I.H.S. Bee-T-A Wins with “idiosyncratic”
“Spelling Bee a Snap” media reports from the Ithaca Journal, Lansing Star,and Tompkins Weekly
Thanks for BEE-ing part of our fun fundraiser!
And click here to view the event program online!
View the Bee video coverage by WRED TV
Read about the difference the Spelling Bee makes for Ithaca teachers and students!
Over 300 members of the community of all ages gathered for the IPEI Adult Spelling Bee on Sunday, March 1 in the Ithaca High School Wellness Center Gym. The 17th annual event featured 28 spelling teams of three adults each competing for the championship Fuzzy Bee trophy and raising $26,000 for IPEI’s grants for teachers.
I.H.S. Bee-T-A, representing the Ithaca High School PTA, was victorious spelling “idiosyncratic” after Highway to Spell from Cayuga Radio Group misspelled it. Following four preliminary rounds with seven teams in each, four finalist teams advanced to the championship round including We Spell Krazy Good and the Bunco Bees. In addition, the Caroline Bee-tniks were recognized for having the Best Costumes and Most Spirit. The ICSD Librarians known as #icsdlibs raised the most funds for their team entry.
Chemung Canal Trust Company, the Blue Ribbon Champion Sponsor for the fifth year, was joined by Red Ribbon Finalist Sponsor Wells Fargo Advisors and two Gold Ribbon Sponsors, Cayuga Radio Group and Sciarabba Walker & Co. Their corporate support covers all event expenses so that team sponsorships directly support grants for teachers. West Hill Graphics and Calf Audio were also key event partners.
Run like an official spelling bee, with rules, a pronouncer, host, timekeeper, and three judges, event income also includes team fundraising, a silent auction, event program advertisements, and a 50/50 raffle. Geoff Dunn pronounced the words with assistance from Zoya Segelbacher while timekeeper Susan Piliero alerted spellers when their time had expired. Each round featured an honorary celebrity bee-keeper assisting her: Cornell’s Robin Davisson, Chemung Canal’s Mike Wayne, TC3’s Deb Mohlenhoff, and Wells Fargo’s Rob Ainslie. Judges included IPEI founder Ralph Jones, Paulette Manos and Deborah Lynn. This year’s Bee host was Jean McPheeters.
Teams are known by creative names such as Highway to Spell, Spell Sesquicentennial, Slightly Better than Autocorrect, Beankeepers, I.H.S. Bee-TA, BJM Spell Casters, LACS Alternative Spellerz, and the Hi-Loehr-ious Spell-Loehrs. Two teams were back after multiple championships: the Spellicans and Fine Arts “Word” Boosters, and last year’s winners, We Spell Krazy Good (WSKG), attempted a repeat victory. Some teams were comprised of community members who want to support local public education and enjoy spelling. Others are closely connected to the Ithaca City School District (ICSD): Ithaca Teachers Association, ICSD Administration, ICSD Board of Education, ICSD Librarians, Belle Sherman Elementary School PTA, Caroline Elementary School PTA, Northeast Elementary PTA, Ithaca High School PTA, Ithaca High School Math Department, Lehman Alternative Community School, Fine Arts Booster Group, and the Ithaca Council of PTAs.
Championship Round prizes and new awards for the teams with the best costumes, most team spirit, and highest fundraising were provided by DonorsChoose.org, Steve Ryan, Susan McCutcheon, and Makepeace Candles.
Refreshments donors are listed below. The silent auction featured 32 items provided by restaurants, museums, retail shops, salons and spas, educational organizations, and inns. In addition, the event program features advertisements from more generous businesses.
Events like the Spelling Bee depend on participation of many. The Bee Committee was chaired by IPEI board member Jennifer Biloski and supported by IPEI’s Assistant to the Director Julie Langenbacher. Nora Shang, Karen Yearwood, Ellen Reuben, Michelle Woods, David McMurry, Usha Raman, Marcie Wyant, Connie Patterson and Mary Grainger volunteered as committee members, and IPEI board members were involved with event preparation and production, too. Student volunteers from DeWitt Junior Honor Society, and Ithaca High’s Code Red Robotics team assisted at the event. Meira Braun and Grace Blodgett were this year’s Bee Fairies escorting teams through all the rounds after words were misspelled.
