With correct spellings in the 11th and 12th rounds of competition, Audrey Lee, a seventh-grader
at Andrew Lewis Middle School in Salem, secured her spot alongside the nation’s top
spellers in May’s Scripps National Spelling Bee thanks to her regional win on Saturday,
March 16.
“I wanted to win but didn't expect to do it,” Lee told bee emcee David Horton on stage.
“It’s amazing!”
Lee’s victory was the culmination of months of work across Radford University, which
served as a Scripps Regional Spelling Bee partner for the first time.
“We were thrilled to be part of this,” said Debora Bays Wilbon, associate dean of
Radford’s College of Education and Human Development. “As an institution that has
a foundation as a teacher preparation institution, we are committed to the success
of Pre-K-12 students and schools.
“This was a natural extension of our commitment.”
After accepting an offer from Scripps in November to become a regional partner, Wilbon
and representatives from across the university, ranging from admissions to career
and talent development to three different colleges, began to shape a memorable event
for the participating students and their families.
When bee day arrived, the university rolled out the proverbial Tartan carpet at the
Bonnie Hurlburt Student Center.
The 24 participants, who represented public school districts and private schools across
Southwest Virginia, arrived to find a special “green room” in the Bonnie Hurlburt
Student Center fully stocked with snacks, board games, a cornhole set, putting green
and a pair of four-legged companions. Ruby and Apollo, two Tartan Tails therapy dogs,
were with the spellers before and after the competition to help bring calm and a confidence
boost.
Post-competition, the spellers and their families were able to enjoy Radford University’s
open doors, including the Esports Center in Cook Hall, the planetarium in the Center
for the Sciences, and social time and snacks in McConnell Library.
“We are impressed by how hard you worked to get here,” President Bret Danilowicz told
the spellers prior to the competition. “You are an inspiration to all of us!”
Horton, the mayor of Radford and communications officer for the Artis College of Science
and Technology, was one of many university-based bee officials. Matthew Smith, Dean
of the College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences, served as pronouncer. Judges
were Tamara Wallace, Dean of the College of Education and Human Development, Brian
Kitts, program coordinator for educational leadership and Lisa Aker, literacy education
assistant professor. Instructional librarian Barbara Tait was the bee recorder.
“This was a truly collaborative venture across the university,” Wilbon said.
The day was designed for the visiting students and their families to take home positive
memories in addition to their Radford University-branded goodie bags.
“By opening our campus doors, it’s our hope that you’ll have a great experience and
be able to see yourselves as part of a university community like ours someday,” Danilowicz
said.
