FPC Tyler places third at Spelling Bee

First Presbyterian Church of Tyler placed third in the 32nd Annual Corporate Spelling Bee benefiting the Literacy Council of Tyler held August 1. FPC Tyler was one of the sponsors during the Battle of the Bands themed event.

FPC Tyler was well represented at the Spelling Bee, dressed in costume as Beatles or Beatles fans, specifically from the Sgt. Pepper phase. Wigs, guitars, and colorful coats rounded out the costumes, in support of the “blokes” from FPC Tyler, spellers Rev. Stuart Baskin and Mitch Adams.

Rev. Baskin and Adams were both dressed in their Beatles best, with Rev. Baskin almost unrecognizable in a dark black wig. Wigs aside, the duo sailed through the first round by correctly spelling tonsils.  Southside Bank of Tyler was the first team out, incorrectly spelling fidelity.

This year’s group of words ranged from medical terms, chemistry terminology and words some have never heard before such as exurbia or hermeneutics.

The spelling rounds continued as teams dropped out on words such as catatonic, verbiage, gimmicky, verbosity, tinctured, hypothalamus, juvenescence, filibuster and unmitigated.

In Round 6, the FPC Tyler blokes incorrectly spelled the word insouciant, earning a third-place finish. Squyres & Co. took home the win with Henry & Peters, PC placing second.

According to the Literacy Council, over $82,000 in sponsorships was raised, directly supporting adult education programs in Northeast Texas.