FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INDIANAPOLIS — Thirty-one area students will compete for the privilege of representing Indiana in the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee during the regional competition taking place at 12:15 p.m. Sunday, March 6, at the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Campus Center Theater, 420 University Blvd.
The Indiana University School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI and the IUPUI Office of Community Engagement are co-sponsors of the Marion County Regional Spelling Bee, which includes students who have won spelling bees at their schools and in one of three district-level bees held in the county.
The regional winner receives a trip to the semifinals and championship May 22 to 27 in National Harbor, Md., near Washington, D.C.
Students through eighth grade at more than 100 area schools competed at the district level of the competition, during which spellers completed as many as 25 or more rounds before a winner was identified.
Students from the School of Liberal Arts and the IUPUI Campus Visits/Ambassadors will help set up the auditorium and direct the spellers on and off the stage. Additional volunteers and officials are provided by Rotary Club of Indianapolis and WIBC/Emmis Communications. Kroger and Rotary Club of Indianapolis provide sponsorships that allow schools to participate at a reduced cost and also provide the funding for the winner to travel to the national competition.
The regional competition is open to the public. The audience is invited to take pictures during the practice round and post them on Twitter using @iupuibee, @scrippsbee and #spellingbee.