2008 Indiana Charter School Spelling Bee!
Thanks to all the participants and schools that made the 2008 Bee a success! Special thanks to Butler University for providing a great venue for the event. Stay tuned for information on next year's bee.

Press Release - May 20, 2008
2008 Indiana Charter School Spelling Bee Producers Winners from Across the State
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – – The second annual Indiana Charter School Spelling Bee held May 16, 2008, at Butler University’s Jordan Hall produced winners in three divisions from each end of the state. The number of participants at this year’s Bee increased 50% from last year’s roster.

Every charter school in Indiana was invited to send participants to this years state-wide contest. The Bee was conducted in Divisions A, B, and C, featuring students from Grades 4-5, 6-7, and 8-9, respectively.

The winner for Division A (for students in grade levels 4-5) was Ricky Nocak of Charter School of the Dunes in Gary. The winning word was tax-exempt. Division A first runner up was Bradley Strayer of Geist Montessori Academy in Indianapolis, and second runner up was Cheyenne Printup of Galileo Charter School in Richmond.

The Division B (grade levels 6-7) champion was Caleb Ader of Rural Community Academy in Graysville. His winning word was rendezvous. First runner up was Joe Long of Irvington Community School in Indianapolis and second runner up was Luc Talatinian of Geist Montessori Academy, also in Indianapolis.

We’re more likely to use the word eardrum, but Brianna Debragga of Charter School of the Dunes in Gary spelled tympanum correctly to win Division C, for grades 8-9. First runner up was Jeff Turner of Geist Montessori Academy in Indianapolis. Second runner up was Ayanna Sanders of Indianapolis Math and Science Academy.

Winners and runners up received Borders Books gift cards.

Warm weather, Butler’s Central Indiana location and even the bright, window-lined Room 141 of Jordan Hall contributed to an upbeat event. A vocal and enthusiastic crowd of teachers, parents, and fellow contestants cheered on the competitors as loudly as at any athletic contest.

According to event producer Melanie Dozier, Director of the Charter Schools Service Center, the Butler site was chosen to expose the contestants to a college campus and to promote college attendance.

“Butler University was very accommodating – just great to work with.” Brown says. “We were very pleased to see the increased attendance this year. And,” she adds with a smile, “we’re looking forward to an even bigger group of scholars next year.”

The goal of the Indiana Charter School Spelling Bee is to provide Indiana’s charter school students with an exciting academic opportunity and to build vocabulary, phonetic/phonemic awareness, and confidence. This is also an effort to build awareness of the charter school community and the academic excellence that charter schools offer.