Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee Winners

A Wild and Wacky Event for a Great Cause

Kalamazoo Public Library hosts the Great Grown-up Spelling Bee to benefit Ready to Read, our early childhood literacy program. The 12th Annual Great Grown-up Spelling Bee, held Wednesday, November 14, 2012, at Westen Michigan University’s Bernhard Center, was another “wildly” successful event! We raised $22,000 and 100% of the proceeds will be used to purchase books for Kalamazoo County children. Fourteen wonderfully creative, enthusiastic and entertaining community teams competed for this year’s spelling and team spirit awards. Or heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone who makes this event possible.

Congratulations to the 2012 Winners!

Winning Spellers:

  • First Place: First Day Shoe Fund, sponsored by Kalamazoo Sunrise Rotary
  • Second Place: Your Gull Road Wal-Mart
  • Third Place: Breakfast Optimist Club

2012 Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee photos | video

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First Day Shoe Fund spellers Amanda Reel and Mark McBride, sponsored by Kalamazoo Sunrise Rotary
Photos: John Lacko

Team Spirit Awards:

  • People’s Choice: Bronson Healthcare
  • Most Creative Cheer: Communities in Schools of Kalamazoo, sponsored by RiverRun Press
  • Best Costumes: PNC Grow Up Great
  • Most Enthusiastic Team: Kalamazoo County Juvenile Home

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top: Bronson Healthcare Cheerleaders
bottom: Communities in Schools of Kalamazoo, PNC Grow Up Great, Kalamazoo County Juvenile Home
Photos: John Lacko
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Watch the Bee on Public Media Network TV

  • Friday Nov. 16, 2012, 7 pm, PMN Channel 95
  • Monday Nov. 19, 2012, 1 pm, PMN Channel 95
  • Wednesday Nov. 21, 2012, 9 pm, PMN Channel 95
  • Thursday Nov. 22, 2012, 2 pm, PMN Channel 95
  • Thursday Nov. 22, 2012, 7 pm, PMN Channel 95
  • Saturday Nov. 24, 2012, 1 pm, PMN Channel 95
  • Tuesday Nov. 27, 2012, 8 pm, PMN Channel 95
  • Thursday Nov. 29, 2012, 9 pm, PMN Channel 95

The Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee Features

  • Teams of eight adults: two courageous spellers and six outrageous cheerleaders
  • Two spellers compete together in two 60-second rounds of fast paced spelling
  • Six cheerleaders perform one 2-3 minute cheer in Round One
  • Prizes for best spelling, best costumes, most enthusiastic, creative cheers
  • People’s choice award
  • Event recorded by Public Media Network TV and broadcast on subsequent dates

Join the Fun!

Sponsor the Spelling Bee with a donation of any amount.

Sponsor the Bee at the Bronze $500 level or higher and you may opt to send a team to the Bee! Can’t send a team? Choose to have the library recruit a non-profit team to compete on your behalf. Learn more...