Storied San Angelo Newspaper Loses Spelling Bee

SAN ANGELO, TX -- For the first time in 30 years the San Angelo Spelling Bee competition will not be sponsored by the San Angelo Standard-Times.  The old-timey newspaper owned by corporate giant, Gannett, headquartered out of Tysons Corner, Virginia, sponsored the spelling bee for 29 years.

Instead, the San Angelo Area Spelling Bee is excited to announce that Concho Educators Federal Credit Union has been named as the primary sponsor for this year’s event, the 30th year that San Angelo has hosted the bee.

The competition will be held on March 10 at the Sugg Community Room in the Stephens Central Library, 33 West Beauregard Ave., starting at 9 a.m. This event will generate another tough year as students from area schools compete for their chance to go to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. in May according to credit union CEO Jerry Merrill.

This is the 90th year for the Scripps National Spelling Bee, established in 1925.  It is the largest and longest-running educational promotion in the U.S., held continuously except during the World War II years of 1943 – 1945.

Merrill says Kasey Torres, a two-time San Angelo Spelling Bee winner, took first place last year, reclaiming his crown from 2015.  A hard-fought competition lasted 18 rounds, with Kasey spelling “tailor” correctly to be the champion and representing San Angelo at the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. last May. Akash Vukoti, the 2016 champion, also competed last year.  

“We welcome the opportunity to be more involved in this wonderful competition,” said Jerry Merrill, CEO of the credit union. “We believe our local students need an opportunity to shine, and the bee is a great way to show off their hard work and dedication.”

Along with a generous amount from Concho Educators FCU, the following local businesses, organizations and individuals have donated funds to help the spelling bee continue in our area, and we thank them:

• Santa Rita Elementary School’s “Bucks for the Bee”, including donations from Bark Boutique and Shenanigan's
• The Bank and Trust
• 1st Community Federal Credit Union
• Tom Thorp Transports
• TimeClock Plus
• Nancy Scott
• Dierschke & Dierschke Realtors; Aaron and Holly Nelson
• Teri Jackson Realtors: Teri Jackson
• Wall Elementary PTO
• San Angelo Chamber of Commerce
• Krishna Vukoti
• Sundown State Bank
• First National Bank of Mertzon
• Texas Bank
• Doyle and Becky Carter

Those interested in making a donation may send them to San Angelo Area Spelling Bee, c/o Concho Educators Federal Credit Union, 3215 W. Loop 306, San Angelo, Texas 76904.  The deadline to donate is March 1.