For the second year in a row, the Mississippi Spelling Bee is going to be held in Columbus.
The Commercial Dispatch is sponsoring the 2023 Mississippi Spelling Bee, and the Mississippi University for Women will host the event in mid-March.
Last year, the bee was in danger in the Magnolia State, and there was going to be no Mississippi representative at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., for the first time in the event’s history. The Dispatch stepped in with the Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce and MUW to save the state bee, and there was a representative from the state in D.C. this June.
Now, community leaders plan to keep the state bee in Columbus and send two Mississippi representatives to the national bee this year. The Dispatch and the MUW Foundation are looking for community donations to help with that effort.
“As soon as we reported that the bee was at risk of not being held last year, I was struck by the number of people who said they wanted to help,” said Dispatch publisher Peter Imes. “Numerous people said that if we did it again, they wanted to contribute.”
The fundraising goal of $16,500 will help send two students and a parent each to the 2023 national bee, Imes said. It will also be used to cover production costs for the state bee, which will be held at MUW. The Dispatch has committed at least $2,500 and up to $7,500.
Mississippi Spelling Bee Director Lois Kappler, who helped coordinate the bee last year, is working to help expand the reach of the bee, and she said the funds help make sure there are trophies and food for competitors.
“Those funds will really help us in the planning,” Kappler said. “It will cover the cost of everything from programs to trophies to the breakfast we feed them, the medallions and the T-shirts. It will all go to provide a great and positive spelling experience for the students.”
Some locals have already begun to contribute. Steve Ellis, owner of The Barn, an annual concert series at his home, is stepping up to have the tips from the Sept. 22 concert with Bonnie Bishop and Andrew Peebles donated to the state spelling bee.
“Every show we do we sell tickets which gets the person in to see two different bands, and we provide a free dinner, beer and soft drinks for the audience,” Ellis said. “Every show we put a donation jar on the table, and it’s always designated for a certain charity. … I just couldn’t imagine when I read that article (last year) that if somebody didn’t step up that Mississippi was not going to have a representative at the national spelling bee. My wife, Kay, who is a lifelong educator and librarian, got madder than me. It drove her nuts, so she said, ‘We need to reach out and help.’”
Aside from attending Ellis’ concert next month, donations are accepted at The Dispatch office or online through the MUW Foundation. Donations are tax deductible.
Checks submitted at The Dispatch office, 516 Main St., should be addressed to the MUW Foundation with the memo as “Mississippi Spelling Bee.”
For those who want to donate online, visit longblueline.muw.edu/development/2023-mississippi-spelling-bee and fill out the online form with information, monetary value and click the spelling bee option in the drop down menu next to “Designation.”
If anyone would like to volunteer for the spelling bee, contact Kappler at [email protected].
As donations come in, a thermometer graphic will be displayed in The Dispatch with how close funds are to the goal of $16,500.
“I think there was a certain amount of pride that the community took in playing a role in saving the bee, and we feel like this is a way for the community to continue to participate this year in keeping the bee here,” Imes said.
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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 44 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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 44 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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