Read To Succeed

CELEBRITY SPELLING BEE

The 18th Annual Celebrity Spelling Bee was held on Friday, November 8th at The View at Fountains and featured well-known community leaders competing for the title of best speller in Rutherford County.

This event allowed our community to come together in a fun, creative way to promote literacy. One hundred percent of the funds received will stay in Rutherford County and support our organization’s adult literacy program, youth and family literacy programs, ESL/ELL classes, and other literacy initiatives. 

Thank you to our 2024 Celebrity Spellers!

Click on a profile picture to watch a short video message from each of the spellers.

Jami K. Averwater

Councilwoman
City of Murfreesboro

Dr. David Beaird

General Surgeon
Murfreesboro Medical Clinic

Derek Blake

Executive Director
Smyrna YMCA

Connie Casha

Early Learning Programs Director
MTSU College of Education

Veronica M. Clark

APEX Counselor – West Tennessee
UT CIS Tennessee APEX Accelerator

Dr. Takisha Ferguson

Principal
Smyrna Middle School 

Darren Gore

City Manager
Murfreesboro, TN

Hans Malebranche

Associate Athletic Director
Chief Development Officer
MTSU Athletics

Mike Panesi

Vice President
Tennessee Market Executive
Redstone Federal Credit Union

Ladawna Parham

Executive Director
ACBL Educational Foundation

Dr. Cathy Pressnell

Reading Coordinator, Grade 3-6 
Murfreesboro City Schools

2024 Sponsors

Diamond Level Sponsors

Platinum Level Sponsors

Gold Level Sponsors

Dr. James & Beverly Calder

Don & Melanie Clayton

Larry & Carter Owens

Silver Level Sponsors

Smile Doctors

Bronze Level Sponsors

Ernest & Peggy Burgess

Larry & Carter Owens

Dr. James & Beverly Calder

U.S. Cold Storage

Friend Level Sponsors

Ascend Federal Credit Union

Auto Collection of Murfreesboro/Auto Pro of Nashville

First Community Mortgage - FCM Cares

Imagination Travel and Tips

Murfreesboro Medical Clinic

Phillip Barnett

State Farm Insurance

Wilson Bank and Trust

In-kind Donations

Alley on Main
Jeff & Kristina Brown
Firebirds
Retta Gardner
Go USA
Eric & Charity Gray
Tamara Gwyn
Jonathan Harmon – Cedar Glades Brews
Amy Jennings – Nails by Amy
Lisa Mitchell
Nissan
Julie O’Donnell

David Officer
Larry & Carter Owens
Karen Patel – CNG Wine & Spirits
David & Jolene Radnoti
Tina Roper
Missy Russell – Polkadot Sky Studio
Sanders Bros. Coffee
Marla St. Clair – St. Clair Skin Care
Tasty Table
Wand and Willow
Jessica Warner -Keller Williams Realty
Tony Welch – Outpost Armory