WRED, Ithaca High School’s state-of-the-art television production facility and course, offers Digital Media students the opportunity to produce shows in a real-world environment for the web and for cable. Thanks to Steve Cass, Michael Reiff and their students, the Bee was broadcast live stream and will be available for later viewing. Go to youtube, search for IHSWRED, locate the playlist and find IPEI Spelling Bee.
During the last school year IPEI awarded over $75,000 in grants, benefiting teachers and students at all grade levels in the Ithaca City School District (ICSD). Grants are provided for innovative educational projects including many that promote collaboration between Ithaca schools and the community.
IPEI Spelling Bee Teams
#icsdlibs
A Nurse, a Doctor & a Sea Captain walk into a spelling bee….
Beankeepers
Belle Spellers
BJM Spell Casters
Board of Ed Buzz
Caroline Bee-tniks
Family Buzzers
Fine Arts “Word” Boosters
Ghoti
Highway to Spell
Hi-Loehr-ious Spell-Loehrs
IHS Bee-T-A
Ithaca Teachers Association
Ithaca Wegmans
Parental Prowess
Slightly Better Than Autocorrect
Team Cobra
The Bees kNEES
The Bunco Bees
The Chomskbees
The Eurypterrifics
The LACS Alternative Spellerz
The Spell Sesquicentennials
The Spellicans
We Spell Krazy Good
Westhill <Ortho> Graphics
y=mx+bee
Team Sponsors
Robert Abrams
Anchor Capital Management
Anonymous (2)
Audrey Edelman Realty USA
Avital’s Apiaries
Belle Sherman Elementary PTA
Carol Bushberg Real Estate
Caroline Elementary PTA
Cayuga Radio Group
CFCU Community Credit Union
Chemung Canal Trust Company
Bob and Elle Conti
Cornell Office of Community Relations
C.S.P. Management
Harris Beach PLLC
Hunt Engineers, Architects, & Land Surveyors
Ithaca College Education Department
Ithaca Council of PTAs
Ithaca High School PTA
The Loehr Family
Robert Maciel Associates
Northeast Elementary PTA
Frank and Susan Piliero
Sciarabba Walker & Co, LLP
The Spellicans
Tompkins Insurance Agencies
Trane U.S., Inc.
True Insurance
UPS Store of Ithaca
Wegmans
Wells Fargo Advisors
Westhill Graphics
Wordsmyth
WSKG
Refreshment Donors
Aladdin’s Natural Eatery
B & W Supply Company
Collegetown Bagels
Cornell Orchards
Ithaca Coffee Company
Mark’s Pizzeria
Ned’s Pizzeria
P&C Fresh
Subway
Wings Over Ithaca
Silent Auction Donors
Agava
Argos Inn
Avital’s Apiaries
CTB
Cayuga Nature Center
Coltivare
Cornell Plantations
Cotton Patch Quilts
Country Club of Ithaca
Gola Osteria
Hangar Theatre
The History Center of Tompkins County
Inlet Island Café
Island Health and Fitness
Johnson Museum of Art
LaTourelle Resort and Spa
Mighty Yoga
Museum of the Earth at PRI
Patterson’s Service Station
Primitive Pursuits
Quilting Friends: Peggy Hill, Judy Steele, and Marcie Wyant
Rasa Spa
Red Feet Wine Market & Spirit Provisions
Ruloff’s
Tompkins County Public Library
William Henry Miller Inn
Bool’s Flower Shop
Marina Caillaud and Bryan Danforth
Cat’s Pajamas
Monroe Payne Photography
Program Advertisers
Acahti Design & Consulting
Hair, Etc.
Holt Architects
Hooplah
Pelligrino’s Saab Service
Jolene Rightmyer
Peter Schwartz, MD, Opthalmology
Kate Seaman
Therm, inc.
Travis Hyde Properties
Olivia Wahl
IPEI Spelling Bee Sunday, WHCU News Talk, Feb. 23, 2015
IPEI Adult Spelling Bee, WHCU News Talk, Feb. 16, 2015