Scripps National Spelling Bee Introduces Changes And New Opportunities Through RSVBEE

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Nov 13, 2018, 09:00 ET

CINCINNATI, Nov. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Scripps National Spelling Bee is welcoming applicants for its second year of RSVBee, the invitational program that creates more opportunities for champion spellers to compete in the national finals in National Harbor, Maryland.

Last year, more than 230 students competed in the national finals through RSVBee, including the 2018 Champion, Karthik Nemmani, from McKinney, Texas.

Scripps National Spelling Bee introduces opportunities with RSVBee.

To be eligible, students must attend a school that is enrolled in the Scripps National Spelling Bee program and be a school or community spelling champion during the 2018-19 school year. Students who previously competed in the national finals also are eligible to apply. Parents can complete the online application form on behalf of their children between now and March 22, 2019.

There are new application and invitation acceptance guidelines for RSVBee:

The Bee will send electronic invitations on a staggered basis according to each applicant's previous participation or grade level:

March 25 — students who previously competed in the Thursday portion of the national finals (all eligible grades)
March 26 — students who previously competed in the Tuesday and/or Wednesday portion of the national finals (all eligible grades)
March 27 — eighth graders
March 28 — seventh graders
March 29 — sixth graders and younger

Invitation recipients will have until April 1, or until all available RSVBee spots are filled — whichever comes first — to accept the invitation.
Unlike RSVBee's first year, for 2019, there is no point system for applicants to track and no advantage to submitting the application weeks or months before the deadline.
For additional details and requirements, visit spellingbee.com/rsvbee.

"In its first year, RSVBee accomplished what we intended — providing a fair pathway for more students from competitive regions to participate and a first-of-its-kind opportunity for students in unsponsored regions," said Paige Kimble, executive director of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. "We hope even more families recognize the opportunity RSVBee offers and encourage them to apply."

Applying does not exclude spellers from participating in any classroom, school, district, local or regional bee events. RSVBee applicants who earn spots in the national finals by winning their regional spelling bee may withdraw their application by contacting the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Bee Week is May 26 - May 31, 2019, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, just outside Washington, D.C. ESPN will broadcast the competition on its family of channels.

About the Scripps National Spelling Bee:
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation's largest and longest-running educational program. The purpose of the Scripps National Spelling Bee is to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives. Visit spellingbee.com for more information about the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is administered on a not-for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company.

About Scripps
The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) serves audiences and businesses through a growing portfolio of local and national media brands. With 33 television stations, Scripps is one of the nation's largest independent TV station owners. Scripps runs a collection of national journalism and content businesses, including Newsy, the next-generation national news network; podcast industry leader Stitcher and its advertising network Midroll Media; and fast-growing national broadcast networks Bounce, Grit, Escape and Laff. Scripps produces original programming including "Pickler & Ben," runs an award-winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and is the longtime steward of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1878, Scripps has held for decades to the motto, "Give light and the people will find their own way."