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39th Annual Spelling Bee Coordinated by the District of Columbia Public Schools

Sunday, April 25, 2021

We consider every speller to be a winner, and our sponsors and partners have helped us to reward every one of them. We humbly ask that you support our sponsors, partners, and advertisers.

2021 SPELLING BEE SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

Contact The Washington Informer with any questions, concerns or suggestions for our 2022 Spelling Bee. We also welcome expressions of appreciation for our sponsors. Denise Rolark Barnes, Publisher Ron Burke, Advertising and Marketing Director

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER HISTORY OF THE Coordinated by the District of Columbia Public Schools CITY-WIDE SPELLING BEE

Saturday, April 25, 2021

The Washington Informer began sponsoring the D.C. Wide Spelling Bee during the 1981-82 school years. The late Dr. Mary E. White, supervising director, D.C. Public Schools Division of Instructional Services, Department of English, sought participation for D.C. Public Schools students in the Scripps National Spelling Bee held annually in Washington, D.C. Many years prior, The Washington Daily News sponsored the local spelling bee. Subsequently, The Washington Star purchased the Daily News, and ceased sponsorship of the spelling bee. For more than 15 years, District of Columbia public, private and parochial school students could not participate in the national competition for lack of a sponsoring newspaper. Dr. White solicited support from the Washington Post, hopeful that the publisher would agree to become the District’s official sponsor. According to Dr. White, Post officials told her that since the daily newspaper was a regional publication; their sponsorship would have to include not only the District of Columbia, but CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

The Washington Informer 39th Annual Spelling Bee

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 suburban Maryland and Virginia, as well. However, at that time, the Journal newspaper chain had served as the suburban sponsor for several years, resulting in the Post’s refusal to sponsor the bee solely for students enrolled in District schools. Dr. White then appealed to Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, a friend and supporter of the D.C. Public Schools, president and founder of the United Black Fund, Inc. and publisher of The Washington Informer newspaper, to exercise his influence over the Post officials and persuade them to agree to sponsor the spelling bee. However, as publisher of a weekly newspaper, which served more than 25,000 readers in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, Dr. Rolark volunteered his publication to serve as the sponsor. With that, he brought in his daughter, Denise Rolark, managing editor of The Washington Informer, to assist in coordinating the District’s first spelling bee along with Dr. White and other D.C. Public Schools officials. The first city-wide spelling bee was held at Backus Junior High School in March, 1982. The winner was a sixth grade student, John Krattenmaker, who attended Mann Elementary School. Unbeknownst to Dr. Rolark, John was not permitted to participate in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee held the following May because The Washington Informer was not a daily newspaper, a requirement of the Scripps National Spelling. Dr. Rolark, who was a member of the board of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a trade organization of nearly 200 African American-owned newspapers across the country, concluded that the national spelling bee was maintaining an inherently discriminatory policy that prohibited African American newspapers from participating in the National Spelling Bee since there are no African American-owned daily newspapers in the U.S. In urban school districts, where the majority of the student population is African American, students who might otherwise be eligible to participate in the spelling bee would be precluded from doing so if the white-owned daily newspaper elected not to sponsor the local bee. Dr. Rolark called in his legal counsel and wife, Wilhelmina J. Rolark, who threatened Scripps with an injunction that would forbid the national competition to take place in the District of Columbia until the court ruled

on the merits of the case alleging discrimination. Scripps complied, and changed its rules to allow weekly newspaper sponsorship in the national competition. That year, the Loudon County Times, a weekly newspaper based in Loudon County, Virginia and the only other weekly newspaper to participate along with the Informer in the national spelling bee that year, produced the national spelling bee winner. Each year, more than 2,000 students enrolled in nearly 200 D.C. schools, including private, parochial, independent, charter and home-schools, participate in The Washington Informer City-Wide Spelling Bee. For the past 35 years, the CityWide Spelling Bee has been held at the studios of NBC4, where it was taped and later aired for general viewership throughout the Washington metropolitan area. In 2020 The 38th Annual Washington Informer City Wide Spelling Bee will be taped at the studios of Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME).

