highlights from LAST YEAR

2004 marked the kickoff year for what is now an annual event where corporate, government and community-based teams battle for the title of best adult spellers in Rhode Island in support of workplace literacy programs at Dorcas Place. The event, which raised over $20,000 with 17 participating teams, was great fun for all while raising awareness of the critical link between literacy, workforce development and economic growth in our State.

Notable guests of honor included Honorary Co-Chair Mayor David Cicilline, who got things started challenging the first round of teams with progressively difficult words, and Oskar Eustis and Frank Coletta, who kept things moving on stage introducing the line-ups of teams, judges and pronouncers.

Five rounds of competition were punctuated by raffle prize drawings, an auction and poignant words from students in our Workplace Literacy Program who shared their challenges and accomplishments transitioning into more meaningful employment and greater self-sufficiency for themselves and their families.

From the very first round, the Rhode Island Department
of Human Services “Spellbinders” held strong as competition at the URI Providence Campus grew more challenging when teams such as Brown Alumni and the MetLife Champions took the stage. Five teams made it to the Championship Round: RI Department of Human Services, Adler, Pollock & Sheehan PC, Brown Alumni, Trion Communications and MetLife Auto & Home. RI Department of Human Services continued their impressive performance by correctly spelling words such as “aerophilately.” Their final challengers were the eager and knowledgeable spellers from Trion Communications, who faltered with the word “Huguenot.”

This year’s Challenge, sponsored by NBC10, promises to be just as exciting, with the DHS Spellbinders returning to dare any team with the requisite “spelling chops” to take their trophy from them. The Spellbinders think they’ll coast to an easy repeat victory. Prove them wrong—register a team!