Wichita Woman Wins Kansas Spelling Bee

Retired teacher Mary Ann Fenske of Wichita spelled “heterogeneous” correctly to win the third annual Kansas Senior Spelling Bee held in Salina in October.  This year’s spelling bee attracted 39 participants from 20 towns across Kansas.  Participants, who had to be 50 years old by Oct. 1, ranged in age from 52 to 86.  The second place winner was Charles Wray of Topeka, and coming in third was Freeda Steyer of Salina.

“I was really impressed with the competition,” said Fenske, who was director of the literacy program at Butler County Community College in El Dorado for 14 years prior to retiring.  “I had never been in any type of formal spelling competition before so I decided to try it.  I love language, words--always have.”

The first part of the competition consisted of a written portion where all participants had to spell 50 words. The field was then narrowed to 12 spellers for the oral portion of the contest. After seven rounds, the field was narrowed to Fenske, Wray and Steyer. The 70 people who attended the event watched a fun and spirited spell down in which Fenske rose to the top.

Fenske’s prize, in addition to a pottery plaque made by Salina artist Steve Colburn which was given to the top three spellers, is a $1,500 scholarship toward a trip to the AARP National Spelling Bee in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  The national competition is scheduled for June 19, 2010.  AARP sponsors the competition which is the only one of its kind for 50 plus aged spellers where spellers from across the country compete for more than $1,000 in gifts and prizes.

“I’ve already started studying words from books and Web sites,” Fenske said.  “And I plan to practice as much oral spelling as I can before next June.’

The sponsors of the Kansas Senior Spelling Bee include:
•    AARP Kansas
•    the Kansas Association of Retired School Personnel
•    the Salina Senior Center
•    the City of Salina Parks and Recreation 50-Plus Population
•    the Saline County Commission on Aging
•    Humana Insurance
•    RSVP/The Volunteer Connection
•    Kansas Area Agencies on Aging
•    Eaglecrest Retirement Community
•    Kansas State University of Salina.