13th Annual Creek County Spelling Bee

The 13th annual Spell-A-Round Creek County spelling bee is the Creek County Literacy Program’s annual fundraiser.

The Creek County Literacy Program’s board of directors holds a quilt made by learners and tutors that will be up for auction at the 13th annual Creek County spelling bee. (L to R): (front row) Lashikia Lynch, Sue McCullough, Barbara Belk, Cookie Jobe, Debbie Marshall, Barbara Morris, (middle row) John Mark Young, Lois Thurston, (back row) Tiffany Owen, Linda Rankin, Nancy Landholt, Cynthia Holtwick, Mack McCullough, and Chuck Mitchell.

The 13th annual Spell-A-Round Creek County spelling bee will be held Saturday, April 16 at Freddie’s Bar-B-Que and Steakhouse, 1425 New Sapulpa Road, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The spelling bee is the Creek County Literacy Program’s annual fundraiser, and proceeds are used to continue offering free tutoring for adults, youth and children in Creek County.

Companies may enter teams of three individuals to compete in Spell-A-Round Creek County. Trophies will be given to all spelling bee winners, and the coveted grand champion traveling trophy will be presented to the top team. A team spirit award will be presented to the rowdiest and most fun-loving team.

“Spell-A-Round Creek County is a very unique event and people from all over the county participate,” said Barbara Belk, executive director of the Creek County Literacy Program. “The local businesses have a great time competing. Inverness Village won the traveling trophy in 2010, so they are the team to beat this year.”

The 2011 Spell-A-Round Creek County theme is “Once Upon a Bee.” Attendees are encouraged to dress up as their favorite storybook characters; an award will be given for best ­costume.

Silent and live auctions will also be held. One special item up for auction is a quilt handmade by learners and tutors. Other auction items will be donated by local businesses.

Individuals and companies are invited to sponsor a spelling bee team for a $150 donation. A $25 donation can be made for individuals that want to observe the competition and enjoy the costume contest (donation includes dinner). Additional sponsorship packages are available.

The Creek County Literacy Program has been making a difference in Sapulpa and its surrounding areas since 1989. The literacy program offers reading instruction, testing and tutoring to its students free of charge.

“Literacy affects the entire family,” said Belk. “If parents are illiterate, they can’t help their children with homework, and the children are twice as likely to drop out of school.”

In addition to its adult literacy services, CCLP also offers the following programs:

•Adult Basic Education and GED preparatory classes

•Computer and workplace literacy skills designed for adult learners

•First Book, a program designed to provide books to underprivileged children

•Family and Health Literacy

•Just 4 Fun, an after-school program for 3rd through 5th graders

•Guarding Angels, a mentoring program for 6th and 7th grade girls

•Caring Grands, a time for adult seniors to read with children ages five through eight

The National Institute for Literacy’s National Adult Literacy Survey estimates that 16 percent of Creek County residents are at level 1, the lowest literacy level. Those with level 1 skills usually cannot locate an intersection on a street map, calculate the total cost of purchases on an order form, or identify and enter information on applications and forms.

In Creek County, more than 23 percent of residents age 18 and older do not have a high school diploma. Nearly 7 percent have less than a ninth grade education.

For more information, contact

Creek County ­Literacy Program

(918) 224-9647

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www.creeklit.okpls.org