Enrollment open for UK College of Education’s Regional Scripps Spelling Bee

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 24, 2024) — The University of Kentucky College of Education, in partnership with the Scripps National Spelling Bee, is providing students across Central Kentucky the opportunity to compete for a coveted spot in the 2025 national competition. 

Schools from 39 Central Kentucky counties — including private, cooperative and home schools — are invited to send their top spellers to participate in the Big Blue Bee, hosted on UK’s campus. The competition is open to students in grades one through eight, offering them the chance to showcase their spelling talent on a regional stage. The Big Blue Bee, hosted by the UK College of Education, is a regional qualifying event for the national spelling bee. 

The UK College of Education Big Blue Bee will take place March 29, 2025, at the UK Gatton Student Center. The college will sponsor the Big Blue Bee winner’s trip to compete for the Scripps Cup in Washington, D.C.   

To participate in the Big Blue Bee, schools must register through the Scripps educator portal and host their school’s bee by Jan. 31, 2025. The current Scripps enrollment fee is $185 per school; however, the fee will increase to $199 after Oct. 31. 

“The Scripps National Spelling Bee is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, so there is a lot of buzz about this year’s bee. We look forward to sending our regional winner to this historic event,” said Mariama Lockington, research administrative coordinator for the UK College of Education.   

For more information about the UK College of Education Big Blue Bee, contact Lockington at Mariama.lockington@uky.edu. 

Schools in the following counties are part of the Scripps National Spelling Bee’s Central Kentucky region:  

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It’s all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.