University of Memphis, CBU to Sponsor and Host Shelby County Spelling Bee

November 28, 2018 - The University of Memphis and Christian Brothers University will co-sponsor the 2019 Shelby County Spelling Bee with the winner advancing to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C.

The SCS Spelling Bee will take place at the University of Memphis Rose Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019.

"The University of Memphis is extremely excited to partner with CBU in sponsoring the SCS Spelling Bee," said UofM President M. David Rudd. "It is important to keep Memphis kids in Memphis in order to be a part of the spelling bee. The Scripps National Spelling Bee is one of the nation's oldest and most iconic competitions there is."

Seventy-four schools are currently registered for the SCS Spelling Bee. Each school's champion will take an online test administered and proctored by Scripps. Scripps will grade the tests and submit to the UofM the top 50 spellers in Shelby County.

"The Scripps Spelling Bee is a great American tradition, and I am very happy CBU and the UofM could work out this partnership to return the Regional Bee to Memphis, allowing our students to focus on spelling and not travel," said CBU President John Smarrelli.

The top 50 spellers will participate in the SCS Spelling Bee at the UofM with the winner advancing to our nation's capital to compete with other champion spellers from around the United States.

The University of Memphis provided transportation for Shelby County participants in the Regional Spelling Bee in Nashville last March. The UofM and the Tennessee Titans partnered to present last year's spelling bee at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.

Schools can still enroll in the Scripps National Spelling Bee program by Jan. 30, 2019, and receive all of the materials to conduct classroom and school spelling bees.

For more information, go to spellingbee.com.