When becoming a Scripps National Spelling Bee local sponsor for the first time in 2012, how do you match the storied traditions of an event that's been around since 1925?
That's a question that the Office of Public Relations at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) was facing. They answered that question by combining the best elements of the Bee with a special personal touch.
"We coordinate the annual Maryland Eastern Shore Regional Spelling Bee as a community outreach project," said Bill Robinson, Director of Public Relations, UMES. "It's a way to build a natural bridge to our region's K-12 education sector."
That bridge has been solidified during the past two years, as two spellers from each of the two dozen participating schools advance to the final regional bee, held in a 1,200-seat auditorium on the UMES campus. Robinson says it gives the spellers "a hint of what they might encounter at National Harbor."
UMES has put its own touch on the program though, giving each speller a souvenir t-shirt and a dictionary. The winner also gets a custom-made medallion and a banner to hang in the school cafeteria.
But none of that compares to the Hon E. Bee mascot that makes promotional appearances and keeps the spellers relaxed on the big day.
While the regional bee is a great deal of fun at UMES, they haven't forgotten their mission.
"In a high-tech world increasingly reliant on short-hand and acronyms, and devoid of voice-to-voice conversations, it is important to encourage and reward students for knowing the basic building blocks of communication-spelling, pronouncing and using words correctly and effectively."