Behind the Banner March 2024

BEHIND THE BANNER

Exploring the Buzz:

Celebrating the 66th Annual Dallas Regional Spelling Bee

By: Ben Harbuck

When it comes to Spelling Bees, most individuals imagine the widely viewed ESPN Broadcasted competition that takes place in our nation’s capital. However, most are unaware of the long journey of events & preparations that those young students tackle to make it there.

While the Scripps National Spelling Bee is undoubtedly captivating, it is merely the tip of the iceberg. Before the honey is made or

in this case the spellers are in D.C., a long process must take place. Reminiscent of a bustling beehive, teachers, educators, district, and county coordinators collaborate tirelessly to orchestrate local spelling bees.

Their goal? To si through hundreds of thousands of students, ultimately advancing their tops spellers from each bee to the grand stage of their own Regional Spelling Bee.

The Dallas Regional Spelling Bee is a highly anticipated annual event within the educational and spelling community of North Texas. With the recently concluded 66th edition, we witnessed the gathering of 26 incredibly talented students from around North Texas. Each participant fought their way through class, school, district, and county bees to compete for a spot at the Dallas Regional Spelling Bee, presented by the Dallas Sports Commission.

Over the past decade, Dallas has proven to be a breeding ground for spelling champions, with five DFW spellers going on to be crowned National Champions, three of whom hailed from the Dallas Regional Bee.

In the 66th edition, two familiar faces rose to the occasion, as Faizan Zaki & Sriya Gomatam repeated as champions and added their names to the lineage of great Dallas spellers. Faizan, is now a three-time Scripps national competitor & is aiming to top his semi-final finish at Scripps last year.

While Gomatam will be representing Coppell ISD for the second year in a row, and has her sights set on winning it all.

Representing their communities is something both regional champs take great pride in. “It means a lot, especially to represent for my school. All my friends are excited that I’m competing again, and they’ve been extremely supportive. I never thought of myself as an inspiration to others but now that you mention it, it’s a great feeling.” said Zaki

Gomatam added, “I'm very proud of myself and very happy. I couldn't have done this without the support of my family, friends, and teachers. It means a lot to me to have this opportunity to represent the region and my school, I'm very grateful.” Aside from the immense talent on display, the 2024 regional bee held particular significance due to a notable twist: the return of the competition to the television studios of WFAA.

Previously hosted there from 2017 to 2020, the event found itself set against the dynamic backdrop of downtown Dallas. This relocation to the WFAA studios injected an added level of anticipation and excitement to an already prestigious stage.

Ryan Wood WFAA’s Director of Community Impact emphasized the buzz of having the Bee back in their studios: “What a joy it has been to partner with the Dallas Sports

Growing up, they were all involved in their own local spelling bees, and many of them were past champions. Having the experience in our panel of judges and partners complimented our strong field of spellers. The Dallas Regional Spelling Bee would not have been possible without them.” Segal also mentioned how fulfilling the entire process had been: “Seeing all the separate pieces, from our judges to our spellers, to our county coordinators, all

forward to hosting next year’s Dallas Regional Spelling Bee!” In addition to WFAA’s involvement, the regional bee enjoyed unwavering support from local sponsors such as Leon Capital Group, Southwest Airlines, and many others.

Stacey Segal, Director of Operations for the Dallas Sports Commission, emphasized the significance of community partners' stating: “It was extra special this year to have 100% of our partners and officials fully invested in the Bee.

D.C., it is clear this event holds a special place in the hearts of North Texans. It is a testament to the dedication and hard work of these young spellers and serves as an inspiration for future generations.

The Dallas Regional Spelling Bee will broadcast on April 18 at 7 p.m. on WFAA+, the free WFAA streaming app for Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV devices.

More than 2,500 girls’ junior volleyball teams Converge on Dallas for the Lone Star Classic. Holding Court

By David Lee

The adidas Lone Star Classic, which serves as a major national qualifier for the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship, will transform the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Downtown Dallas into a bustling arena of athleticism, competition and camaraderie three weekends in April: 6-8, 13-15 and 19-21.

