far for the next level,” Hoisington said. “In addition, this is a great chance to showcase Great Bend and the college to schools and families from across the state.”
According to Paige Kimble, director of the Scripps National Spelling Program, bees must be sponsored by a newspaper. When the Capitol-Journal backed out, the field was open. Enter the Tribune, and a handful of other papers, that tossed their hats in the ring.
The Tribune won out. “It’s an honor to be selected to sponsor such a prestigious event,” Hoisington said.
Now spell “cooperation.”
Hoisington said before applying, she’d discussed the backing of the college with President Dr. Carl Heilman. The partnership will be invaluable.
“Since this is an educational competition, a partnership with the college not only made sense but seemed essential,” Hoisington said. “We are pleased Dr. Heilman and the college are on board.”
“Given Barton’s commitment to area citizens and communities and our dedication in supporting education and cultural endeavors, the decision to partner with the Great Bend Tribune was not a hard one,” Heilman said.
Barton has agreed to provide facility and maintenance assistance as well as volunteer support, Heilman said. College officials have named employees to coordinate with the Tribune and other volunteers.
“The Spelling Bee is nationally recognized and highly regarded,” Heilman said. “For the Tribune to be approved for sponsorship, speaks well for the Great Bend community and area communities. We are fortunate for the leadership of the Tribune in bringing this well regarded event to Great Bend and partnering with the Tribune reinforces Barton’s desire to have a positive impact on our service area.”
Kimble said Scripps will provide the word list. But finding volunteers, and paying for the winner to go to Washington plus any other prizes are the local organizer’s responsibilities.
Now, spell “sponsorship.”
“Adequate funding and staffing are essential to keeping this bee here for years to come,” Hoisington said. “We want to make Great Bend its permanent home.”
“The sponsoring newspaper works with the educational community to set up the spelling bee,” Kimble said. “We are fortunate the Topeka Capitol-Journal is willing to work with us in making the transition smooth for participating schools this first year,” Hoisington said. “They will be helping us make the necessary contacts.”
The national spelling bee dates back to 1925 when the Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal and the Kentucky Education Association recruited eight other newspapers to put on the first national bee in Washington, D.C., with nine contestants, Kimble said. The Scripps organization took over in 1941.
There was no Scripps National Spelling Bee during World War II. Co-champions were declared in 1950, 1957, and 1962. Of the 82 champions, 43 have been girls and 39 have been boys.
This year, 288 spellers took part, the most ever. Kimble said they expect 277 in 2008. The number is limited now due to the facilities used.
Spellers can be no older than 15. Most are 12, 13 or 14. The purpose of the bee is to “help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts, and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives,” according to the Scripps Web site.
The E.W. Scripps Company is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 02 August 2007 )
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By-the-way...Evan O'Dorney, the 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion, was the third competitor ever to win as a home-schooled child.) :)
 Kansas spelling bee  Sunflower Spelling Bee  spelling bee |
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