Lakes Bee set for March 7 at NJPA
Students will compete for a chance to represent Region 5 at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C.
Thirty students from across Region 5 will take the stage at National Joint Powers Alliance® (NJPA) on Wednesday, March 7 for the 2018 Lakes Bee.
The group of spellers is comprised of students grades 5-8 who were a finalist or champion in their district. The Lakes Bee Champion earns a trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C., May 29- June 1. NJPA will cover all costs for the speller plus one parent or guardian.
NJPA has sponsored the bee for over 25 years. The event was held at Tornstrom Auditorium in Brainerd for many years and made the switch to NJPA's building for the first time in 2017. The region's service cooperative views it as an important opportunity for Region 5 students.
“In a day and age where texting and shorthand are more of the norm, proper spelling and grammar can become an obstacle for our students,” says Katie Embree, NJPA student academics coordinator and organizer of this year's Lakes Bee. “The students that have progressed to the regional competition have risen above by diving deeper into the English language – gaining a skill that will last a lifetime. We look forward to seeing where this takes them on their life's journey.”
Check-in for the Lakes Bee opens at 1:00 p.m., with the spelling getting underway at 1:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
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Sourcewell (formerly National Joint Powers Alliance) is a self-supporting government organization, partnering with education, government, and nonprofits to boost student and community success. Created in 1978 as one of Minnesota's nine service cooperatives, we offer training and shared services to our central-Minnesota members. Throughout North America, we offer a cooperative purchasing program with over 200 awarded vendors on contract. Sourcewell is driven by service and the ability to strategically reinvest in member communities.