Dallas has hosted the tournament for more than 30 years, it has grown exponentially since its inception in 1988. It’s now the largest Junior National club volleyball qualifier in the country. With more than 2,500 teams from all corners of the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, converging on Dallas for intense competition throughout the month with the winning teams vaulting to the national championship stage. Including ages 11 through 17 and hosting 39 divisions this year, the tournament has cemented its status

as a premier event in girls club volleyball. BallerTV will live-stream action on 120 courts at once. year, the tournament has cemented its status as a premier event in girls club volleyball. BallerTV will live-stream action on 120 courts at once.

“We take a lot of pride in creating an entire experience from the moment these teams and players step off the plane,” says head tournament director Shelby Williams. “It’s about more than just volleyball; it’s about providing a memorable and rewarding experience for everyone.”

The scale of the Lone Star Classic is staggering, with each three-day event projected to a ract more than 30,000 people. The economic impact on Dallas is significant, with direct economic impact surpassing $40 million during the 2023

tournament alone. This year’s event is predicted to bring even more. “We saw substantial economic impact, both direct and indirect. We’re looking at surpassing 100,000 a endees this year,” Shelby says.

But beyond the numbers, the tournament is renowned for the level of competition it a racts, especially for competitors in the DFW area. “Because of the size of Dallas, it allows for a lot of talent to be kind of pocketed in Dallas,” Shelby says. “Because you got a lot of local kids that get to play a very high-level tournament in their home city, and then also welcome in competition from all over the country.”

With teams competing for coveted bids to the Junior National Championship, the stakes are high, and the intensity palpable. The Lone Star Classic is considered one of the toughest national qualifiers to compete in and always produces elite qualifier.

Part of what makes the tournament unique is its commitment to providing a comprehensive experience for a endees. From high-energy volleyball matches to a vendor alley offering various products and services, it offers something for everyone. Shelby says a giant LED screen has been added to the championship court this year to add some flare and interaction for those teams advancing to that round.

The court itself is also ge ing an upgrade. “This year we are upgrading to TeraFlex—which is basically what the Olympians, Team USA, and pro leagues play on—so we have a custom championship court upgraded to TeraFlex, which is super exciting,” Shelby adds. The impact of the Lone Star Classic extends beyond the confines of the convention center, reaching into the fabric of the Dallas community.

Shelby emphasizes the tournament's role in fostering growth and nurturing talent. “The culture of volleyball in Texas is insanely deep and only growing,” she says. “The Lone Star Classic is a staple in the annual tournament schedule for Texas teams and draws talent from across the country."

The tournament serves as a testament to the city’s reputation as one of the nation’s top hubs for sports and entertainment.

Organizing 2,500 teams and more than 100,000 visitors is a massive undertaking, and Shelby is grateful for the support of organizations like the Dallas Sports Commission in helping create a memorable experience each year for the torment staff, players, coaches, parents and fans.

“I can’t say enough how grateful we are for what the Dallas Sports Commission does for us. They operate and work for a multitude of events, so for them to back us in the manner that they have, and the effort and energy they put in our event, it speaks volumes to the kind of organization they are and the individuals that they have on staff there. It’s just awesome.”

Shelby’s team always surveys a endees in hopes to continually improve the experience. “Very competitive, clean, very clean, the city was great… This was our team’s first trip to Dallas all the way from Goodyear, Ariz., and we had a wonderful memorable experience,” one a endee said. “The competition is always fun and the city has so many things to do,” another one commented.

Looking ahead, the future of the Lone Star Classic is bright. With its unmatched scale, high level of competition, and commitment to excellence, the tournament continues to evolve and bring a unique style to the already deep Dallas sports culture.

the pros at home in April

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FLASHBACK FEATURE 2016

Take a look back at the first 10 years of the Dallas Sports Commission.

