After accepting an invitation to be a part of the regional spelling bee, TCU's College of Education will join the Fort Worth Star-Telegram to co-host the Star-Telegram Regional Championship Spelling Bee.

Mary Patton, dean of the College of Education, said the Star-Telegram invited TCU to participate, and the university accepted the offer.

"When we were approached with it, we were very excited about it," Patton said. "We think this is one way to support our young readers and writers and spellers in the state."

Jan Lacina, associate professor of literacy and associate dean of graduate studies in the College of Education, said she is excited that TCU was chosen to be involved in the competition. The regional spelling bee had been at the Will Rogers Memorial Center for the previous two years, according to the regional spelling bee website.

"I feel honored they respect us as a local university," she said. "I think it brings visibility to our College of Education when we have such a spelling bee at the regional level at our university." Lacina, along with Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction Ranae Stetson and Assistant Professor of Science Education Mark Bloom, will be judges at the spelling bee. She said the winner will earn a trip to Washington D.C. to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in June.

Patton said TCU would award the winner a $1,000 scholarship if he or she chose to attend TCU in the future. "We just see it as encouraging this student, whomever this person ends up being, to continue on towards college and maybe TCU," she said.

Lacina said the winner of the spelling bee will not be the only one getting recognition. The first two runner-ups will receive gift certificates and the remaining 22 students who participate in the competition will get a personal gift from the College of Education, she said.

What: North Texas Area Regional Spelling Bee

When: Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. – noon

Where: Brown-Lupton University Union Ballroom