3rd Annual Spelling Bee a Smashing Success

Once again, the 3rd annual Project Read Spelling Bee thrilled audience and team members alike. Almost double in size from last year, 21 teams of 3 competed to be named Spelling Bee champions. In addition to the title of "Project Read Spelling Bee Champion," teams competed in the "Best Team Name" and "Best Team Costume" competition, with names ranging from "Word Stock" to "The Nelson Nerds" to "The Spellors" to the "Bee-Leavers" and teams dressed as ninjas, hippies, gangsters, etc. What an event! Provo City Library Director Gene Nelson was once again in attendance as the bumblebee mascot. Provo City Community Relations and Public Information Officer Helen Anderson also came dressed and ready to perform her role as a judge. Pronouncer Lee Bartlett gave participants each word, and MC Dana Robinson kept things light. And of course, we raised some much-needed funds for Project Read. Congratulations to our champions, the Mnemonic Mamas!

Of course, we couldn't have done it without the help of our sponsors:

Silver Level:
LexisNexis

Bronze Level:
FexEx Office
Hale Center Theater Orem
Novell
NuSkin
Provo City Library at Academy Square

Additional Sponsors:
Carrabba's Italian Grill
Daily Herald
Goodwood Barbecue Company
Les Olson Company
Magleby's
Mullett-Hoover, Inc.

Team Sponsors:
Sue Bartlett
Janette Beckham
Shauna K. Brown
Bryan Bennett
BYU Linguistics Department
East Shore High School
Empire Pension Consultants
Genesis PURE
LexisNexis
Gene Nelson
Provo City Library
Provo School District
Reading Horizons
Jeri Swalberg
United Way of Utah County

We couldn't do it without the support of faithful board members (Renata Swanson & Karen Brown):

Board member Valerie Roberts also helped out:

Judges Helen Anderson (Provo City), Tad Walch (Deseret Morning News) and Wendy Baker (BYU Linguistics Department) kept everyone in line:

Pronouncer Lee Bartlett was responsible for the word list, chosen from the Scripps Consolidated Word List:

MC Dana Robinson preparing for the event:

Participants sign in at the registration table:

Hannah won the 3rd round of the "audience spell along":

Competitors brought supporters to cheer them on:

The Spelling Buzzy Bees

Accessories in Crime

Bee-Leavers (audience-choice award for Best Team Name)

Bookworms

The Nelson Nerds (4th place & audience choice award for Best Team Costume)

Concessions were available for purchase throughout the event (thanks to board member Cory Bench & his daughter Abby for their help):

The Mnemonic Mamas (Spelling Bee Champions)

Otorinolaringologos

When you don't know how to spell the word, get creative!

The Dumblebees

The Prodigious Linguistic Connoisseurs

Word Stock (Best Team Name & Costume)

Kung Fu Cannons

The Spellors

Bee-Witched

Word to Your Mother

LIVE UNTIED (Give. Advocate. Volunteer. We always appreciate the support of United Way)

The Mighty Mayors (all 5 candidates for Provo City Mayor competed on two teams--The Mighty Mayors & The Miraculous Mayors)

The Merriam-Webster Group (2nd place)

The Miraculous Mayors

Dream Team Deleyne (2008 champions)

Thanks everyone for making this a great event! See you next year . . .