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Presbyterian Christian School Speller Wins the Mississippi Spelling Bee!

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MAE President Joyce Helmick (left) congratulates Sarah Spencer (right)
MAE

Watch the Spelling Bee:

Jackson, Miss. – At noon today, Sarah Spencer, a 7th grade student at Presbyterian Christian School in Hattiesburg, is Mississippi’s 2016 Spelling Bee Champion! Sarah spelled the Championship word “linger” in the 50th round of the Bee. Sarah will advance to the Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., May 22-27, 2016 where she will compete against Spelling Bee Champions from every state in America!

The Runner-Up in the Spelling Bee is Vaibhavi J. Mahajan, a 6th grade student from Highland Bluff Elementary in the Rankin County School District. Vaibhavi was eliminated in Round 50. 

“Working with Mississippi Public Broadcasting, our annual partner, has been an enormous benefit to showcase the scholastic talents of some of Mississippi’s most extraordinary students,” says MAE President Joyce Helmick. MAE is honored to have as the official pronouncer for the competition this year Mr. Kevin Farrell, Assistant Director of Radio for the Mississippi Public Broadcasting.

During the fall and winter, schools conducted spelling bee programs at the classroom and school level.  School winners sent their spelling champions to the district level where they competed in a county-wide spelling bee.  Twenty five county winners then compete at the Mississippi Spelling Bee.

Twenty-five students from across the state competed for the Mississippi Championship Spelling Bee Title. The Mississippi Association of Educators (MAE) has sponsored this event since 2008.

The Mississippi Champion advances to the 2016 Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee and compete against Spelling Bee Champions from every state in America. The Mississippi Association of Educators will fund the expenditures for Sarah Spencer. Mississippi’s 2016 Spelling Champion and one parent for the National Spelling Bee.

MAE is committed to ensuring Mississippi students are represented at the national level and wishes to congratulate all the winners who participated in Tuesday’s spelling competition.

MAE thanks Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) for its tremendous support and co-sponsorship of this annual educational event.  MPB broadcast live the 2016 Mississippi Spelling Bee and plans to air this exciting event again. Check local listings for the exact date and time. 

Since 1878, MAE has been an advocate for great public schools for every student.  The Mississippi Association of Educators continues to focus on student achievement and student success while empowering school employees, providing quality services, and promoting parental/community involvement. 

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The Mississippi Association of Educators is the oldest education organization in the state. MAE has a membership of approximately 8,000 members and includes all educators; classroom teachers, principals, superintendents and education support professionals.