Students from Ky., Southern Indiana schools invited to participate
August 19, 2015 Louisville, KY. The Kentucky Derby Festival is looking for contestants to participate in the 23rd annual Ford Motor Company Spelling Bee in March of next year. Students wishing to participate in the KDF Spelling Bee must first take part in their county-wide competition, which is organized by the respective school systems.
The Festival sends informational packets to nearly 100 counties in Kentucky and 11 counties in Southern Indiana. For more information on the county spelling bee, students or parents should contact their school superintendent or principal.
62 students from around the region participated in the 2015 Derby Festival Spelling Bee, which was held in the Bomhard Theatre at The Kentucky Center. Students went through 191 words and 19 rounds before the winner was determined.
Paul Keaton of Pike County won the 2015 competition, for the second year in a row. He correctly spelling “insentient” – without sensation or consciousness. His older sister, Emily Keaton, won the KDF Spelling Bee from 2010-2013. Keaton received the John & Joan Murphy Memorial Scholarship Fund, a $10,000 savings bond at maturity from the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation, the Derby Festival’s charitable arm.
Tara Singh, representing private schools in Jefferson County, Ky., received a $5,000 savings bond for finishing runner-up in the 22nd annual competition. Erin Thompson of Kenton County, finished third, winning a $3,000 savings bond. Max Bograd of Fayette County finished fourth and received a $1,500 savings bond. Chris Rice of Nelson County finished fifth, winning a $1,000 savings bond.
The 2015 Kentucky Derby Festival Spelling Bee was sponsored by Ford Motor Company, with Media Sponsors Kentucky Monthly and 840WHAS.
