Big Blue Bee returns to UK College of Education

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 16, 2025) — Young spellers from across Central Kentucky can take their skills to the national stage through the University of Kentucky College of Education’s Big Blue Bee, March 27 at Gatton Student Center. 

Schools in 42 Central Kentucky counties, including private, cooperative and home schools, are invited to participate in the regional competition. The winner will advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., with the UK College of Education sponsoring the student’s trip. 

Open to students in grades one through eight, the Big Blue Bee gives schools an opportunity to celebrate literacy and learning while offering their top spellers a pathway to compete alongside students from across the country. 

“The college’s Big Blue Bee celebrates the hard work happening in classrooms and homes across Kentucky and gives students an opportunity to see just how far that learning can take them,” said UK College of Education Dean Nick Pace, Ed.D. “Hosting the spelling bee is a wonderful opportunity for our college to celebrate teaching and learning.” 

To participate, educators must register their schools through the Scripps educator portal. The Scripps enrollment fee is $199 per school through Nov. 30. The fee increases to $225 from Dec. 1 through Jan. 29. 

“The Big Blue Bee is about so much more than spelling words correctly. It’s about building confidence, celebrating students’ hard work and giving young people across Central Kentucky an opportunity to challenge themselves,” said Faith McNabb, Big Blue Bee director. “We’re excited to welcome students and their families to UK and create an experience they’ll be proud to remember, no matter how far they advance.”  

For more information about the UK College of Education Big Blue Bee, contact Faith McNabb at faith.mcnabb1@uky.edu.

Schools in the following counties are eligible to participate in the Central Kentucky region:    

• Adair   

• Anderson  

• Bath  

• Bell  

• Bourbon  

• Boyle  

• Breathitt  

• Casey  

• Clark  

• Clay  

• Estill  

• Fayette  

• Fleming  

• Franklin  

• Garrard  

• Harrison  

• Jackson  

• Jessamine  

• Knott  

• Knox  

• Laurel  

• Lee  

• Lincoln  

• McCreary   

• Madison  

• Menifee  

• Mercer  

• Montgomery  

• Morgan  

• Nicholas  

• Owsley  

• Perry  

• Powell  

• Pulaski  

• Rockcastle  

• Rowan  

• Russell  

• Scott   

• Wayne  

• Whitley  

• Wolfe   

• Woodford