Kitsap Adult Center for Education, formerly known as the Literacy Council of Kitsap, held its 22nd Annual Corporate Spelling Bee at the Olympic College Theater on May 10.

After 18 grueling rounds of ever more challenging words, the Silverdale Rotary Team “We BEE Ducks” of Mike Gass, Elayne Burton, and Ed Ahrens spelled “picayune” correctly to win the Bee.

Rotary of Port Orchard took 2nd place, after faltering on the word “ciguatera”, and “Debbie Macomber’s Rose Harbor Bees” took 3rd place after misspelling “numnah”.

In addition, Bremerton Kiwanis “KiwaniBeez” won the prize for the best cheering squad, and the Rotary of East Bremerton “Trio in Bee Sharp” won an award for the Best Banner.  Best costumes belonged to the Russ Hartman Spellz Anjels.

Each team registers to compete with a $500 contribution to the work of KACE.  Team participation and money raised at the silent and live auctions support the volunteer-based program of helping adult students with basic English and Math skills, GED preparation, and English as a Second Language instruction.  Gift certificates, theme baskets, and services from individuals and local businesses are generously donated for the auction tables.

Other teams who spelled this year are the Bremerton Rotary ‘Word BEElders’, the Kitsap Credit Union ‘The BEEutifuls”, KitCo Records “The BEE GEEZ”, Kitsap Bank “BEEber Fever”, and the Kitsap Sun “Ink Spots”.

For more information about how you can become a student or volunteer as a tutor, please call KACE at 360-373-1539 or email  info@kacewa.org.