School of Journalism and College of Education partner to host regional competition for the Scripps National Spelling Bee

The E.W. Scripps School of Journalism is partnering with the Patton College of Education to host this year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee Regional Competition on the Ohio University campus on March 1. It’s the 100th anniversary of the very first National Spelling Bee, but it’s the first time journalism and education have teamed up to host the regional event in Athens.

“It’s a truly beautiful partnership,” said Patton College Director of the Edward Stevens Literacy Center Julie Barnhart Francis. “With education’s interest in K-12 learning, particularly children ages 6 to 15, and literacy, along with journalism’s areas of expertise in writing and words, it’s the perfect partnership.”

The bee is open to elementary and middle school students across the region. The partnership between the two colleges to host the event came about after learning that there was no regional partner to host the 2025 event.

“The E.W. Scripps Company, who administers the bee, sent out emails gauging regional partnership interest,” said E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Director of Honors Tutorial Studies Elizabeth Hendrickson. “Our director, Eddith Dashiell, brought it up during a faculty meeting and us word nerds in the room got really excited. We expressed interest in being the regional partner because we respect the event and find the children who participate in this remarkable. It must be so nerve wracking to speak in public like that at their age. Later we learned the Patton College was also interested, and the partnership took off from there.”

Regional partners help students in their communities discover a knack for spelling and a passion for competition by providing a pathway from the classroom to the national stage. More than 175 newspapers, sports teams, organizations and universities are regional partners for the annual event. Holding the regional event on the Ohio University campus also gives young people a chance to learn about college and exposes them to possibilities for their future.

“The southeast Ohio regional event will be held in Schoonover Center on Saturday, March 1,^” said Barnhart Francis. “What a grand day it will be for these young people. We plan to give them a big welcome by introducing them and their families to campus and showing them that college is accessible to every child in southeast Ohio. We will expose them to careers and give them the opportunity to meet folks who really work here.”

The journalism and education colleges each have different roles in making the regional competition a success for all involved. Journalism is providing the emcee, the pronouncer and assistant pronouncer, three judges and a record keeper. Education is organizing a group of undergraduate teacher candidates, who are work study students at the Literacy Center, to be the local college crew, known as literacy ambassadors. The ambassadors will welcome spellers and families, answer questions, serve as ushers and much more.

“We have spellers coming to Athens from all over southeast Ohio,” said Barnhart Francis. “They’re coming from communities like Wheelersburg, Minford, Ironton, and Jackson. Many have never been to Ohio University before, and we don’t want them to feel overwhelmed by the event. So, our literacy ambassadors will help them with anything they need.”

“We are all really excited to be a part of this,” said Hendrickson. “This event is a great way for both of our colleges to support community initiatives and young students in the region. The regional event is open to the public. It starts at 9 a.m. We hope to fill the Schoonover Center Auditorium with people to cheer on these young spellers.”

The student who wins the southeast Ohio regional competition will go on to compete in the national competition in Washington D.C.