Inaugural spelling bee celebrates scholarship at Carver Center
This article is brought to you by the Kokomo Family YMCA. Our annual Turkey Trot 5K is TWO WEEKS AWAY, so come run the race before you stuff your face! Join us Nov. 27th and combat those holiday calories while you have fun walking or running our scenic course. It’s a timed, family-friendly race and every participant receives a T-shirt & medal. Proceeds benefit the Kokomo Family YMCA’s Annual Campaign. This is a great opportunity to get active outdoors AND give back to the community by providing opportunities to families and individuals through the YMCA’s annual campaign.
The Carver Community Center made history in Kokomo by hosting the inaugural Spelling Bee Explosion on Sunday, Nov. 9. This event was much more than a spelling competition; it was a celebration of youth, community, and confidence-building in real time.
The Spelling Bee Explosion originated from Gentlemen and Scholars, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in South Bend, Ind. The collaboration between Gentlemen and Scholars and Carver was nearly three years in the making, beginning when Carver’s Executive Director, JC Barnett III, and Gentlemen and Scholars Founder and CEO, William Douglas, first met on the campus of Indiana University Kokomo.
Douglas recalled their initial conversation, saying they planned to create a spelling bee from that very moment.
“We met on the campus of IU Kokomo and wanted to do a spelling bee then,” said Douglas. “But COVID hit, life situations happened, but you know it’s all in God’s timing.”
The event finally came to fruition this fall, demonstrating patience, partnership, and shared vision.
The uniqueness of this spelling bee rests in its approach to teaching and engagement. It was designed not only to test spelling skills but to empower students to take the stage with confidence. Leading the program were Gentlemen and Scholars representatives William Douglas, Cory Brazier, and Shane Williams.
Brazier, the Director of Presentation, carefully explained the rules and coached students on their stage presence. Williams, the Director of Fine Arts, kept the environment fun, light, and encouraging. Their presence helped students feel comfortable and supported.
Moderator Reasha Ly guided the children through each word with patience and clarity, offering definitions and sentences to help them fully understand what they were spelling. Her approach reinforced that learning is just as important as performance.
A huge congratulations was given to all of the spelling bee contestants. The top three spellers were:
First place Tiffani Brown;
Second place Hallee Bouyer;
Third place Parker Richardson.
A powerful moment in the program came when Corinth Oglesby brought praise and worship through a dynamic performance of “Worthy,” moving the audience to its feet and setting an uplifting tone for the evening.
Special guest judges included Mayor Tyler Moore, Police Chief Doug Stout, and Christopher Thomas, whose involvement was especially meaningful. Thomas’ father, serving as Executive Advisor for Gentlemen and Scholars, was instrumental in connecting Barnett and Douglas to bring the bee to Kokomo.
Carver Center Executive Director JC Barnett III emphasized that this partnership is only at its beginning.
“These gentlemen have come to the city of Kokomo, integrated themselves, reached out to the mayor, the radio stations, the police chief, local businesses, and citizens,” said Barnett. “They do a fantastic job building up young people, and I knew early on that this was something I wanted to bring to our city.”
The Spelling Bee Explosion marks a new chapter of collaborative youth empowerment in Kokomo; one that promises to keep growing.