Lottery to pay spelling bee fee

YOUNGSTOWN — The Ohio State Lottery is offering to pay the fee for any Ohio school wishing to enter its pupils in a qualifying regional bee for the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee.

The Vindicator has been a sponsor of a regional bee for the past 74 years, and the 75th event is set for March 15 in Kilcawley Center on the Youngstown State University campus.

The Lottery, in a continuing effort to visibly support Ohio public education, will pay the $99 materials and enrollment cost each school must pay to have pupils participate in the bee.

There is no fee for the pupils. Participating schools hold their own contests to select a school champion to compete in the regional event.

Winners of regional contests advance to the National Bee held in Washington, D.C.

The Lottery reports that nearly 800 schools have accepted its offer to pick up the $99 cost. The offer is being made to Ohio school officials who use the National Spelling Bee enrollment application at www.spellingbee.com. School officials can elect to accept the offer during the enrollment process.

Applications are being accepted through Dec. 14.