State spell-off

Alabama’s best spellers will face off at the state spelling bee at Oak Mountain High School Saturday, March 9 at noon. The event is free and open to the public.

“It really is a way to see the best and brightest student in the state and where they excel,” said Alabama Spelling Bee Coordinator Susan McDougal. “We often see kids at sporting events, but we really don’t see other ways students excel in literacy.”

Each of the 63 students competing has won classroom, school, district and county bees. There is also a representative from a home school bee. All bees are open to students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Elizabeth Matta, an eighth grader from Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School, will represent Shelby County.

The Alabama Spelling Bee winner will represent the state at the 2013 Scripps National Spelling Bee, which will be aired on NBC Memorial Day weekend.

The winner will also receive an all-expenses paid trip for two to National Bee in the in the Washington, D.C. area courtesy of Adventure Travel.

The state bee has been held at OMHS for the past three years. McDougal said the location is convenient for students traveling from all over the state. She encourages people living nearby to come for what she says is an exciting competition that ends with words that would be challenging for the average adult to spell.

For more, visit adtrav.com/bee.