The Washington Informer 39th Annual Spelling Bee

WASHINGTON INFORMER AND OCTFME HOST THE 39TH ANNUAL D.C. CITY-WIDE SPELLING BEE 13 DC Students Vie for City-Wide Spelling Bee Championship Title

By DR Barnes WI Staff Writer

out in the fourth round with isosceles.

One by one, 13 faces of D.C.’s top spellers popped onto a Zoom screen, a place for learning each one of them had become accustomed to over the past year. This day was different, though. Not only were they appearing early on a Saturday morning, but each of them had earned their way to be seen in a square and to compete for the title of D.C.’s top speller in the 39th annual Washington Informer Spelling Bee. For the first time, the bee was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The excitement and fanfare from past bees broadcast from the studios of NBC4 and the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) had boiled down to a do it yourself, on-screen button, and “unmute yourself” commands to students participating in their own homes. Never before were spellers required to verbally pledge to be honest and fair or simply not to cheat.

But it was those final rounds that grew excitement as last year’s second-place winner Niamh O’Donovan, an 8th grader from the Washington Latin School, faced off with newcomer Nalleti Otieno, a sixth-grader from St. Augustine’s Catholic School. The two went round after round, battling it out, with multisyllabic words including cyanosis, violaceous, and reconnoiter. The final word – bobolink – cast Niamh into second place again as Nalleti followed with the correct spelling of pointelle in the tenth and final round. Now she will go on to represent D.C. in three more virtual competitions CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Dave Zahren, the bee’s official pronouncer, was the only person allowed in OCTFME’s studios in Northeast. Obviously, from past spelling bees, Zahren loves interacting with these skilled young orthographers before and during Coordinated the contest that can last for hours. Even for him, he said, this bee was harder than ever, adding. “Despite the challenges of a virtual format and no parents or teachers in an audience to cheer them on, our spellers weren’t fazed in the least. They all spelled deliberately and well, and made this first ever DC Spelling Bee on Zoom, one for the ages.” None of that seemed to matter once these third through eighth-graders started to spell. In their separate boxes, three judges watched and listened carefully as each student skillfully tackled words such words as piety, crepuscular, tachycardia, and sousaphone.

by the District of Columbia Public Schools

Saturday, April 25, 2021

Prince Ellington, the youngest, a third-grader from Ketchum Elementary School in Southeast, fidgeted in his seat while wearing a Just Do It Nike tee-short. He brilliantly tackled scheme, whittle, and buffoonery before coming

Nalleti Otieno is all smiles as she was announced as the winner.

