CINCINNATI, December 10, 2019 – The Scripps National Spelling Bee is introducing new features to its popular invitational program, RSVBee, to enhance the annual “Bee Week” experience for more champion spellers and their families.
RSVBee is a participation pathway that qualifies more spellers for the national finals. It is the only way students living in unsponsored regions can advance and is an additional opportunity for the best spellers in the country to compete on the national stage.
“We’ve known for many years that large numbers of excellent spellers have had limited access to the national finals or no pathway at all,” said Paige Kimble, executive director of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. “We created RSVBee to address this very issue and make our iconic competition accessible to a wider population of children who love words and language and enjoy competitive spelling.
“We continue to improve and refine the RSVBee invitational part of our program, now in its third year, with a focus on fairness, accessibility, maintaining the integrity of the competition and delivering a quality Bee Week experience for all,” Kimble said.
The Bee will now offer financial aid packages to spellers who qualify for RSVBee but whose families might not be able to afford the entry fee and cost of traveling to National Harbor, Maryland.
The narrowed field of about 400 spellers for 2020, down from last year’s 562, is a direct response to survey feedback from spellers, parents and sponsors of local spelling bee programs who favored a smaller cohort of spellers.
“The Bee is always striving to improve the competition and camaraderie for the spellers who attend Bee Week,” Kimble said. “We’re pleased to offer financial assistance through RSVBee to ensure we provide opportunities for the nation’s best spellers.”
RSVBee Eligibility and Application Process Parents can apply on behalf of their child for one of about 140 total RSVBee invitations at spellingbee.com/rsvbee beginning Feb. 11, 2020. The deadline to submit the online form is March 29. To be eligible, students must:
- Attend a school (or home school) that is enrolled with the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
- Be in seventh or eighth grade.
- Win their school or community spelling bee in the 2019-2020 school year or be a previous participant in the national finals.
The Bee will issue RSVBee invitations based on past performance in the national finals, grade level, participation in an unsponsored region or the largest, most competitive regions.
The deadline for parents to accept their RSVBee invitation and pay the $1,500 participation fee is April 7, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
FINANCIAL AID FOR 2020
The Bee is offering up to 18 financial aid packages to pay a majority of the RSVBee expense for qualified families. The aid will waive the $1,500 participation fee, pay for one hotel room for six nights during Bee Week, provide a $500 gift card for meals and a $500 stipend for travel. Parents who receive financial aid for their child will be responsible for any additional travel expenses to the competition, which is held at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center.
Parents can apply for financial aid after receiving an RSVBee invitation. Children who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch are eligible for financial help. The Bee will verify financial aid applications and award aid on a first-come, first-served basis. More information about RSVBee is available here.
The 93rd Scripps National Spelling Bee is May 24-30.
