Watch Central Kentucky’s top spellers compete at UK
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 20, 2026) — Cheer on top spellers from across Central Kentucky at the University of Kentucky College of Education’s Big Blue Bee, 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at the UK Gatton Student Center, Ballroom C. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are available online.
Students in grades one through eight competing in the Big Blue Bee are champions of their schools’ respective spelling bees held during the 2025-26 school year. The student who wins the Big Blue Bee will compete nationally at the Scripps Cup in Washington, D.C.
“The Big Blue Bee reflects our college’s commitment to opening doors for learning and opportunity, and hosting it is one of our favorite traditions,” said Nicholas J. Pace, Ed.D., dean of the UK College of Education. “I remember the excitement of qualifying for and participating in the Covered Bridge Festival Bee as a child and the experience definitely helped my spelling. We are excited to see which Central Kentucky student will earn the opportunity to compete at the national level.”
In addition to 38 students from across Central Kentucky, the Big Blue Bee will feature an esteemed panel of officials and judges, including:
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Emcee: Michael Berk, anchor/reporter, LEX 18 News
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Pronouncer: Christopher Reese, director of educator preparation, UK College of Education
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Head Judge: Sydney DeLong, executive producer, LEX 18 News
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Judge: Jacqueline Hamilton, Ed.D., English professor, Eastern Kentucky University
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Recorder: Zitsi Mirakhur, Ph.D., assistant professor, UK College of Education
For more information about the Big Blue Bee, contact Mariama Lockington, research administrative coordinator in the UK College of Education Office of Facilities and Outreach, at mariama.lockington@uky.edu.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.