Vermont Spelling Bee March 13th

MONTPELIER - The Vermont Agency of Education (VT-AOE ), Vermont Principals' Association (VPA ), Vermont Humanities Council and Burlington Free Press will host a statewide individual spelling bee for Vermont students on Wednesday, March 13 at 3:30 p.m. at the McCarthy Arts Center at St. Michael's College in Colchester.

The champion of this bee will travel to Washington, D.C., in June to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, competing against top spellers from every other state in the nation.

In a ddition to advancing to the national spelling bee, the winner receives a trophy, a laptop and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by FairPoint Communications, Vermont Lake Monsters , Burlington Free Press, Vermont Humanities Council, VPA and VT-AOE . 

"Whether it is baseball, football or a spelling bee, we love to support competitions that encourage the youth in the community," said Lake Monsters General Manager Nate Cloutier. "We are proud to support such a fun and unique event."

The top three spellers will receive reference books and gift certificates, the second place winner will receive a plaque, and all students will receive a medallion for advancing to the state level. All of the students who compete in the national spelling bee will receive cash prizes ranging from $50 to the $12,000 championship prize. For more information on the national bee, visit www.spellingbee.com.

Elementary and middle school students (through grade 8) under the age of 16 are eligible to participate in this competition. Students from across Vermont who will participate in the bee have already competed in their regional bees this winter.

For more information, contact Bob Johnson at the VPA at (802) 229-0547, Angela Ross at the VT-AOE at (802) 828-3154 or Linda Wrazen at the Vermont Humanities Council at (802) 262-2626, ext. 309.