SAGE Publishing to be official sponsor of the Ventura County Spelling Bee

A champion of student learning, SAGE enables a 50+ year tradition to continue

SAGE Publishing is excited to announce that it is the new official sponsor of Ventura County’s spelling bee, allowing for a 50+ year old educational tradition to continue in the region. Associated with the Scripps National Spelling Bee, this yearly competition involves nearly 16,000 Ventura County students who begin the Bee process at the classroom level. Eventually, more than 130 local students in grades three through eight will vie at the county level. Before SAGE became its official sponsor, the Ventura County spelling bee was overseen by the Ventura County Star newspaper for 52 years.

"I am thrilled that SAGE Publishing has stepped in to continue the Ventura County Spelling Bee for 2018,” commented John Moore, former editor of the Ventura County Star. “It's a great service to the children of our county and I'm proud they are willing to take this on. I look forward to cheering on the county winner next year at the national finals."

The 2018 competition, now titled The SAGE Ventura County Spelling Bee, will take place on Saturday, March 3^rd, 2018 at California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI). The winner will advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. held from May 31- June 1, 2018.

“At SAGE Publishing, we’re committed to fostering the education of future generations across the globe for the long-term – from the youngest minds just beginning on their educational journeys to advanced scholars who are dedicated to lifelong learning,” commented Blaise Simqu, President & CEO of SAGE Publishing. “As a long-time supporter and financial sponsor of the Bee, we’ve witnessed how it engages students and inspires them to expand their vocabularies and communicate more effectively – qualities that will serve them in school, work, and daily life. It is an honor and a pleasure to now serve as the official organizational sponsor of this incredible event.”

Believing that engaged scholarship lies at the heart of any healthy society, SAGE’s mission is to inform and educate a global community of scholars, practitioners, researchers, and students. Supporting teaching and student learning in PreK-12 education, the SAGE imprint Corwin provides professional learning products, on-site consulting services, educational events, and more for educators at all stages of their careers. Within higher education, SAGE publishes a broad range of resources, including high-quality textbooks, journals, eLearning courses, and educational video.

Founded in 1925 and reaching more than 11 million students each year, the Scripps National Spelling Bee is the largest and longest-running educational promotion in the United States. It aims to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts, and develop correct English usage.

“Corwin, SAGE’s K-12 division, is devoted to its belief that all children can learn and that education is the cornerstone of a stable, just and thriving society. Being the corporate sponsor for the Ventura County Spelling Bee helps reinforce our core mission within our local community and further demonstrates our commitment to the education of our youth,” commented Mike Soules, President of Corwin.

Ventura County schools that register for The SAGE Ventura County Spelling Bee by October 16, 2017 will receive the early bird discount rate of $151. Schools that register for the spelling bee from October 17 - December 15, 2017 will receive the regular enrollment rate of $226. To register your school, find out if your student’s school is registered, or for more information, please visit www.spellingbee.com. Students up to age 14 are eligible to participate.

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Sara Miller McCune founded SAGE Publishing in 1965 to support the dissemination of usable knowledge and educate a global community. SAGE is a leading international provider of innovative, high-quality content publishing more than 1,000 journals and over 800 new books each year, spanning a wide range of subject areas. Our growing selection of library products includes archives, data, case studies and video. SAGE remains majority owned by our founder and after her lifetime will become owned by a charitable trust that secures the company’s continued independence. Principal offices are located in Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, WashingtonDC and Melbourne. www.sagepublishing.com