Regional Spelling Bee

March is always an exciting time for WHRO. This is the month we host the TowneBank Spelling Bee, a regional competition that determines which local student will move on to compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

The national competition has become a popular event through the years. It began in 1925 when nine newspapers joined together to host a spelling bee. Now, 100 years later the Bee reaches 11 million students each year.

Each year’s event provides its own exciting and nail-biting moments. At the 2019 national competition, judges made history when they ran out of challenging words for eight final contestants. After the 20th round and no challenging words left, the eight final contestants became co-champions!

The excitement is no less palpable here in our studio when the regional bee takes place. Both students and parents must battle their nerves as the competition progresses.

But before any student can participate at the regional level, they have to win their school's spelling bee.

The champion of our local competition will represent our region in the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Prizes for our area’s top speller will include an expenses-paid trip to the national competition.

Watch the recorded broadcast of the 2025 TowneBank Spelling Bee: