The Senior Resources of Guilford are looking for seniors 55 and older who can S-P-E-L-L.
The nonprofit organization will host the fourth annual Senior Spelling Bee at 1 p.m. Sept. 24 at Jamestown Town Hall and Civic Center.
“It’s a good chance for them to come and relive their back-to-school days and a chance for them to have fun,” senior center director Lindsey Trollinger said.
Last year’s winner Kay Setzer agreed.
“I participated in all three of them,” she said.
The third time for Setzer turned out to be a charm. In the first bee, she placed second. In the second bee, she placed third.
“I’ve always loved spelling bees and words,” the retired high school French teacher said.
Setzer recalls winning the citywide spelling bee in Fayetteville when she was in school.
It’s the fun of the competition — not the possibility of winning — that kept her coming back every year to compete.
“It just so happened that a lot of last year’s words were of French origin, and it worked out for me,” she said.
Because she is the reigning champ, Setzer won’t be able to compete this year, but she will be on hand to help.
This year’s spellers will have a tougher time preparing for the bee than those in previous years.
“There is no study list this year,” Trollinger said.
The bee format is like typical bees, with words becoming progressively harder.
“It’s just friendly and fun,” Trollinger said. “We don’t want anyone to be nervous about it.”
The bee is open to the first 25 seniors who sign up. Participants must be 55 or older and residents of Guilford County.
The center will have preliminary bees at its rural outreach centers. Preliminary winners will be invited to participate at the Jamestown bee, but other can also participate in the Jamestown bee without participating in the preliminary contests.
Anyone who is interested in competing should call Trollinger at 373-4816 to sign up.
Contact Tiffany S. Jones at 373-7157 or tiffany.jones@news-record.com
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