BIG WIN OF THE YEAR

DSC, the City of Arlington, and AT&T Stadium partnered to host WrestleMania 32, one of the biggest events in professional wrestling history. Taking place on April 3, 2016, WrestleMania a racted massive crowds and featured unforge able matches, including the WWE World Heavyweight Championship bout between Triple H and Roman Reigns. The event was marked by its grandeur, with spectacular entrances, intense rivalries, and electrifying moments that le a lasting impression on fans worldwide.

upcoming events

West Coast Dance Explosion:

April 5-7

Hampton Inn & Suites at Rodeo Center

OT7 West Divisional 2024:

April 6 -14

Brookhaven College

Lone Star Classic:

April 6-21

Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas

VEX Robotics World Championship:

April 25 - May 3

Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas

NFL stars ba le it out for the OT7 Championship VOLUNTEER

EVENT: OT7 Dallas

OT7 brings electrifying 7x7 football to Dallas Brookhaven College this April. It’s more than a game—it’s an experience for fans, families, and anyone seeking a thrilling weekend. We’ll have food trucks, field games, prizes and exclusive Overtime merch so get ready for the best 7 on 7 football event in Dallas & catch these future

ChAMpIoNs COMmUNITY

Community Champion March 2024

Rae’s Hope

By Cecilia Rodriguez

"At Rae's Hope, it's all about creating opportunity, nurturing potential, and inspiring achievement. For me, Rae's Hope is about giving girls the chance to shine, helping them discover their strengths, and supporting them every step of the way. That's what drives me—the opportunity to make a real difference in these girls' lives” says Angela Fields.

Angela Fields is the founder and executive director of Rae’s Hope, a non- profit that changes the lives of girls ages 5-18 through sports and life skills in the South Dallas area. Angela has over 30 years of experience in

teaching and is currently a teacher at Cedar Crest Elementary School. While teaching at South Oak Cliff High School, Angela had a vision to bring her community together through an elite sports program at the school. From here, Angela began pursuing her passion for empowering young people through sports.

She founded the South Dallas Starlings Volleyball Club in 1999. Later, in 2001, she became the program coordinator for Dallas Weed and Seed – a local and national program aimed to prevent drug abuse, crime, and gang activity in youth.

Through her experience in teaching, sports, and leadership, Angela founded an organization in 2008 that combined these skills and many more known as Rae’s Hope.

“Our mission at Rae’s Hope is to empower girls to take charge of their lives and become productive members of their community.”

“Rae” is Angela’s middle name – Angela Rae Fields. She uses the name “Rae” as a double entendre to her name, but it’s also inspired by sayings like “ray of hope” and “a ray of sunshine” - hence the logo of the organization, a sun.

Our programs provide a ray of hope for girls facing a myriad of societal and systemic barriers, including living in a low-income area with lower school achievement, lower high school graduation rates than Dallas-wide and Texas norms, and a broader national trend of girls having far fewer opportunities and access to play sports than boys.”

Rae’s Hope provides sports and fitness activities like volleyball and cycling, along with a rich curriculum of social/life skills, healthy living, and community service. Rae’s Hope provides sports and fitness activities

like volleyball and cycling, along with a rich curriculum of social/life skills, healthy living, and community service. By instilling these fundamental skills in young girls, Rae’s Hope is able to build self-esteem and help them become self-reliant and live fulfilling lives.

“Rae's Hope is more than just a charity; it is a beacon of hope and empowerment for these girls, with a promise to revive communities one child at a time.” says a board member from Rae’s Hope.

Rae’s Hope is one of the many organizations working to make a difference in the Dallas community. Throughout the year, they organize events like volleyball clinics, food drives, and community bike rides. This May they plan to host their annual event called Fitness for Life: Rally and Ride – a free event for all children ages 5-18 to participate in a day of fun and fitness! Rae’s Hope will also be partnering with Bike Friendly South Dallas to teach kids in the Dallas community how to ride bicycles.

To learn more about Rae’s Hope or how to become a volunteer for them, visit their website raeshope.org!