For the first time in over a decade, Wake County kindergarten-through-8th-grade students are eligible to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. PAGE of Wake County (Partnership for the Advancement of Gifted Education) is sponsoring this program for all Wake county children in partnership with The News & Observer, N.C. State University's College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and NCSU's College of Education. Registration is now open for this event. The final county event for this competition will be held Feb. 26 at the NCSU Witherspoon Student Center.

The champion of the First Annual PAGE of Wake County Spelling Bee will win an all-expenses-paid trip to compete in the 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. There will be other prizes for our area’s top spellers, including reference books and gift certificates. Each year, as millions of viewers tune in to the finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee on television, millions of students are inspired by the nation’s largest and longest-running educational competition. In addition to improving students’ spelling skills and increasing their vocabularies, spelling bee participation provides valuable experience in developing poise—a necessary skill for success in public speaking, performing arts and athletics.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee begins at the school level, and schools must enroll in order to participate. The materials and enrollment fee for the 2010–2011 school year is $99. Schools must enroll in the program by Oct. 15, 2010. Once a school is enrolled, the school administration, staff or interested parents can run the school bee. Schools will receive online access to the Pronouncer Guides, study lists for students, Great American SpellCheck materials, award certificates and local spelling bee program information. For more details, please visit spellingbee.com or PAGEpage.org.