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HOUSTON – (March 7, 2019) – More than 50 spellers from around Texas will face-off Saturday, March 23 for the 2019 Houston Public Media Spelling Bee, one of the largest and most competitive regional bees in the country. The students, who range from third to eighth graders, have won their school bee plus a district/regional bee to earn a coveted spot in the competition. The top two spellers will earn an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2019 Scripps National Spelling Bee in May.
The Houston Public Media Spelling Bee will take place March 23 at the Baylor College of Medicine Academy at James D. Ryan Middle School in Houston's Third Ward (2610 Elgin Street, Houston, 77004). Final rounds and highlights will broadcast on TV 8 and stream on houstonpublicmedia.org/spellingbee at 5 p.m., Sunday, March 31.
Ernie Manouse, Houston Public Media arts and culture senior producer, returns as host. Anjay Ajodha, three-time Houston Spelling Bee champion and one of the youngest to compete at Scripps National Spelling Bee at age 8, returns as a special guest commentator.
Houston Public Media hosts and broadcasts this major spelling bee competition annually as part of its commitment to education and community outreach. Bee participation provides every student with valuable experience in setting goals, developing poise and sportsmanship as well as skills for public speaking.
Houston Public Media is the nation's first educational public television station and one of the first television station's to broadcast a Scripps-affiliated local spelling bee. This marks the eleventh year that Houston Public Media has staged this prestigious academic competition.
Click here for more information on this year's bee.
What: Houston Public Media Spelling Bee
When: Live Event is Saturday, March 23; broadcast is Sunday, March 31, 5 p.m. on TV 8
Where: Baylor College of Medicine Academy at James D. Ryan Middle School, 2610 Elgin Street, Houston, 77004
Media note: For live, real-time updates of the spelling bee competition, follow Houston Public Media on Facebook @houstonpublicmedia and on Twitter @HoustonPubMedia.
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About Houston Public Media
Houston Public Media is a service of the University of Houston and supported with financial gifts from the community. Houston Public Media combines broadcast and digital assets to serve residents of Southeast Texas with trusted local news and entertainment, as well as national programming from NPR and PBS. With a combined weekly audience of more than 1.5 million, Houston Public Media is committed to delivering content that expands minds and possibilities with trusted information.