2008 Spelling Bee

I have been neglecting our blog for other seemingly more important matters at Project Read (think Spelling Bee, grants, etc.). Anyway, my new brilliant (yes, brilliant) idea is to have each of my staff members make a post each week. Of course, I'm first. :) So watch for a post from Sue next week, followed by Krista and then Bryan. We'll try to keep you up to date with what's going on at Project Read, any news from the state or national literacy front, and then give general tips and ideas for tutoring. Since it's been awhile, I'd thought I'd back up and give a few highlights from our 2008 Spelling Bee:

Contestants, spectators, and Provo City Mayor Lewis Billings converged at the second annual Project Read Spelling Bee, held Saturday, 27 September 2008 in the ballroom of the Provo City Library, to enjoy a little friendly competition while helping Project Read raise funds and awareness in support of its non-profit adult literacy program. Teams of three huddled around whiteboards as they tried to out-spell their opponents. From team spelling and emergency lifelines to costume contests and concessions, this was no average spelling bee. The golden touch of the event may very well have been the Provo City Library Director Gene Nelson busily buzzing around the event all afternoon in a giant bumble bee costume.

The atmosphere was one of philanthropy more than rivalry. With the help of a dozen volunteers and the excited involvement of the friends and family of the competitors, the event was a great success. Hale Center Theater Orem, Carraba’s, Goodwood, Magleby’s, Magleby’s Fresh, and Fat Cats donated gift certificates and prizes for the winners of various competitions. Premier Auto Brokers supported the event as a corporate sponsor, and FedEx Kinko’s Office Center donated a large portion of the printing costs for the materials promoting the bee. Thirteen teams competed to become the 2008 Spelling Bee champions and take home the beautiful winner’s crescent award, donated by Mullett-Hoover Inc.

Competing for best costume, teams came dressed as robots, nerds, and more. No Joke, a team sponsored by United Way, took the title of best team costume. But no team name could come close to the creativity of the “Super Calloused Fragile Mystics Hexed with Halitosis,” a team sponsored by the BYU Linguistics Department.

The Project Read Annual Spelling Bee is certainly a way to take another shot at the glory of becoming spelling bee champs, but without too much pressure. “I didn’t want it to be serious or scary like the National Spelling Bee you see on TV,” said Shauna K. Brown, executive director of Project Read. “It’s more fun when the audience gets involved and there’s not so much pressure to perform.”

The "Dream Team Deleyne" (featured in the photos below in bright blue shirts) took home the grand prize (season tickets to the Hale Center Theater) and of course, the opportunity to be known as the 2008 Project Read Spelling Bee Champs. Way to go!

Check out some of our great photos from the event:

Our mascots are always a highlight.

Connor Brown & Provo City Library Director Gene Nelson "strut their stuff."

Neither looks incredibly happy about his role . . .

Enjoying The Secret Life of Bees

Mayor Lewis Billings, Tad Walch of the Deseret Morning News, and Dr. Wendy Baker of the
BYU Linguistics Department served as judges for the event.

Dana Robinson was our illustrious MC.

Lee Bartlett once again served as the "pronouncer."

Contestants signed in at the registration table.

The Nelson Nerds were once again ready for battle (rulers, protractors, and pencil protectors at the ready).