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B-E-E there: Spellers Compete on Campus

Remember how your knees knocked as you stood in front of your whole class, trying to spell “angst” or “erudite” ? Come cheer on the next generation of logophiles (word lovers) this Saturday when the Wake County Spelling Bee comes to campus.

The College of Education and College of Humanities and Social Sciences are lending a hand with the event, which is being held for the first time in 13 years.

The last speller standing wins a trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

The competition celebrates the power of words, says Dr. Walt Wolfram, university coordinator and William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of English.

“I think it is wonderful that we celebrate an academic sport,” he said. “These children have trained as intensely as any other type of athlete for a competition.”

Students from 83 schools will compete starting at 9 a.m. Saturday in Witherspoon Auditorium. The oldest contestants are in eighth grade.

The Partnership for the Advancement of Gifted Education and the News & Observer are sponsoring the winner’s trip to Washington.

B – E – E There: Spellers to Compete on Campus

Remember how your knees knocked as you stood in front of your whole class to try to spell “ridiculous” or “parfait”? Relive those nerve-racking moments this Saturday when the Wake County Spelling Bee comes to campus.

The College of Education and College of Humanities and Social Sciences are lending a hand with the event, which is being held for the first time in 13 years.

The last speller standing wins a trip to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

The competition celebrates the power of words, says Dr. Walt Wolfram, university coordinator and William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of English.

“I think it is wonderful that we celebrate an academic sport,” he said. “These children have trained as intensely as any other type of athlete for a competition.”

Students from 83 schools will compete starting at 9 a.m. Saturday in Witherspoon Auditorium.

The Partnership for the Advancement of Gifted Education and the News & Observer are sponsoring the winner’s trip.