Eight hosts 2015 Arizona Spelling Bee, airing Mar. 21 at 1 p.m.

WHAT:  Eight, Arizona PBS will host the annual AEF Arizona Spelling Bee presented by the Arizona Educational Foundation.  The spelling bee will be taped with a live audience on Saturday, March 21 at 1 p.m. at Eight, Arizona PBS in Studio A.  The public is welcome to attend.  Footage from the event will be edited by Eight, Arizona PBS into a 60-minute program premiering on Friday, April 3 at 9 p.m. on Eight HD.  An Eight original production made possible by the Arizona Educational Foundation.
WHO:  Twenty-eight students will compete in this state spelling bee. These students earned their places in the state competition by winning their school spelling bees, regional spelling bees and county spelling bees to rank among the 28 finalists competing in the 2015 AEF Arizona Spelling Bee.  The winner of this Arizona spelling bee receives an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Last year 7th grade student Nila Dhinaker of Cooley Middle School in Gilbert won. The 2014 Arizona Spelling Bee lasted for 21 nail-biting rounds to get to the final two spellers. To clinch the win, Nila correctly spelled "effraction," which had been incorrectly spelled by the other finalist, 2013 winner Christopher O’Connor, and then she correctly spelled "salvific." The Arizona Spelling Bee will once again be hosted by Arizona’s Poet Laureate Alberto Rios.
WHERE:  At Eight, Arizona PBS studio A, 6th Floor, 555 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004. (Light Rail accessible from Van Buren stop)
WHEN:  Saturday, March 21, 1 p.m. (Live taping of event)

Media Contact:  Colleen O’Donnell Pierce
[email protected]
(602) 496-0579
(602) 478-3867 (cell)

About Arizona PBS

Arizona PBS is a trusted community resource.  For over 52 years, the PBS station has focused on educating children, reporting in-depth on public affairs, fostering lifelong learning and celebrating arts and culture. Arizona PBS achieves its mission through the power of non-commercial television, the Internet, educational outreach and community-based initiatives. Its signal reaches 80 percent of the homes in Arizona. With more than 1 million viewers weekly, Arizona PBS consistently ranks among the most-viewed public television stations per capita in the country. For more information, visit azpbs.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest or Tumblr.

Arizona PBS is a member-supported community service of Arizona State University and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

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