(Editor's Notes by Christina Myer - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

By the time you read this, a winner has been declared and one talented Mid-Ohio Valley youngster is on his or her way to the Scripps National Bee in Washington, D.C., in May.

But right now I’m writing before all that.

Right now, the potential exists for any one of 55 participants to spell their way to the top. It could be anybody — any one of these name tags being carefully laid out in order. (You have no idea the stress of making sure you’ve spelled everything correctly for spelling bee participants.)

This year, 12 local school districts from both sides of the river are participating in the Marietta Times Regional Spelling Bee. Students range in age from 9 to 14. They range in experience from having never participated in a regional bee (the majority of students) to participating four years in a row.

Some of those students are aging out of eligibility this year. It will be bittersweet to watch them take the stage for the last time.

In what has been an unusually disorganized couple of months for me, I have relied heavily on the help of teachers and parents who must be wondering how in the world I tie my shoes in the morning if I can’t keep track of one student’s photo.

Truth be told, I always rely on the help of teachers and parents to pull this bee together, but this year, I appreciate their help AND patience.

Of course the volunteers at the Mid-Ohio Valley Players Theatre never fail to do a fantastic job of getting the facility set up for a spelling bee, and helping with tasks such as registration and student-wrangling.

George Wells, with the Switzerland of Ohio School District, is a life-saver when it comes to calming those students and prepping them for the rules and what to expect when they hit the stage.

Marietta College’s Mark Miller was gracious enough to step in as pronouncer this year after several years in a row of the same pronouncer. Currents Magazine coordinator Candice Black agreed once again to serve as judge. I’m glad it’s her and not me in charge of clicking the buzzer or ringing the bell after determining whether a student has spelled a word correctly.

Relatively new reporter Michelle Dillon jumped at the chance to cover the event this year, thank goodness.

And, Peoples Bank is once again sponsoring this year’s grand prize to give the winner perhaps a little extra spending money in D.C.

I can’t thank all these people enough.

It’s a lovely team effort, every year. And here I sit, in the quiet before Friday’s evening’s spelling storm thinking we’re almost to the finish line. We’re almost passed my annual glimpse at the potential that is being developed in our local schools, and the bright young minds that will help build our future.

There are plenty of times during this process during which I think “Phew, I can’t wait to have this finished.” But then, each year, I get to this point and think “Uh oh. It’s almost finished.” It’s almost time for five months of not thinking about the spelling bee whatsoever.

I’m so lucky to be part of this. I hope the students who get up on that stage feel as though it is something they are proud to be part of, too.

But, again, by the time this sees print, only one will remain — headed for that National Bee experience. I’m looking at a couple of newspaper pages full of photos — It could be any one of you. Congratulations … c-o-n-g-r-a-t-u-l-a-t-i-o-n-s … whoever you are. And good luck!

Christina Myer is executive editor of The Parkersburg News and Sentinel. She can be reached via e-mail at cmyer@newsandsentinel.com