FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Paul Burns (502) 574-1683 [Office] Louisville Free Public Library again partners with Scripps National Spelling Bee to host regional competition Louisville, Ky. (February 18, 2025) – The Louisville Regional Spelling Bee—the Fleur de Bee—is a few weeks away and the “buzz” is growing. On Saturday, March 8, eighteen finalists from elementary and middle schools in the 28-county region will converge on the Main Library to compete for a spot at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. in May. This is the second year the Louisville Free Public Library (LFPL) has partnered with Scripps National Spelling Bee to be a regional host. The competition will begin at 10 a.m. in the auditorium of the Main Library (301 York Street). Participating schools in this year’s Regional Bee include: Anchorage Public School; Fern Creek Elementary School; Holy Family Catholic School (New Albany, IN); Holy Trinity Parish School; Immaculata Classical Academy; Johnson Traditional Middle School; Kenwood Station Elementary School (Crestwood, KY); Lowe Elementary School; Meyzeek Middle School; Montessori School Of Louisville; Our Savior Lutheran School; Pope John XXIII School (Madison, IN); Radcliff Elementary School (Radcliff, KY); Sacred Heart Model School; Saint Anthony Catholic School (Clarksville, IN); Shreve Academy; South Oldham Middle School; Zachary Taylor Elementary School. “I am so appreciative of the work our library system is doing every day to support early learning in our city. By sponsoring the Louisville Regional Spelling Bee, our Louisville Free Public Library is providing a platform for these amazing young people to compete, in front of family, friends, and their peers, for a chance to represent our region in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. What a memorable experience, which we hope they will always remember every time they visit the library,” said Mayor Craig Greenberg. Celebrating its 100th year, the Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation’s largest and longest- running educational program, reaching millions of students across the country. The winner of the very first National Spelling Bee in 1925, sponsored by the Courier-Journal, was from Louisville. By inspiring the exploration of words, the Bee encourages lifelong curiosity, celebrates academic achievement, and enriches communities. “The Scripps Spelling Bee is a fantastic complement to the Library’s ongoing work to develop kids’ reading skills,” said Library Director Lee Burchfield. “I’m so appreciative that the Library Foundation leadership has once again stepped up to sponsor this year’s Fleur de Bee.” LFPL’s regional sponsorship is made possible through the generous support of the Library Foundation. Look for more spelling bee information and updates on the Library’s website – LFPL.org – and on social media in the coming weeks.