Welcome to the Kansas Senior Spelling Bee web site!
The 2nd annual Kansas Senior Spelling Bee will be held Friday, October 3, 2008 in Salina, Kansas. It will be at the Salina BiCentennial Center in Heritage Hall (get directions) from 9:30 to about 11:30 a.m. First prize is a trip to the national contest in Wyoming.
Anyone 50 years or older is eligible. The contest resembles the Scripps youth contest with easier words and assistance for people needing help hearing or writing. There is a written contest of 50 words followed by 15 finalists participating in an oral contest to select the winner.
Salina held a contest in 1999 then all of Saline County was included and their contest continues today. In 2006, people from 18 counties participated at the Senior Fair in Salina. (see rules)
People participate in senior spelling bees for the challenge, to relive memories of when they were young, to show their kids they can do it, for bragging rights and mainly for FUN. We hope you will join us for this year's contest.
2007 Contest Results
The winners were:
1st place - Jane Vajnar, Tampa
2nd place - Delphine Holston, Abilene
3rd place - Lawrence Wetter, Salina
We had 47 spellers from 27 towns, 50 to 89 years of age and 40 volunteers. The written portion of 50 words narrowed the contestans to 17 people for the oral portion.
Spellers came from Abilene, Andover, Assaria, Basehor, 
Bennington, Chapman, Clay Center, Coldwater, Concordia, Cottonwood Falls, Ellsworth, Emporia, Great Bend, Grinnell, Hesston, Lincoln, Linn,
Little River, Minneapolis, Paola, Pleasanton, Salina, Tampa, Topeka, Ulysses, Vermillion and Wichita.
Our judgees were Max Falkenstien, "Voice of KU", Nancy Kassabaum Baker, former Kansas US Senator, Josh Svaty, State Representative 108th district.
Marlow woodcuts were given to the top three and a trip for two to the National Senior Spelling Bee in Cheyenne, Wyoming in June to the first place winner.
TELL YOUR FRIENDS - THE 2008 DATE WILL BE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3RD. SEE YOU THERE!
