has been working hard to make the 2022 Mississippi Spelling Bee a success, and her work will pay off on Saturday.
The Mississippi Spelling Bee will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, in the Rent Auditorium on the Mississippi University for Women campus.
Columbus for the first time will serve as the host for the state spelling bee, which will bring students, their families and spelling enthusiasts to the Friendly City. The 2022 spelling bee almost didn’t happen, but the Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce stepped in to ensure Mississippi would send a representative to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May.
Kappler spoke at Columbus Rotary Club on Tuesday, and club president-elect Josh Read acknowledged her part in keeping the bee alive.
“We weren’t going to have (the spelling bee),” Read said. “This year was going to be the first time in history that the state of Mississippi was going to be the first and only state to not be represented at the National Spelling Bee. Of course, it would be Mississippi. We were at the Chamber of Commerce education committee meeting … and Dr. Lois Kappler was the first person I thought of (to coordinate the state bee).”
Kappler said there will be 29 students from third to eight grade competing for the state spot at the national competition.
“Our students will be coming from all across the state, and we’re bringing in families from all four corners of the state,” Kappler said. “Those 29 are not only bringing their parents (and) grandparents. They’re also bringing their spelling coaches because some of these kids have been working at this for a long time.”
The winner of the bee will be sent to Washington, D.C., along with one of their parents. They will also be given $1,000 and a free subscription to the online unabridged Merriam-Webster in order to study.
The first runner-up will receive $500, and they will serve as alternate in case the winner cannot attend the national bee.
Prior to Saturday’s state bee, there will be an activity for all contestants to get to know each other and become oriented with how the competition will go.
“We’re bringing in Eesh Majithia, who won the state championship in 2020 and 2021,” Kappler said. “Unfortunately in 2020, that’s the only year that Scripps, since World War II, canceled the National Spelling Bee, so he missed that opportunity. He’s coming in with his family on Friday, and on Friday evening we will be having a pre-bee activity where the 29 will be able to hear his story, how he prepared, what to do to get ready to go to the national level. We’re hoping that by being together that evening and doing some practice rounds that will alleviate some nerves, and they’ll be better prepared on Saturday morning.”
As for the viability in Columbus, Kappler said as long as there is local interest and a local sponsor the bee will continue to thrive in the city. The Dispatch has sponsored this year’s state spelling bee.
The bee is open to the public. Kappler asks that those in attendance show up by 9:30 to get seated, and she expects the bee to last about two hours. WCBI will tape the bee, but due to Scripps rules and regulations, it cannot be broadcast until after April 1, when all states have held their own bees.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.