The E.W. Scripps Company today promoted Paige Kimble to executive director of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, the nation’s largest and longest-running educational program.
Kimble, 45, has worked for Scripps since 1991, but her association with the company began much earlier: She is the 1980 runner-up and 1981 national champion of the Bee.
Since 1998, Kimble has served as director of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, overseeing all aspects of the program, including development of educational and contest materials, licensing and promotional opportunities, sponsorship development and retention, and broadcast production.
“Paige deserves this promotion because she has significantly increased the geographic and demographic reach of the Bee, raised its profile and improved its academic rigor,” said Rich Boehne, Scripps president and CEO. “The Bee is a national treasure in every corner of the United States and beyond, thanks to her leadership.”
Scripps, which is synonymous with “spelling bee,” has sponsored the Scripps National Spelling Bee for seven decades. What started in 1925 with nine contestants has become not only a competition but a cultural celebration of the English language and academic achievement.
This year, 281 spellers will converge May 26-31, 2013, in the Washington, D.C., area from eight countries and Department of Defense Schools in Europe and the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
About the Scripps National Spelling Bee
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation’s largest and longest-running educational program. The purpose of the Scripps National Spelling Bee is to help students improve spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts and develop correct English usage that will help them all of their lives. Visit spellingbee.com for more information about the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is administered on a not-for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company.
About Scripps
Scripps (www.scripps.com) is a leading media enterprise driven to develop and expand its digital strategies while embracing its rich history in delivering quality journalism through television stations, newspapers and the Scripps Howard News Service. Creative, talented and energetic employees are leading the way at 19 television stations and in 13 newspaper markets. The Scripps digital group is growing and gaining momentum with new product offerings, enhancements, and technology that gives customers more options than ever before to find the information and entertainment they crave.