Participants Wanted for Adult Spelling Bee

Residents, school staff and town officialswill sound off in June, vying for the number one spot in a first-ever adult spelling bee.

It's supposed to be a unique, fun way for the Southington Education Association to raise money and challenge area adults said member Alan DeBishop, who first heard of the idea while vacationing in Maine.

The foundation is hoping to organize at least 30 teams of three competing as a group, so no one is shamed for their lack of word prowess. Team members will be asked to raise $100 each to compete.

"The idea is to do something different and fun, but we're pressing that there's no humiliation involved," DeBishop said. "We've gotten a lot of positive responses already, so we're pretty excited."

Foundation member Dawn Miceli said so far Superintendent of Schools Joseph Erardi, Town Counicl Chairman Edward Pocock and other town and school employees have signed on to particpate. Erardi will be one of the judges.

During the bee, teams will collaborate to spell each word on a white board, with winners continuing through the rounds until the remaining trios compete for a four foot trophy designed for the event.

"I think it's going to be a lot of fun, especially in this community, because so many of us give and do so much, and this falls right in line with what the foundation is all about," Miceli said. "If we do this annually, we'll look at is as bragging rights, with police officers, democrats, repulbicans trying to get rights to the trophy."

The trophy will be showcased at Southington High School touting the title of the winning team each year.

The competition's success should promise at least $9,000 allocated to the foundation, which dons out two to three grants to teachers per year.

Since 2009 the foundation has awarded $30,000 to classrooms from kindergarten through grade 12. Teachers apply for grants funding innovate projects and programs the Board of Education doesn't typically fund. A recent allocatoin paid for a chicken egg-hatching station at an elementary school.

"The point is to get children excited about learning," DeBishop said. "We've had such wonderful responses from teachers and thank you letters, it's been great."

The word battle, set for 7 p.m. on June 16 at SHS, will be free and open to the public, and opportunities for donations will be available.

Applications and information can be found online at the Southington Education Foundation website.