JACKSON, MS – Soyeon Park, 12, a sixth-grade student from Armstrong Middle School, of Oktibbeha County, is Mississippi’s 2017 Spelling Bee Champion. Miss Park spelled the championship word spiracle in the 39th round of the Bee and will advance to the 90th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., where she will compete against Spelling Bee Champions from every state in America.
Runner-up was Matthew Simpson, 10, a fifth grader from St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School, Harrison County School District.
The Mississippi Spelling Bee was broadcast live on Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) on Tuesday, March 14. MPB plans to air this exciting event again; local listings will provide the exact date and time of the rebroadcast, or watch online here.
Students from across Mississippi competed for the Mississippi Championship Spelling Bee title. The Mississippi Association of Educators (MAE) has sponsored this event for the past eight years and was honored to have Ezra Wall, Managing Editor of News for MPB, as the official pronouncer for the competition.
The Mississippi Association of Educators funds the expenditures for the winner and one parent for the National Spelling Bee which will be televised May 29 – June 2, 2017. MAE is committed to ensuring Mississippi students are represented at the national level and congratulates all the winners who participated in Tuesday’s spelling competition. 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.
MAE thanks partner, Mississippi Public Broadcasting, for their expert support of this educational event.
For additional information concerning the Mississippi Spelling Bee, please contact coordinator Teresa Robinson at 601-354-4463 or TRobinson@maetoday.org.
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.
