Three Rivers College Hosts Seventh Annual Regional Spelling Bee

Mar 03, 2016

Students from across the region will compete for a chance to go to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., at the Seventh Annual Southeast Missouri Regional Spelling Bee, held Saturday, March 5 at 10 a.m. in the Tinnin Fine Arts Center on Three Rivers’ Poplar Bluff Campus.

“We’re always proud to host these amazing spellers from across our region,” said Mark Sanders, chair of the Languages Department at Three Rivers and the coordinator for the regional spelling bee. “They’re all extremely talented, and it’s a close competition each year. You wouldn’t think a spelling bee could be such an exciting contest, but it is!”

Last year’s winner was River Blount, a homeschooled sixth-grader from Annapolis, Missouri. Blount defeated over 50 other competitors to win by spelling the word “adjudicate.” He competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, and was eliminated in the Semifinals. Blount will be competing in the regional contest again this year.

Competitors for the Regional Spelling Bee are selected through qualifying competitions held at participating schools throughout the region for students in the first through eighth grades. This year’s competition will feature 37 students from 14 schools across seven counties in Southeast Missouri. The regional winner will receive a trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee for a $30,000 cash prize, a $2,500 savings bond, a Nook eReader, and assorted reference materials.

Three Rivers College is committed to contributing to the quality of life in Southeast Missouri with quality, affordable higher education opportunities and community services that support and encourage the economic, civic, and cultural vitality of the region. For more information about college and workforce programs and upcoming events, visit trcc.edu.