The Washington Informer 39th Annual Spelling Bee

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 leading to the National Scripps Spelling Bee in Orlando, Florida, in May. Nalleti’s face glowed with triumph when she politely asked, “Can I go tell my mom,” upon learning she was the city-wide winner. When Zahren asked about her mother’s response, Nalleti said, “She’s ecstatic!” “We were all so excited, screamThe spellers all had to take an “Integrity Pledge” prior to competing. ing with joy and plenty of happy tears!” said Caroline Beruchan, important event. The Washington Informer has been inNalleti’s mother. “We immediately reached out to her volved in the City-Wide Spelling Bee for almost 40 years, teacher and coach Dr. Olga Williams and our immediate and its Publisher Denise Rolark-Barnes is committed to families in Kenya and Uganda to share and celebrate Nalensuring that D.C. School students can compete on the leti’s achievement.” local level, with one hard-working student representing the City at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.” “I have been told that she is a very determined, respectful, and kind student with great leadership skills. Always willShe congratulated each student and wished them good ing to help her fellow students,” Beruchan added. luck. “Nalleti never gives up on anything no matter how long it Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes, takes.” chairman of Washington Informer Charities, congratulated the students for not allowing this “extraordinary year” Nalleti is an award-winning student that enjoys math, to keep them from doing something they clearly love science, religion, and technology. Her honors include – spelling. “You’ve entered the spelling bee and used the Langston Hughes Award for English/LA, School Spirit your own time to study, compete and get to the city-wide Award, Citizen Award, and an Honor Cadet in the United competition. Congratulations. You are all winners in so States Sea Cadet Corp at H.E.Mooberry Division. many ways.” Jason Moore, Manager: Elementary Assessments & InterRolark Barnes also thanked this year’s sponsors, including ventions at DCPS and coordinator of the D.C. city-wide Pepco, Safeway Foundation, Washington Nationals, Washspelling bee, agreed that “this has been an incredible ington Gas, “who are committed to supporting educationyear.” With fewer schools participating this year due to al opportunities for D.C. students. at-home learning and less time for extra-curricular activities, he praised all 13 spellers for going the extra mile and Tracye Funn, Manager of Corporate Contributions and thanked them for their participation. Supplier Diversity at Washington Gas, a long-standing supporter of the Spelling Bee events, said, “[We] felt This year marks the second in a partnership between it especially critical to continue that support given the OCTFME and The Washington Informer. The District govcircumstances of the COVID pandemic. Youth needed ernment-owned network DKN will broadcast the bee on an outlet to expand their educational opportunities and Sunday, April 25 at 3 p.m. experiences, and the Bee competitions helped filled that void. We applaud the Washington Informer Charities Director Angie Gates said, “OCTFME is excited to partner for their leadership, insight, and ingenuity to coordinate with The Washington Informer and Denise Rolark-Barnes and overcome those challenges and host two stellar Bee in hosting the 39th Annual Washington Informer Citycompetitions.” Wide Spelling Bee. This is our second year hosting this

The Washington Informer 39th Annual Spelling Bee

MEET OUR SPELLERS Speller #1

Speller #2

Prince Ellington

Josephine O’Connell

Ketcham / 3rd Grade Parents/Guardian: Randall Ellington Sponsor: Sadiya Abubakri Principal: Maisha Riddlesprigger Hobbies & Interests: My hobbies include swimming, cycling, and doing kitchen science experiments. Favorite Subjects: My favorite subject is Science. When I grow up, I want to find cures and solutions to diseases and improve the life of others. Awards & Honors: Principal’s Honor Roll- All A’s every quarter since Kinder. Person Most Admired: The person I am most admire is my dad, Randall. I admire him because he is strong, a hard worker and funny. He’s a role model in our community and always pushes me and my mom to be our best.

Stoddert / 5th Grade Parents/Guardian: Jessica O’Connell Sponsor: Lalla Marquez Principal: Donald Bryant Hobbies & Interests: Volleyball, Soccer, Art Favorite Subjects: English and writing Extra-curricular Activities: Gymnastics, Track Person Most Admired: My mom, because I want to be like her.

Speller #4 Zabrin Zaihan

Marie Reed / 4th Grade Parents/Guardian: Farida Yeasmin, Sm Rahman Speller #3 Sponsor: Redekopp Tasara Coordinated by the District of Columbia Public Schools Norman Yeakey Principal: Katie Lundgren Bruce-Monroe / 4th Grade Hobbies & Interests: Parents/Guardian: Reading, Spelling Marissa Pine Yeakey Favorite Subjects: Math, Science, Library Sponsor: Amy Dinan Extra-curricular Activities: Science club, Music Club, Library Principal: Alethea Bustillo Club Hobbies & Interests: Awards & Honors: 3rd place in Art a Contest Video games, baking, reading Person Most Admired: Mom and Dad because they admire Favorite Subjects: Literacy (reading), math me for my hard work. Extra-curricular Activities: Piano, Boy Scouts (Cub Scouts)

Saturday, April 25, 2021

Awards & Honors: School Read-A-Thon champion, 2020 Person Most Admired: The author, Tui Sutherland, because she writes my favorite books.

