The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Adult spelling bee raises awareness for literacy

Colonial Services team member Dennis Walsh does a pirouette for teammates Marcia Koenig and Vaden Fitton at an adult spelling bee Friday, March 5. Winning the bee was the Kiwanis Club of Oxford team: Peter Nolen, Kay Phillips and Chris Church.

Staff photo by Greg Lynch Colonial Services team member Dennis Walsh does a pirouette for teammates Marcia Koenig and Vaden Fitton at an adult spelling bee Friday, March 5. Winning the bee was the Kiwanis Club of Oxford team: Peter Nolen, Kay Phillips and Chris Church.

Burglaries reported in Oxford
2/10/12
Local reaction mixed on Obama’s switch on birth control provision
2/10/12
Police patrolling for overweight trucks
2/10/12
Pentagon to allow women to serve near front lines
2/10/12
County candidates seek to sway voters at forum
2/10/12
> More headlines

By Michael D. Pitman, Staff Writer 1:52 AM Saturday, March 6, 2010

Editor’s note: In honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday this week, and the celebration of it by the Altrusa International of Hamilton, the following article is written in a “Seussian” style.

HAMILTON — The Kiwanis of Oxford was the last team of three among the eight teams to compete in the Altrusa International adult spelling bee.

Altrusa of Hamilton hosted its inaugural “Literacy Buzz” on Friday, March 5, and the Courtyard by Marriott was where it was.

Literacy awareness programs are close to each organizers’ heart. The event supported Shared Harvest, the YWCA and Head Start.

After the ladies of Altrusa recognized Tuesday was the birthday of Dr. Seuss, the spellers of the “Literacy Buzz” let loose.

“Spelling Works Wonders” was the bee’s theme. And yellow and black was the main color scheme.

Colonial Services’ team started the exhibition by spelling “accurate” like they were on a mission. The first team out was Millikin and Fitton. They misspelled nonexistent, and they were smitten.

As teams dropped, their three balloons were popped, popped popped.

The top three teams of the day were the Kiwanians, Colonial and the Great Miami Valley YMCA. In the finals, Colonial stumbled on “pirouette.” But the Kiwanian trio had the challenge met. Their skills did not lack — in order to win they also had to spell “bivouac.”

Each round went by fast, and the winning team said they “had a blast.” Two of the Kiwanians are teachers, and a corporate writer was the last team member featured.

Germaine Vonderhaar was the spelling bee chair, and said the public response was more than fair.

“We’ve worked up to this day for at least a good year,” she said, “maybe longer.” Vonderhaar said next year she would like to see 10 to 15 teams of word-mongers.

Share this article