Spelling Bee

Since 1989, the Spelling Bee has been hosted at Bishop Gorman High School to honor Mrs. Marietta Tiberti, who passed away on February 14, 1987. Mrs. Tiberti, a mother of six children who attended Catholic schools (St. Joseph, St. Anne, and Bishop Gorman), was an advocate for Catholic education, reading, and writing. The event was established by Tito Tiberti in tribute to his mother, aiming to inspire students to enhance their spelling, expand their vocabulary, and promote proficient English language skills.

The competition brings together Catholic grade-school students from across the Las Vegas Valley to participate in the prestigious event at Bishop Gorman, the oldest Catholic high school in Southern Nevada. Over the years, it has become one of the most thrilling contests of the school calendar. Each of the five Catholic grade schools sends two finalists and an alternate from grades 5 to 8 to compete in the traditional spelling bee. The overall champion is awarded a one-year scholarship to attend Bishop Gorman High School for their freshman year, supported by the Tito & Sandra Tiberti Foundation. Alongside the scholarship, the winner receives a championship trophy and a “Revolving Trophy,” displayed at their school throughout the academic year. Furthermore, the top winner advances to the National Spelling Bee.

The Marietta Tiberti Memorial Spelling Bee continues to provide an outstanding opportunity for hardworking, dedicated students to be recognized for their commitment to education. This event preserves the tradition and legacy of Mrs. Tiberti, celebrating her enduring impact through this special annual event.

Word List

Spell It! is the Scripps National Spelling Bee study site for school spelling bees and champions created in cooperation with Merriam-Webster. Spell It! focuses on about 1150 words, divided into sections by language of origin. Also, the site includes a “Words You Need to Know” page, which should also be studied by students planning on competing in the Marietta Tiberti Memorial All Catholic Schools Spelling Bee. 

In studying for the Marietta Tiberti Memorial All Catholic Schools Spelling Bee, please note that the “Study Words” and “Challenge Words” categories that appear on the Spell It! web site do not correlate with the rounds in which the words will appear in the Tiberti Spelling Bee.