Kentucky Edition | Scripps Regional Spelling Bee | Season 1 | Episode 211

Some Kentucky students were hoping for a vaccine or why This weekend they vied for a chance to go to the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the regional qualifier in Hopkinsville.

Laura Rogers takes us to the high stakes educational event.

All right.

And that word is tinged with emotions running high Sunday at the historic Alhambra Theater in Hopkinsville.

Really stressful.

Seven spellers who won their school spelling bee taking their place on stage, hoping for a chance to go to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.. Hopkinsville is so excited to host the regional Scripps Spelling Bee qualifying event for us to be able to have three representatives from Kentucky that we're sending on to compete is incredible.

W. H e. R. E. A. S. The city received the opportunity through ARPA funds from the Kentucky Department of Tourism.

I'm really excited.

I don't even know what to think about it right now.

G h. The words are chosen from the official Merriam-Webster dictionary.

The word is diva.

I've never heard of a diva before.

Diva.

But after a few questions, Gibson sailed through the spelling.

The seventh grader from Bowling Green would go on to take first place.

It's very satisfying.

Isabella Carver, a fifth grader from Hanson, took it down to the wire on the word formalize.

I didn't know if it was spelled with an S or a Z, and I knew that if I got out then, then I probably wouldn't be going to Washington, D.C.. S e for months.

I thought that one of those would be wrong, but turns out they were both right.

She says learning new words is one of her favorite parts of the process.

When I'm in the real world and like my parents use a word, I'm like, What does that mean?

And then I learn what it means, and that just helps my vocabulary grow.

Literally.

lr0t They were very good and I think very much prepared.

That preparation included studying word lists, using spelling apps and getting some help from adults.

My parents show random words to me and then I show back how to spell them.

Traditionally, good readers are good spellers, and.

I read a lot.

The Literacy Council, that's our goal, is to promote reading.

Writing goes along with reading and spelling.

Absolutely is.

It's just imperative your word.

The second Gilmer was the pronouncer at the spelling bee, joined by judges from Hopkinsville Community College.

We're just excited to have all these spellers here in Hopkinsville.

This is such an incredible honor for our community.

The Pennyroyal Arts Council Visit Hopkinsville and Christian County Literacy Council, hosting the event with participation from Hopkins Union and Warren County came down to the top three finishers now preparing to represent Kentucky at the national level.

It's going to be exciting.

I can't wait to see all the children, all the youth participating.

Well, I'll get to see a lot of cool things and it's just going to be awesome.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm Laura Rogers.

The top three winners received a $500 stipend toward travel expenses to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which begins May 30th in Washington, D.C..

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