For the third year in a row, the Mississippi Spelling Bee is going to be held in Columbus, and volunteer board members are looking to generate buzz and fundraise for the event.
The C Spire Foundation Mississippi Spelling Bee will be held March 2 at Mississippi University for Women. Mississippi Spelling Bee Director Lois Kappler said the bee is looking to raise $8,000 before Nov. 15 for production costs and to help send winning spellers to the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
“We want to make sure that 100% of everything donated goes straight to the bee or the recipients,” Kappler said. “We like to give the recipients a cash prize, because their trip — that would be the time that they’re at the Scripps National Bee — is covered and some meals, but their transportation is not. So last year, we gave $1,000 to each of our top two winners.”
According to an MSB press release, students from across the state participate in classroom, school, district and county bees, with the top three from each county participating in an online semi-final competition.
Only the top 20 to 25 advance to the state event.
After the state bee, Kappler said, the winner and runner-up will be sent to the national spelling bee.
Kappler said currently, there are 183 schools registered to participate in the bee across the state, though enrollment doesn’t close until Nov. 30.
“Really, this is probably twice as many as we had last year at this time, so that’s exciting that the school are ready to get in there,” Kappler said. “They’re beginning to realize what great resources Scripps provides and the resources that can be used to supplement any language program.”
While school support of the bee has been growing over the past few years, financial support has also grown. Lindsey Beck, treasurer for the Mississippi Spelling Bee, said she is grateful for the donors who have made the bee continue to be possible, since it was in danger of disappearing from the state at one point.
In 2021, The Commercial Dispatch stepped in with the Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce and MUW to save the state bee after the Mississippi Association of Educators pulled out as a sponsor before the 2022 competition. But Beck said the 2023 competition received support from other unexpected places.
“Last year was very well supported,” Beck said, referring to the 2023 bee, which was held earlier this year. “We were very well funded by our community members. People from all across the state wanted to help. We had people calling us from everywhere.”
Beck said last year’s support, along with the bee’s new regional partner, the C Spire Foundation, have already helped to partially fund the upcoming spelling bee.
C Spire Foundation Manager Tanya Rankin said the foundation has donated to the spelling bee in previous years, but increased its support to become the regional partner this year. Rankin said this support is in alignment with the foundation’s mission in STEM and STEAM education.
Beth C. Pickering, executive director for the C Spire Foundation, said in a press release that the partnership will help to create a “lasting impact on our region’s future.”
“The C Spire Foundation has respected the Mississippi Spelling Bee for years and we are thrilled to now have the opportunity to partner with them to give local students an additional way to develop their skills and confidence, as well as compete,” Pickering said.
To fund the last $8,000 needed, the Mississippi Spelling Bee is also asking for other donations. The most direct method to donate, Beck said, is by taking a check to or mailing a check to Edward Jones, 100 Fifth St. S., Columbus, MS 39701. This check should be made out to Edward Jones, with MS Spelling Bee in the memo line.
Other ways to donate are also available and have been posted on the Mississippi Spelling Bee Facebook Page. Or, for more information, email [email protected].
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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 34 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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