BENTON HARBOR — The 2018 Cloverleaf Spelling Competition is open to Berrien, Cass and Van Buren County public and parochial school districts’ top three school spellers in an individual spelling contest. 

This year’s spelling bee will take place at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb, 27, at Lake Michigan College, Grand Upton Hall, 2755 E. Napier Ave. Benton Harbor.

Students will compete for numerous cash prizes with the top prize being paid admission to the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee held in Washington, D.C. in the spring.

The top three students from each school district participated in their own local school competitions earlier this year, granting them the opportunity to compete at the regional event.

The event is sponsored by the Herald Palladium, Cook Nuclear Plant/AEP, Berrien Regional Education Service Agency and Lake Michigan College/Mendel Center.  Co-sponsors include Honor Credit Union, Hexco Academic, Pizza Hut of Michigan, Jay Sugarman (an individual donor), and Merriam-Webster.

In case of inclement weather, cancellation information will be posted on Berrien RESA’s website, berrienresa.org the morning of the event.

Participating schools from Berrien County include:

• Benton Harbor Girls Academy

• Berrien Springs Middle School

• Brandywine Elementary School

• Brown Elementary School

• Buchanan Middle School

• Christ Lutheran School

• Countryside Academy-Elementary

• E.P. Clarke Elementary

• Grace Christian School

• Lakeshore Lifelong Learners

• Lakeshore Middle School

• Lincoln Elementary

• New Buffalo Middle School

• Niles Extended School Community

• Ring Lardner Middle School

• Sylvester Elementary

• Trinity Lutheran, Berrien Springs

• River School, Sodus Township #5

• Ruth Murdoch Elementary School

• Upton Middle School

Participating schools from Van Buren County include:

•  Bangor Middle School

• Hartford Middle School

• Lawton Middle School