Hoptown to host only qualifier in Kentucky
January 18, 2023
Hopkinsville, KY –Visit Hopkinsville is proud to announce it is an official 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee regional partner, which will give students an opportunity to participate in America’s longest-running educational competition.
Visit Hopkinsville is the only organization in the state that will be guaranteeing a Kentucky student has the chance to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee this year. This Bee will be the only regional qualifying event in the commonwealth and will send three competitors onto nationals.
“We are thrilled to welcome spelling bee competitors and their families to Hopkinsville for this prestigious honor and exciting event,” said Brooke Jung, Executive Director for Visit Hopkinsville. “We are equally as excited that three champions will move on from our event to represent Kentucky on the national stage.”
As the exclusive regional partner for the Western Kentucky region, Visit Hopkinsville will sponsor the regional spelling bee competition on Sunday, March 26 at 2:00 p.m. at the Alhambra Theatre, and will send three regional champions to the national competition in May 2023, where they will have the opportunity to compete for the Scripps Cup.
Visit Hopkinsville — the city’s tourism arm — was awarded two years of financial support for this event from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). This initiative provides funding through the Kentucky Department of Tourism and Governor Beshear’s efforts to foster economic recovery of the tourism industry.
Planning efforts for the event are underway with representatives from Visit Hopkinsville, Pennyroyal Arts Council and Christian County Literacy Council.
To qualify for the regional bee, students must attend a school enrolled in the Scripps National Spelling Bee program. The deadline for schools to register is Feb. 15. The top 40 school champions from the 29-county region will move on to the regional qualifying event in Hopkinsville.
By inspiring the exploration of words, the Scripps National Spelling Bee illuminates pathways to lifelong curiosity, celebrates academic achievement and enriches communities. Each year, the Bee reaches millions of students across the country and around the world with the classroom materials it provides schools enrolled in the yearlong program.
Participation in regional bees also provides an opportunity for students to gain experience in public speaking, develop confidence and inspire a love of learning and connection with their peers.
Schools in Western Kentucky are eligible to enroll in the 2022-2023 program now through Feb. 15, 2023. Educators can visit Spellingbee.com/enrollment to learn more and enroll their schools in the program.
Additional sponsorship opportunities for the Regional Bee are available, contact Brooke Jung at 270-887-2300 for more information.
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About the Scripps National Spelling Bee:
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation’s largest and longest-running educational program, having launched in 1925. By inspiring the exploration of words, the Bee illuminates pathways to lifelong curiosity, celebrates academic achievement and enriches communities. Visit spellingbee.com for more information about the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is administered on a not-for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company.
Media contact: Brooke Jung, Executive Director, Hopkinsville Convention & Visitors Bureau at
270-887-2300 or [email protected].
