Local Students Compete in Jackson-Clay County Bee, Winner to Advance to Nationals

Mid-Continent Public Library is proud to host the 2020 Jackson-Clay County Spelling Bee for students in grades 8 and under, which will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. at MCPL’s Midwest Genealogy Center (3440 S. Lee’s Summit Road, Independence, MO). The winner of this bee will be sent on an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to represent the region in the 2020 Scripps National Spelling Bee this May.

Contestants in this year’s Jackson-Clay County Spelling Bee qualified for participation by winning their local school or homeschool bee as well as qualifying in one of two divisional spelling bees that were hosted by Mid-Continent Public Library and Kansas City Public Library last month. During the divisional bees, spellers were given three words, and those who spelled all three correctly qualified to advance to the regional championship bee.

In total, 62 students qualified to compete at the Jackson-Clay County Spelling Bee, which will be organized as a “spell-off,” meaning only one speller can win and advance to the national bee. The spellers will be evaluated by a panel of four judges. Laurie Arbore, afternoon announcer at KCUR 89.3, Kansas City Public Radio, will serve as the bee’s pronouncer, and the following will act as the judges and written/digital recorders for the bee:

Jill Seib-Schaub, Kansas City Royals Archivist

Susan Wray, Assistant Library Director, Mid-Continent Public Library

Amy Vajnar, Oak Grove Branch Manager, Mid-Continent Public Library

Mariah Hone, Assistant Manager of Information and Reader Services, Mid-Continent Public Library

For more information about the 2020 National Spelling Bee, visit spellingbee.com. Also, “Bee” sure to follow the Jackson-Clay County Spelling Bee on Facebook and Twitter to hear the latest buzz and receive live updates on the day of the bee!