Dallas Sports Commission To Send More Students to 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee

DALLAS (October 30, 2024) – As part of its commitment to promote educational opportunities
for young people in Dallas and across the region, the Dallas Sports Commission continues its
role as a regional partner for the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee, providing area students
and schools the opportunity to take part in the 100th anniversary year of America’s
longest-running educational competition.

As the exclusive host of the 67th Annual Dallas Regional Spelling Bee, the Dallas Sports
Commission will stage the competition on March 8, 2025, in collaboration with WFAA. The
Dallas Regional Bee will send an unprecedented three regional champions to the national
competition in May 2025, courtesy of the Dallas Sports Commission, Leon Capital Group and
Southwest Airlines.

“The impact of the Dallas Regional Spelling Bee reaches far beyond the competition itself—it
empowers students across Dallas and the region to build confidence and develop essential
skills,” said Monica Paul, Executive Director of the Dallas Sports Commission. “Our invaluable
school partners are key to making the Dallas Regional Spelling Bee so successful, ensuring
students from across North and East Texas participate and grow through this incredible
educational platform.”

In an exciting finish at the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee, Dallas Regional Spelling Bee
representative Faizan Zaki, a 6th grader from Plano’s Rice Middle School, earned an impressive
second place finish. The champion was Bruhat Soma, a 12-year-old from Tampa, Florida, who
set a record by spelling 29 words correctly in a dramatic Spell-off with Zaki.

By inspiring the exploration of words, the Scripps National Spelling Bee illuminates pathways to
lifelong curiosity, celebrates academic achievement and enriches communities. Each year, the
Bee reaches millions of students across the country and around the world with the classroom
materials it provides to schools enrolled in the yearlong program.

Participation in regional bees also provides an opportunity for students to gain experience in
public speaking, develop confidence and inspire a love of learning and connection with their
peers.

Schools in thirty-nine (39) counties throughout North and East Texas are eligible to enroll in the
2024-2025 program now through December 31. Early enrollment, which is encouraged, ends on
October 31st. Educators can visit Spellingbee.com/enroll to learn more and enroll their schools in
the program.

This marks the ninth consecutive year the Dallas Sports Commission will sponsor the regional
spelling bee. Visit dallasspellingbee.com for more information about the 67th Dallas Regional
Spelling Bee, including key dates.

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About the Dallas Sports Commission:
A division of Visit Dallas, the Dallas Sports Commission (DSC) focuses on generating economic impact as well as improving the quality of life within the community through sports. The DSC is
tasked with attracting and retaining amateur, grassroots, collegiate and professional
championship events, with the goal of maintaining Dallas’ status as the No. 1 City for Sports
Business as determined by Sports Business Journal. Now celebrating its 10-Year Anniversary,
the DSC has hosted 570+ events, 8.1M+ attendees, and generated over $4.3B in economic
impact.

About the Scripps National Spelling Bee:
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation’s largest and longest-running educational
program, having launched in 1925. By inspiring the exploration of words, the Bee illuminates
pathways to lifelong curiosity, celebrates academic achievement and enriches communities.
Visit spellingbee.com for more information about the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is
administered on a not-for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company.