The Washington Informer 39th Annual Spelling Bee

Speller #5

Speller #6

Arjun Patel

Leonard Valckx

St Albans / 7th Grade Parents/Guardian: Monica Shah, Tushar Patel Sponsor: JT Miller Principal: Frederic Chandler Hobbies & Interests: Reading, traveling, geography, basketball, soccer, tennis,photography Favorite Subjects: History, Geography, English, Science, Math Extra-curricular Activities: Soccer, basketball, tennis Awards & Honors: St Albans Book Awards for Academic Excellence, St Albans Citizenship Award, Washington DC National Spelling Bee Champion 2019 Person Most Admired: I most admire Mahatma Gandhi because he achieved his goals and motivated others by respecting the dignity of of each person. I also admire him for his perseverance, dedication to truth, and selflessness.

St Albans / 6th Grade Parents/Guardian: Nico Valckx Sponsor: JT Miller Principal: Jason Robinson Hobbies & Interests: Tennis, spelling, and skiing Extra-curricular Activities: Tennis lessons, piano lessons, and Dutch and Russian weekend school Awards & Honors: Effort roll in fourth grade and national winner of AreteLabs Math Madness 2020 and 2021 (Elementary School level) Person Most Admired: I admire my parents as my role models. My dad teaches me lots of things about the economy, math, and he is my regular sparring partner in sports. My mom inspires and motivates me to become a better thinker and public speaker. I am also grateful for their role in my exploration of Dutch and Russian language and culture.

Speller #7 Nalleti Otieno

St Albans / 6th Grade Parents/Guardian: Caroline Beruchan Sponsor: Dr. Olga Williams Principal: Mr. Raven Wilkins Winner Favorite Subjects: Math, Science, Religion, Technology Extra-curricular Activities: Journalism club, Spelling bee club, Math honors, League Cadet (USNSCC) Awards & Honors: Math honors, Langston Hughes for E/LA, Spelling bee, Technology, Science, School Spirit, Citizen Award, Honor Cadet in United States Navy Sea Cadet Corps Person Most Admired: Other than my parents and teachers, I admire Ms. Negar Rafikian. She also works with the World Bank, just like my mom. Ms. Rafikian is always motivating me to be the best person I can be, encouraging me to take chances, celebrates my achievements, and guides me through many situations.

Speller #8 Aklasheya Ashenafi

St Augustine / 8th Grade Parents/Guardian: Altashework Teklu Sponsor: Dr. Olga Williams Principal: Raven Wilkins Favorite Subjects: Math Extra-curricular Activities: Journalism Club, Drama Club, Piano class Awards & Honors: CBN( Catholic Business Network Essay Competition) Person Most Admired: Oprah Winfrey, because she has done a lot of good things in the world. Like she has built an all girl schools in South Africa.

The Washington Informer 39th Annual Spelling Bee

Speller #9

Speller #10

Abraham Latner

Nathaniel Ezra

Stoddert / 4th Grade Parents/Guardian: Kevin Latner Sponsor: Ms. Marquez Principal: Principal Bryant Hobbies & Interests: Building, Music, Transportation Extra-curricular Activities: Chorus, Karate, Trumpet, Chinese Awards & Honors: 2nd Place Spelling Bee in 3rd Grade, Person Most Admired: Both parents because they love me and take care of me..

St Augustine / 7th Grade Parents/Guardian: Joy Law / Balijir Ezra Sponsor: Dr. Olga Williams Principal: Sister Emmanuella Ladipo Favorite Subjects: Math Awards & Honors: 1st place School Spelling Bee Winner for 4 years, 1st place School Math Bee Winner for 2 years, Honor Roll Student Person Most Admired: I admire Nikola Tesla because of his intelligence, perseverance, and inventions.

Speller #11

Aklasheya Ashenafi

Stoddert / 5th Grade Parents/Guardian: Chunyu Feng Sponsor: Lalla Marquezs Principal: Donald Bryant Favorite Subjects: Math, ELA, Art, PE

Extra-curricular Activities: Piano, Music theory Awards & Honors: Level 5 for piano examination of the Central Conservatory in 2018, level 3 for Ballet examination of Beijing Dance Academy in 2018, Second Prize for China preliminary of Melbourne International Youth Music Competition 2018 Person Most Admired: I admire Confucius very much because he is one of the most important philosophers and teachers.

Speller #12

Speller #13

Tuiren O’Donovan

Niamh O’Donovan

Coordinated by the District of Columbia Public Schools Tyler / 3rd Grade Washington Latin / 8th Grade Parents/Guardian: Parents/Guardian: Michael O’Donovan Michael O’Donovan Sponsor: Jenny Jou Sponsor: Lacy Peale Principal: Jasmine Brann Principal: Dr. Diana Smith Hobbies & Interests: Ballet; Extra-curricular Activities: Soccer; Reading; Piano; all kinds of mythology Soccer; Certamen team; Debate team; Piano; School newspaper Favorite Subjects: English; Drama; Art; Media; Spanish Awards & Honors: Washington DC City Spelling Bee 2020 Awards & Honors: 1st and 2nd grade school finalist spell3rd Place; Participant in the Jr. Varsity; National Championships for Debate; National Latin Exam Gold Star; National Mythology Exam ing bee; Student Council (Secretary); Tyler Elementary Star Student (2021) Gold Star; Washington Latin Merit Award winner grades 5, 6, 7 Person Most Admired: I most admire Ruth Bader Ginsburg Person Most Admired: I most admire Megan Rapinoe, activbecause she was a famous lawyer who overcame adversity and ist and soccer player, for using her national platform to uplift I want to be a famous lawyer like her.. the voices of others and to champion women’s issues.

Saturday, April 25, 2021

The Washington Informer 39th Annual Spelling Bee

MEET THE 2021 JUDGES JONATHAN LEWIS

Jonathan Lewis is a local author, poet, and literary magazine editor. He also works on the technology team for the Office of Data Systems and Strategy at DC Public Schools. Lewis is the author of Babel On, winner of the Lines + Stars Mid-Atlantic Chapbook Series contest. His poems have been published in five countries and written in English, French, and Spanish. He is a recipient of a DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities fellowship, and is the 2019 Washington, DC winner of the Golden Haiku award. Additionally, Lewis is Editor of The Federal Poet, one of DC’s oldest literary magazines, and each year he hosts the Poetry on the Patio reading at the Literary Hill BookFest on Capitol Hill. Lewis is honored to serve as a Judge for the Citywide Spelling Bee for the past three years.

JASON MOORE

A lifelong educator, Jason Moore began teaching in Tucson, Arizona. He taught second and third grade for ten years before becoming the Director of Academic Programs for BASIS schools. He has developed elementary programs and presented professional developments on a variety of topics, including classroom management, educational communication, teaching twice exceptional students, and aligning actionable data with equity in education. Currently, Jason Moore is the Manager of Elementary Assessments and Interventions with the Office of Teaching & Learning at DCPS. He has coordinated the District of Columbia’s Spelling Bees for four years. Although he loves everything about his work, the Spelling Bee is a particular joy: “It teaches students that academic excellence, hard work, and fortitude are closely aligned with school, city, and nationwide recognition at an early age. For these students, the seat at the table for them at the city bee is a tremendous honor, and I hope to impart to them that this in and of itself is the achievement.”

ELIZABETH PRIMAS

Dr. Elizabeth V. Primas was educated in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). She attended DC Teachers College (University of the District of Columbia) B.S., Trinity College M.A.T. and George Washington University Ed.S. and Ed.D. Her majors have included education and specializing in teaching reading and language arts, research statistics, supervision and curriculum development and art. Dr. Primas worked for two-years in a residences program at Educational Testing Serviced (ETS), where she led the development of the National Board for Certified Teachers Elementary and Middle School Reading and English Language Arts Certificate. She retired from DCPS as the Director of Literacy and Advanced Placement Pk-12th grade. She served as an Adjunct Professor at both the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) in the Mathematics department, and George Washington University (GWU) in the Graduate School of Education Literacy Department. Elizabeth was a national professional developer for three textbook companies and worked for a year in Ecuador with Rotary International, teaching teachers how to teach reading. She has been published many times, including books, articles and poetry. Dr. Primas has won awards for her teaching and is a member of various international educational associations and honor societies. She has been the Education Program Manager for the National Newspaper Publishers Association for four years.

The Washington Informer 39th Annual Spelling Bee

OUR PRONOUNCER

Mr. David Zahren is currently a television instructional specialist with the Prince George’s County Public Schools’ Department of Television Resources and Web Services. This is his 46th year with PGCPS. Over the past 30+ years, Mr. Zahren has written, produced, and hosted four award-winning science programs that have aired on cable television: “Give Science A Hand,” a hands-on approach to science aimed at elementary school students; “Science Bowl,” an interscholastic science game show; “Under the Microscope,” a series of staff development programs for elementary teachers that also airs nationwide on PBS stations, and a new series, “Anatomy of a Lesson.”

Mr. Zahren is a cum laude graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh and has a master’s degree in school administration and human relations from George Washington University. In 1985, after a teaching career that had spanned fourteen years, including three years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nairobi, Kenya, Mr. Zahren was selected as Maryland’s Teacher in Space candidate. He was one of 100 teachers chosen from the 40,000 applicants nationwide to vie for a flight aboard the space shuttle Challenger.

Mr. Zahren has received a number of awards, including the CINE Golden Eagle, for his work as a science teacher, a television host and producer, and a space educator. He continues to produce and host public television programs with the Department of Television Resources and Web Services in Prince George’s County and is in his 17th year as host for “It’s Academic,” a high school quiz program that airs on WJZ-TV, the CBS affiliate in Baltimore. He retired in 2015 from Washington’s WJLA-ABC 7/News Channel 8 after working 25 years as a part-time weather forecaster.

39th Annual Spelling Bee

Coordinated by the District of Columbia Public Schools

Saturday, April 25, 2021

Broadcast on Sunday, April 25, 2021 at 3:00 pm. on the District Knowledge Network (DKN) Catch DKN on cable in DC via the following channels: Comcast | channel 99, RCN | channel 18, Verizon | channel 12 Programming on DKN is also streamed live on entertainment.dc.gov

The Washington Informer 39th Annual Spelling Bee

BROADCAST PARTNER OF THE WASHINGTON INFORMER SPELLING BEE DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) is the broadcast partner of the Washington Informer Spelling Bee. The 2021 bee will be broadcast initially on Sunday, April 25 on the District Knowledge Network (DKN) at 3:00 pm. It will be repeated periodically throughout the year. Programming on DKN is also streamed live so you’ll be able to see it on entertainment.dc.gov DISTRICT KNOWLEDGE NETWORK (DKN) https://entertainment.dc.gov/page/district-knowledge-network-dkn The District Knowledge Network’s (DKN) mission is to provide learning for a lifetime by offering programming that educates, enlightens, and entertains. The channel offers a diverse array of interesting and informative shows that support academic as well as skills-based, instructional programming for the youngest students to a millennial audience. DKN is committed to providing the best in quality programming that fosters and encourages learning and achievement. CATCH DKN ON CABLE VIA THE FOLLOWING CHANNELS: • Comcast | channel 99 • RCN | channel 18 • Verizon | channel 12 ABOUT OCTFME https://entertainment.dc.gov/ MISSION The mission of the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment (OCTFME) is to produce and broadcast programming for the District of Columbia’s public, educational, and government access (PEG) cable channels and digital radio station; regulate the District of Columbia’s cable television service providers; provide customer service for cable subscribers; and support a sustainable creative economy and labor market the District of Columbia. SUMMARY OF SERVICES OCTFME is responsible for regulating cable television in the District and managing the District’s government access channels: the District Council Channel (DCC), the District of Columbia Network (DCN),

the District Knowledge Network (DKN) and DC Radio 96.3HD4. OCTFME creates content that informs, educates, and entertains viewers via the District of Columbia’s public, educational, and government (PEG) channels and other forms of content outlets. The award-winning content provides resourceful information on government activity, education, current events, history, and arts and entertainment. OCTFME provides 24-hour informative, open government, public interest programming on the District Council Channel (DCC), District of Columbia Network (DCN), and the District Knowledge Network (DKN). Programming includes coverage of the activities of Executive Offices of the Mayor and the executive branch; the District of Columbia City Council, the Office of the Attorney General, and the State Board of Education. OCTFME provides transparent public access to the governmental process and insights into life in the District. OCTFME is dedicated to providing quality, diverse programming and services that educate, enlighten, and empower the residents of the District of Columbia. OCTFME operates DC Radio 96.3 HD4, the District of Columbia’s first and official government radio station, in partnership with Howard University’s WHUR. The station’s programming enhances the quality-of-life for District residents by broadcasting vital information, sharing programming on emergency and non-emergency services and alerts, and providing community and government affairs programming. In addition, DC Radio 96.3 HD4 provides a media literacy training platform for DC residents and students. OCTFME offers a number of support services to local and out-ofstate film, television, video, entertainment, interactive, multimedia, and digital media content creators, including: media production permitting; location scouting; production support; production and infrastructure incentives; job placement assistance and workforce development programs. OCTFME also administrates a media production incentive program, the DC Film, Television and Entertainment Rebate fund. OCTFME engages the community to create a greater understanding of the creative economy as a whole, the media production process, and access to training opportunities required to become marketable creative economy industry professionals.

The Washington Informer 39th Annual Spelling Bee

WE ARE DEFINED BY OUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE

Coordinated by the District of Columbia Public Schools

Congratulations to all of the participants in the 39th Annual Washington Informer Citywide Spelling Bee.

Saturday, April 25, 2021

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The Washington Informer 39th Annual Spelling Bee

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SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE RETURNS THIS SUMMER

The Scripps National Spelling Bee returns this year with top spellers from across the U.S. and the globe gathering near Orlando, Florida, on July 8 to compete in the nationally televised event. The final rounds of this year’s Bee will be hosted in person at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort. The finals, featuring 10-12 accomplished spellers, will be broadcast live in primetime on ESPN2.

The 10 to 12 finalists who will travel to the Orlando area will have earned the right to compete in the finals by advancing through three levels of competition: the preliminary, quarterfinal and semifinal segments. In past years, those three rounds were held over one week – Bee Week. This year, due to the global pandemic, the preliminaries, quarterfinals and semifinals will be held virtually in the weeks leading up to the July 8 finals and will be broadcast live on ESPN platforms. The semifinals are slated for June 27, and dates for the earlier virtual rounds of the competition will be announced this spring. www.spellingbee.com

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The Washington Informer 39th Annual Spelling Bee

ABOUT WASHINGTON INFORMER CHARITIES

Washington Informer Charities is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that helps children and adults reach their fullest potential through opportunities to improve and strengthen 21st century literacy skills. WIC develops innovative programs and creates scholarship opportunities through partnerships with public, private and non-profit entities that support WIC activities. Washington Informer Charities also presents the following events each year: • MLK Peacewalk and Parade • African American Heritage Tour • Washington Informer DC Citywide Spellling Bee • The Prince George’s County Spelling Bee presented by The Washington Informer Visit us at: washingtoninformercharities.org and click our donate button to help support our programs

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ABOUT THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER Saturday, April 25, 2021 COMPANY, INC.

The Washington Informer Newspaper Co. Inc. is a multimedia news organization founded in 1964 by the late Dr. Calvin Rolark, Sr. Today, Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes, leads the Informer’s coverage of positive news about African Americans in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. The Informer reaches more than 50,000 readers through its print and digital channels including 50,000 views of on its award-winning website; 10,000 subscribers to its daily email newsletter, and thousands of social media followers and fans. Follow us on social media and visit us at: washingtoninformer.com and sign up for our eblast

The Washington Informer 39th Annual Spelling Bee

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Denise Rolark Barnes Publisher The Washington Informer

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The Washington Informer 39th Annual Spelling Bee

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Washington Gas Congratulates the 39th Washington Informer Spelling Bee Participants

The Washington Informer 39th Annual Spelling Bee