Cheryl Owens / The Meridian StarThe Lauderdale County Spelling Bee is scheduled at 9 a.m. Friday at the McCain Auditorium at Meridian Community College. Helping to organize the bee are, from left, DeShannon Davis, Federal Programs Director Lauderdale County School District, Alexander Gould, Publisher The Meridian Star, and Todd Brand, of Meridian Community College. 

Students will take to the stage at 9 a.m. Friday at Meridian Community College to compete for the title of Lauderdale County Spelling Bee champion. 

The Lauderdale County School District has entered 40 participants, the top two spellers in fourth through eighth grades in each county school, and Russell Christian Academy has entered 10 in the event presented by The Meridian Star and Meridian Community College.

The winner will represent Lauderdale County at the state’s Scripps National Spelling 10 a.m. March 14 in Jackson and have the chance to advance to national competition. The top four finishers will each receive a trophy, sponsored by Jason Combs of All-Star Tees and Trophies. Each participant will receive a certificate of participation.  

DeShannon Davis, director of Federal Programs/Student Data with the Lauderdale County School District, said students who participate in spelling bees have much to gain. In today’s competitive economy, Davis said, those with literacy skills have a distinct advantage. Studies show that more literate individuals find employment more easily and earn better salaries, she said.

“Our district strives to focus on phonemic awareness and word knowledge in order to build literacy skills,” Davis said. “We believe one method of doing this is by participating in spelling bees.”

Spelling bees provide a way for students to learn grammar, enhance vocabulary, develop a range of cognitive skills, gain confidence, set and reach goals, all while competing in a supportive environment, she said. And while it does take practice and regular studying, Davis said the students find it rewarding and fun.

“We are very excited to partner with Meridian Community College to present the annual spelling bee,” Meridian Star Publisher Alexander Gould said. “This is always a fun event, which highlights the Lauderdale County area student’s impressive spelling ability.”

Meridian Community College Vice President of Operations Barbara Jones agreed.  

“We have provided our theater for the event, but this year we are helping even more,” Jones said. “Dr. Todd Brand has been active in the planning of the event, our production center has been busy setting up equipment for filming/videoing the spelling bee, and we will have some honors college students that will be helping with sign-in, refreshments, etc.

“MCC always strives to serve the community, and this endeavor is especially important to us as we work closely with The Meridian Star and our local schools.”

McKayla Odom, an eighth-grade student from Southeast Middle School, won last year’s competition, correctly spelling her final word, “gregarious.” She was the first runner-up in the 2015 and 2014 spelling bee.

The spelling bee will be aired on Meridian Community College’s TV-Comcast Channel 12.The state Spelling Bee will be aired live on a Mississippi Public Broadcasting channel.