YOUNGSTOWN – Forty-six area school spelling bee champions are scheduled to compete in the annual Vindicator Printing Co. Regional Spelling Bee on March 14 at Youngstown State University.

The youngsters represent public, private, parochial and charter schools in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. The spellers are the champions of their school competitions.

This year, 37 students will compete in the event for the first time; seven spellers are back for the top prize a second time; and two spellers are returning for a third and fourth opportunity.

Each contestant will receive a Merriam-Webster 11th Edition Collegiate dictionary, courtesy of The Vindicator Printing Co., as well as a spelling bee T-shirt, a school champion certificate and other mementos for their participation.

The grand champion of the bee will represent the region at the 93rd annual Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., May 24- 29. The competition will begin May 26.

Approximately 300 of the best spellers in the nation will participate in the national competition. The Vindicator Printing Co. will pay for transportation, hotel accommodations and other expenses for the grand champion and his / her adult escort.

While in the nation’s capital, students of the national competition will go on tours of historic sites and participate in many other activities planned for the spellers by Scripps Spelling Bee officials.

Adam Earnheardt, chair and professor of the Department of Communication at YSU, will serve as pronouncer of the bee. The judges are the Rev. Lewis Macklin, pastor of Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church; Mary Kay Earnhart, a retired teacher; and Carol Ryan, office manager of St. Christine Parish.

The educational program is an opportunity for students to learn the spelling of words as well as their definitions, origins, parts of speech and how to use them in sentences.

The annual Vindicator Printing Co. Regional Spelling Bee has been a tradition in the community since 1934.