BEDFORD – The 48th WBIW Annual Lawrence County Spelling Bee takes place on Tuesday, February 22, and Wednesday, February 23 at Bedford Middle School Schafer Auditorium.
The Spelling Bee is free to attend and open to the public. Doors open for spectators each day at 4:15 p.m. or you catch the spelling bee live on both days via Facebook live. WBIW has also made the bee available to those that are not able to catch the event at 4 pm. You can listen to the spelling be on WBIW 1340 am or stream it on wbiw.com at 6:30 pm. each day of the bee.
Meryl Klein, of Bedford Middle School, won the 2021 title after completing 12 rounds.
The champion for 2022 will be awarded a $100 cash prize provided by Bedford Federal Savings Bank, a pizza party for their homeroom class provided by Papa Johns Pizza, a t-shirt, and a trophy.
All participants receive a 1340 AM WBIW Spelling Bee t-shirt and a participant certificate.
WBIW’s Marketing Manager Sarah Turpen will moderate this year’s bee. Judges will be President Holly Davis and Director of Sales Brandi Weyer.
Participating in the first day of the spelling bee are the school champions representing grades 3-5:
Representing Dollins Elementary in Oolitic is 4th grader Kane Schmeichel.
LCIS champion is Carson Lyons, a 5th grader.
Representing Needmore Elementary is 5th grader Aedra Hillenburg.
Carter Hill, a 5th grader will be representing Burris Elementary School.
Devyn Richardson, a 5th grader is the homeschool champion.
Abigail Chandler, a 5th grader will represent Shawswick Elementary.
Rowan Miller a fifth-grader will represent St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School.
Janika Cochrane a 5th grader will represent Lincoln Elementary (photo not available).
On Wednesday, February 23 schools will send their champions for grades 6-8 to compete. Also competing will be the champion from the previous day’s spelling bee.
The school champions representing grades 6-8 are:
The top speller at Bedford Middle School is Gibson “Gibby” Evans, grade 8.
Representing Oolitic Middle School is 7th grader Kaegan Hanners
Representing Needmore Elementary School is Ethan Fulford, grade 6.
Gavin Adams, grade 6, will represent Mitchell Junior High School.
Representing St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School is 7th grader Noah Childers.
Maya Scherschel a 6th grader is the Shawswick Middle School champion.
Gavyn Lemons, an 8th grader will represent LCIS.
Paige Voigtschild, a 7th grader is the homeschool champion.
Representing Parkview Intermediate is Brett Elpers a 6th grader.
6th grader Chloe Collins will represent Lincoln (photo unavailable).
