Grown-ups get a chance to show off their spelling E-R-U-D-I-T-I-O-N

News release from Fort Wayne Community Schools:

Grown-ups get a chance to show off their spelling E-R-U-D-I-T-I-O-N

(March 24, 2011) – Fort Wayne Community Schools’ Study Connection is hosting its inaugural Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee to raise money for the after-school program.

The event will be held Friday, May 13, at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. Teams of three work together in spelling rounds, and like traditional spelling bees, are eliminated by misspelling a word. The winners of each spelling round will advance to a champion’s round for  the chance to win the coveted Honeycomb Trophy. Teams can also purchase spell checks, which allow teams a second or third chance to spell a word correctly. Spell checks will be sold for $60 for the first, $120 for the second and $240 for the third.

Registration for the event is due by Friday, April 22. Individuals must be 21 years of age or older to participate. Cost to participate is $150  per team. Those not interested in participating but who want to support Study Connection can sponsor a letter for $100 or serve as an  event sponsor for up to $5,000. Spectators will be allowed to view the event. General admission tickets are available for 20.

To participate, sponsor or attend the event, contact the FWCS Community Programs Department at 467-8810 or e-mail Sharon.Callender@fwcs.k12.in.us.

Study Connection began in 1989, founded by Don Wolf, retired CEO and president emeritus of Do it Best Corp. In the last two decades an estimated 10,000 students have gone through the program. Volunteers are matched one-to-one with FWCS students who need academic assistance. Students and volunteers meet weekly after school for one hour during the school year with 79 percent of the students bused to and from local businesses for their tutoring sessions. This not only gives students a chance to receive some extra homework help, but also meet a mentor in the community and learn about local career opportunities.

Study Connection has been replicated in other cities across the nation, including Clinton, Iowa, where the Governor recognized it as the 2000 Volunteer Program of the Year. In 2007, Study Connection received the Indiana Youth Institute Award for investing in youth.

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