Community members spell for education

“Thou shalt spell well,” commanded a sign on an All Saints Spellers’ costume.

Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan, Indiana State Senator Vi Simpson and superintendent of Monroe County Community Schools Corporation Judith A. DeMuth judged participants’ spelling to make sure it was so.

The Foundation of Monroe County Community Schools had its second annual Great Grown Up Spelling Bee Friday at the Buskirk-Chumley
Theater.

“It’s not your standard spelling bee,” the Foundation’s Event Coordinator Cyrilla Helm said. “Words are very challenging, and that’s because of the spirit of competition and fun.”

Teams showed their spirits with silly hats and themed costumes. “Cheerleaders” in the crowd responded to correctly spelled words with noisemakers and congratulatory yells.
Cheerleaders could also buy a one-time, $100 “indulgence” to save their teammates from a word they couldn’t spell.

John Whikehart, chancellor of Ivy Tech Bloomington and the event’s master of ceremonies, dressed as the Pope.

The foundation is a nonprofit organization started in 1972, and works to enhance education initiatives in public schools, including basic program funding, classroom supplies and professional development grants.

Last year’s event raised about $25,000, and this year it raised close to its goal of $50,000, Helm said.

After correctly conquering the spelling of the word ‘benign,’ the WTIU Super Grovers beat 10 teams to win the competition. The Cook Carpenter Bees won the spirit award, and the Solution Tree Queen Bees won best costumes.

“We are fortunate we live in a community that values education and has fun with education,” the Foundation’s President Tom Bunger said.

Cook Medical and IU were the presenting event sponsors, with many other companies contributing money at different levels of sponsorship.

“We believe that if you invest in education, you invest in the future of your community,” Helm said. “All kids have the right to a great K-12 education, so when they graduate they are ready to be sustaining members of the
community.”