MANSFIELD — The 2023 Mansfield Richland County Third Grade Spelling will take place Feb. 17 at Madison Middle School.
Registration begins at 3 p.m. and the competition begins at 3:30 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.
Students qualify for the bee through in-school preliminaries.
Burrage founded the bee while working as a substitute teacher in the Mansfield City School district as a way to give students something to do and get them excited about literacy. She also said it provides students with a unique opportunity to try something new and build self-confidence.
Burrage organizes the bee annually as a volunteer, funding the event with donations from local businesses, churches and credit unions.
Mansfield deputy law director Chris Brown will be the pronouncer for the event. Judge Beth Owens and Chief Magistrate Tonia Welker of the Richland County Domestic Relations Court will serve as the event judges.
Each contestant will receive a goodie bag and t-shirt and the top 12 finishers will receive a trophy, coordinator Linda Burrage said.
If the bee has to be cancelled due to weather, the snow date is March 3.
