Adult spelling bee set for April 21

Participants, silent auction donations and spectators being sought

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By AMANDA KIMBLE

TheFlashToday.com

STEPHENVILLE (April 11, 2016) – Smorgasbord. Buoyancy. Insouciance. Some of the words on the Scripps National Spelling Bee 2016 study list are no joke. The 2nd Annual Community Adult Spelling Bee Contest, on the other hand, promises plenty of reasons for participants and attendees to laugh out loud.

The event, which raises funds for the TreeHouse After School Program, is set for Thursday, April 21 at First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall in Stephenville.

The inaugural event created quite a buzz, raising more than $4,200 in less than an hour. But before the 2016 spelling bee can exceed its first-year success, organizers are seeking two more three-person teams to compete against six existing teams, according to committee member Jennifer Muncey. 

There is a $100 entry fee per team. Muncey said the fee can be paid by team members or a sponsor. A business, organization or community member can serve as team sponsor by paying the fee and recruiting three individuals to show off their spelling skills – or lack thereof.

“This really isn’t about being the best speller,” Muncey said. “It’s about having a family-friendly good time and raising funds for TreeHouse and the students it serves.”

Teams also have the option to purchase up to two $100 passes that allow them to attempt to spell a misspelled word again to avoid elimination.

“The pass fees can be solicited from businesses or other contributors,” Muncey explained. “Last year, all but two of the teams came with two passes, but audience members saved those teams by purchasing passes that allowed them to play another round.”

One 2015 trio would have been eliminated after misspelling its first word of the night, but anted up a pass, getting the word correct on second guess. The team proceeded to round two, but the second word proved to be no less complicated. The team was ultimately ousted after misspelling its third word. 

“They stayed for the rest of the event and had a good time heckling the other spellers,” Muncey said with a laugh. “It just got funny. They set the tone for the whole evening and everyone had a great time.”

The tone has been set – there is no shame in fundraising or the inability to spell. So, with fear of potential embarrassment out of the way, Muncey said there is no perfect team.

“We just need six more people – two teams – who want to come out and have a good time,” she said.

The current lineup includes teams Stephenville Medical Surgical Clinic; accounting firm Boucher, Morgan and Young; First United Methodist Church; and a trio that includes Stephenville ISD Superintendent Matt Underwood, TexasBank President LV Coffee and Ranger College Erath County Vice President Kerry Schindler; and others.

When it comes to the 2015 winner, Muncey said the team of Julie Crouch, Alisa Terrell Starbird and James Kimbel walked away with bragging rights – and left behind some valuable information for future spelling bee contestants.

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“The words are pretty hard,” Muncey said. “Each team is given a list of words to study. The winning team was the only one that studied last year. We’ve already had several of this year’s participants say they’re going to study – and win.”

Finally, Muncey said the event committee is seeking silent auction items.

“We had 42 auction items last year, and we would like to double that,” she said, explaining that more donations and greater participation will pay off for the after school program.

TreeHouse provides afterschool care – homework assistance, mentoring, crafts, activities and time outdoors – for about 50 children each school year. To qualify for the cost-free program, students must be enrolled in kindergarten-fourth grade, participate in their school’s free or reduced meal program and have parents who are employed.

TreeHouse, a nonprofit organization overseen by local board of directors, relies on funding from Erath County United Way and contributions from community members. Funding provides minimal financial compensation for the program’s director and a few Tarleton State University students who serve as mentors, tutors and caregivers. Funding is also used purchase snacks, crafts and other supplies.    

To register or sponsor a team or contribute to the silent auction, call Muncey at (254) 592-9083.

“Other than that, we just need an audience,” Muncey said.

Doors to FUMC Fellowship Hall open and the silent auction begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 21. The spelling bee start at 6:30. The event is expected to wrap up in about an hour.

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