Kootenai County adult spelling bee is May 26

It’s time to register to participate in the annual Kootenai County Adult Spelling Bee.

Registrations are due by Friday, May 20.

The spelldown will be held at a luncheon May 26 at North Idaho College. The registration fee is $100 per team of two or three spellers and includes lunch. Prizes will be awarded, along with a full year’s worth of bragging rights for the winners.

The adult spelling bee is sponsored each year by the Coeur d’Alene branch of American Association of University Women. The proceeds are used to fund scholarships for local students at local colleges. In the past four years, AAUW has contributed $11,000 in scholarships to NIC and the University of Idaho-Coeur d’Alene. Last year, the Coeur d’Alene branch awarded $2,000 to NIC’s scholarship program and $1,000 to the University of Idaho’s program.

“AAUW began sponsoring scholarships at NIC in 1951,” said Lynn Brooks, president of the Coeur d’Alene branch. “Most of the money was earned through used book sales and, later, yard sales. Four years ago, we decided to do something different. With the spelling bee, we promote good spelling and vocabulary, and have some fun doing it.”

The bee was featured this year in AAUW’s national magazine.

Contestants must be at least 18 years of age. Anyone may organize a team, said Brooks.

“We want to see all of the good spellers in Kootenai County and we also want to foster competition between businesses and civic organizations,” she said.

Each team is given 30 seconds to confer and write the word on an overhead projector. A team member will then spell the word for the audience. If there is a discrepancy, the written word will prevail.

Last year’s winners were The Bee’s Knees from St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. North Idaho Eye Institute’s spellers, headed by Dr. Alison Granier, won the 2014 bee. Granier, who couldn’t attend last year, has already announced that she’s in for this year.

The public is invited to attend. Tickets for the luncheon are $30 and may be paid at the door. However, reservations are necessary by May 20 and may be made by calling (208) 818-4331. Free gallery seating is also available, but outside food cannot be brought into the venue.

AAUW is also seeking business sponsorships for a minimum of $125 and up to $500, said Lynn Brooks, branch president. Sponsorships help defray the cost of the bee and are added to the scholarship total.

Registration information, rules and practice word lists are online at http://coeurdalene-id.aauw.net/spelling-bee. Registrations are due by Friday, May 20.

Information about registrations and sponsorships is available by calling Maxine Sullivan at (208) 818-4331 or emailing mikemax1968@gmail.com.