Coming up next week is the 2025 Cloverleaf Spelling Competition held at Lake Michigan College.

The community event, hosted by Berrien RESA, features students from 14 different SWM schools throughout Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties.

RESA student activities coordinator Tonya Snyder tells us each school sends their top three spellers, with a chance to win some cook prizes.

“They are excited to be there,” Snyder says. “They have practiced really hard, and it’s so amazing to kind of see all of that hard work pay off. And it’s an amazing thing that they’re doing, it deserves a celebration. So it is just, it’s an exciting day.

Students will compete for cash prizes, fun spelling gifts, and the biggest prize, a trip to the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. in the spring.

The event will take place Tuesday, Feb. 25 at the Mendel Center at LMC starting at 8:30 a.m. The contest will feature 42 spellers, and will go on until a winner is decided. 

Participating schools include:

Berrien County:
Berrien Springs Middle School
Brown Elementary School, St. Joseph Public Schools
Christ Lutheran School
E. P. Clarke Elementary School, St. Joseph Public Schools
Lakeshore Middle School
New Buffalo Middle School
Ring Lardner Middle School, Niles Community Schools
Sylvester Elementary School, Berrien Springs Public Schools
Trinity Lutheran School, Berrien Springs
Upton Middle School, St. Joseph Public Schools

Cass County:
Dowagiac Middle School

Van Buren County:
Bangor Middle School
Hartford Public Schools
Lawton Middle School