19th Ward Spelling Bee Holds Annual Competition on March 29

The Fourth Annual 19th Ward Spelling Bee, a competition involving students from Rochester schools 10, 16, 19, and 44, will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 29 in the Hubbell Auditorium in Hutchison Hall at the University of Rochester.  The Hubbell Auditorium is on the main floor of Hutchison Hall, and there will be signs pointing the way.

The event is a partnership of the 19th Ward Community Association, Rochester Area Community Foundation, the University of Rochester admissions office, Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, the Rochester City School District, and Arnett branch library.

The Spelling Bee was initiated by the neighborhood association, led by President J.B. Afoh-Manin, Robin Carter-McFadden, Ken Maher, and Nick Robinson to recognize academic prowess in the neighborhood schools. The event is organized by the association’s Schools Committee, chaired by John Laing, for students in grades 3 to 7.

A partnership was established with the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity at UR and fraternity members have taken a leadership role in developing the word lists, running the competition, and treating finalists to a tour of the campus. Practice sessions for participating students have been held at the Arnett library and staffed by members of the fraternity and residents of the 19th Ward neighborhood. The City School District provides students, teachers, as well as transportation.

The first year, only schools 16 and 44 participated. In the second year School 19 was added, and this year, School 10 students will be involved.

The winner from each grade level is awarded a trophy and a $500 scholarship to be paid when the student goes to college. A fund was established at Rochester Area Community Foundation to support the scholarships that will be distributed in the years to come.

Contributions to support the Greater Rochester Spelling Bee Fund are welcome and can be done online at www.racf.org/Donate (type “spelling” in the keyword search box) or mail checks addressed to Rochester Area Community Foundation, with Spelling Bee Fund in the Memo line, to the Community Foundation, 500 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607.