First State Educate, Scripps agree to new Spelling Bee

D-E-L-A-W-A-R-E, Delaware. 

A state education group has partnered with the world-renowned and televised Scripps National Spelling Bee to host the state bee and encourage students who wouldn’t normally participate to do so.

First State Educate is set to become a regional partner for the competition and the statewide sponsor for Delaware. 

The group’s 2025 Regional Spelling Bee will prioritize opportunities for students who otherwise would not be able to participate in the event.

Delaware students in grades four through six whose school can’t enroll in the Scripps National Spelling Bee program for various reasons will be able to participate whether their school does or not.

Importance of spelling bees

“We believe spelling bees foster a love for language, can ignite a passion for academic excellence and build confidence,” said Julia Keleher, First State Educate’s chief strategy and operations officer.

Every student should have the opportunity to participate, she said, no matter if their school is able to or not.

First State Educate will partner with the United Way of Delaware, the City of Wilmington’s Department of Parks and Recreation and the International Literacy Association for the 2025 Delaware Spelling Bee.

The top three spellers from the 2025 First State Educate Delaware Spelling Bee may qualify to join the school-specific champions in the 2025 Regional Bee, and the regional champion can then advance to the 2025 National Spelling Bee. 

“We are thrilled to expand this 100-year-old educational program to reach more students across Delaware and look forward to watching Delaware’s students shine,” Keleher said. 

Education leaders can register their school for the Scripps Spelling Bee Program here.

Students wanting to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee program but attend schools that cannot enroll in it can be signed up by their parents and guardians for First State Educate’s competition here.

The First State Educate Spelling Bee will be held on Feb. 1, 2025 in Dover, and the Delaware 2025 Regional Bee will be held on March 8, 2025, in Dover.

The winner of the 2025 Regional Bee will compete on the national stage at the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee in the Washington, D.C. area in May, 2025.

A prize of $500 will be given to the student who wins the First State Educate Spelling Bee – second place gets $250 and third place wins $150.