​Palm Beach County Youth Services Department hosted its Ninth Annual Super Summer Spelling Bee on July 25, 2023. The competition was held at Pahokee Middle Senior High School with 157 registered spellers and 20 Summer Camp Scholarship Program sites in attendance.

The spelling bee is for students enrolled in the Summer Camp Scholarship Program's participating camps and provides academic activities to encourage the spirit of learning while preventing summer slide. This was the first year the bee has been in person since 2019. In addition to the spelling bee, the event also included activities with Digital Vibez, Crazy Games, Palm Beach Behavioral Health Coalition, and the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department. The final round also featured dance performances by Bethel Evangelical Church, Pahokee Dance Academy, and Ascension 33.

 “This year the Super Summer Spelling Bee returned to an in-person event. It allowed us to engage all of our campers in fitness, competition, and academics. The top three spellers in each category showed off their hard work in the final round on stage in front of their peers. They received trophies, books, gift cards, and tons of applause," said Valerie Messineo, Palm Beach County Youth Services Department senior program specialist. “We can't thank our hosts at Pahokee Middle Senior High School enough. Their campus is beautiful, and their staff welcomed us with open arms."

Among the winners were campers from Bethel Evangelical Church, Destiny Fulfilled, Preparing Tomorrow's Leaders Today, For the Children, Wells Recreation, Tate Recreation, Rosenwald Elementary, and Florence Fuller summer camps.

Participating agencies include the County Attorney's Office, City of West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County Library System, Choice to Change, Early Learning Coalition, Prime Time Palm Beach County, the Girls Coordinating Council, and Friends of Youth Services and Palm Beach County, Inc.

Spelling Bee Winners:

Youth Services Department staff and judges group photo at the Super Summer Spelling Bee.

​

Youth Services Department Staff and Judges posing with the winners of the spelling bee in the Kindergarten to 2^nd Grade category.

​

Youth Services Department Staff and Judges posing with the winners of the spelling bee in the 3^rd-5^th grade category.

Youth Services Department Staff and Judges posing with the winners of the spelling bee in the 6^th-8^th grade category.

Youth Services Department Staff and Judges posing with the winners of the spelling bee in the 9^th-12^th grade category.