Muslim Spelling Bee

Muslim Spelling Bee
Genre Spelling bee
Frequency Annual (late September or early May)
Location(s) Chicago, New York, Detroit, New Jersey, Maryland, Atlanta, Tampa, Orlando, Dallas, Houston, Orange County, Sacramento, San Francisco
Inaugurated 2011
Website
www.muslimspellingbee.com

The Muslim Spelling Bee is an annual spelling bee held in the United States and India. The Muslim Spelling Bee is established as a Social Enterprise basis by TMA Worldwide and is held at community faith-based schools across the United States - Chicago, New York, Detroit, New Jersey, Maryland, Atlanta, Tampa, Orlando, Dallas, Houston, Orange County, California, Sacramento and San Francisco. Two National Finals were held at Des Plaines Theatre, Des Plaines, Illinois.

TMA Worldwide has developed a proprietary format, where children from kindergarten through middle school compete in the competition in various age groups. The competition is divided between four age groups.

The event is recorded and broadcast on TV One Global, Times TV USA and ETV Urdu.

History

Tausif Malik founder, Muslim Spelling Bee competition developed the idea of connecting communities through education and increasing Muslim students participation at the mainstream competition in order to create a future pool of leadership. This idea was developed as Muslim Students were excelling in education but were lacking participation in the mainstream competitions. It is observed competition gives a platform to challenge individuals and this helps in enhancing competitive qualities amongst students.[1][2][3]

To increase the competitive edge amongst Muslim Students, Malik launched and established Muslim Spelling Bee, Muslim Science Bee, Muslim Math Bee, Muslim Geography Bee & Muslim History Bee competitions. Generally the Muslim Community in American would establish a not for profit to conduct community and religious events, but the success rate was poor.

Malik established these competition based on the knowledge that Muhammed encouraged ‘Tijarat’ (business) to elevate the community and secondly the fundraising from the community is conducted to only help the needy in the neighborhood.

Hence, Tausif wanted to establish a social enterprise based on Islamic values and address the following issues: 1.Increase Muslim students participation 2.Create a platform to connect communities 3.Create a national competition for Muslim Students 4.Events which Muslim Students can associate themselves with. 5.Regional competitions to offer vendors to sell their products 6.Revenue sharing model, where community schools earn additional revenue through vendor space, food sales, fundraising etc 7.Events where all the stakeholders of the community participate for betterment of the Muslim Students and community. 8.Create a platform for marketeers to market their products and services to $170 billion Muslim American Market 9.Unified ethnic media to promote the events and increase their shelf life and readership, when Muslim Students names and pictures are published. 10.Students of different faiths also can participate and 2013 competition saw two Hindu students compete and win.

Social Impact

The premise of the Muslim Spelling Bee and other competitions was based on Islamic ethos to create a sustainable event, where everyone related achieve holistic benefit in terms of community, social responsibility, job creation and halal income. The competitions also help volunteers to learn marketing, promotion, judging, pronouncing, photography, media management etc, this helps in enhancing their skills for future job prospects or business.[4]

The benefits to school

1.Nationwide publicity 2.Revenue generation through vendor space, food sales, fundraising etc 3.Open house to promote their school 4.Interfaith opportunities

The benefits to vendors/small business

1.Income generation through sale of goods at the regional competitions 2.Vendor lease space is very reasonable and affordable, so it not only helps small business but women entrepreneur to earn halal income in Islamic environment 3.The competition offers a catchment area to the vendors.

The benefits to national economy

1.Participants and family travel from across America to participate at regional competitions. 2.240 finalists and their families then travel to Chicago for National Finals. Hence Travel and Tourism industry benefits 3.Marketeers & Sponsors get online and offline media and marketing vehicles to promote and market their products to the Muslim American Market.This is the most cost effective way to connect with the Muslim American Market. Hence helping in revenue generation for the marketeers. 4.The vendors income generated affects income associated to them.

The competition

Regional Competitions

Students are registered online by their parents, family members, guardians, school. Poor students get fee waiver. Registered students come to their respective locations, they compete and winners are decided based on hit and miss model, there winners from each group are announce winners. The 4th and 5th runner up also get a shot for National Championship.

Final competitions

All the regional winners and the 4th and 5th runner up participate at the National Championship and Top three positions are decided on hit and miss and face off rounds.

2012 Winners

Group A 1st Position -: Asiyah Mardiyyah Arastu, Charles Lindergh Elementary, Michigan.[5] 2nd Position: Adam Ahmed, Darul Arqam, New Jersey.[6] 3rd Position: Aaisha N Hafeez, Achieve Charter Academy, Michigan.[7]

Group B 1st Position -: Aisha Safiya Khan, Spring Habor Middle School, Wisconsin.[8] 2nd Position: Shu’ab Rahman Siddique, Al Ihsan Academy, New York .[9] 3rd Position: Neha Farhan, Lincoln Alternative School, California.[10]

Group C 1st position - (Joint Winners) Sara Ali Kazmi, Al Hadi School of Accelerative Learning, Texas & Yusra Hashmi, Gifford Middle School, Florida.[11] 2nd Position: Maryam Arshi Barucha, Daar Ul Ilm, California.[12] 3rd Position: Aatif Ahmed, Henderson Middle School, Georgia.[13]

2013 Winners

Group A (Ages up-to 7 years) 1st position -Ali Ala- International Academy of Cincinnati, Ohio.[14] 2nd position- Alayna Zayb- ICOB Academy, New Jersey.[15] 3rd position - Yasin Ahmed- Darul Arqam Academy- New Jersey.[16]

Group B (Ages 8– 9years) 1st position -Rabya Hasnain-Maroa Forsyth Grade School, Illinois.[17] 2nd position - Osman Muhammad Khan -Hillside Elementary School, New Jersey.[18] 3rd position -Asweel Mehaboob Kumbalakkuzhiyil, MDQ Academy, New York.[19] Group C (Ages 10– 11years) 1st position -Aya Mehmli, Noble Leadership Academy , New Jersey.[20] 2nd position - Ali Razvi, Islamic School of Irving, Texas.[21] 3rd position - Zayna Motiwala-Darul Arqam School , New Jersey.[22]

Group D (Ages 12– 14years) 1st position -Yasir Hasnain, Maroa Forsyth Grade School, Illinois.[23] 2nd position -Syeda Maryam Beyabani, K12, Texas.[24] 3rd position -Ridaa Dadani, Baytul Iman Academy, New Jersey.[25]

Sponsors

The event is supported by media outlets, local community, community leaders and individuals.

Muslim Spelling Bee India, UK & U.A.E Edition

Muslim Spelling Bee India Edition was launched.[26] The UK & U.A.E edition will be also launched shortly.[27][28]

References

  1. ↑ "The Muslim Spelling Bee Competition: Connecting a community to the mainstream=muslimspellingbee.com".
  2. ↑ [*, Chicago based company launches World’s First Muslim Spelling Bee Competition, MuslimJournal.net "Chicago based company launches World’s First Muslim Spelling Bee Competition=muslimspellingbee.com"] Check |url= value (help).
  3. ↑ [*[http*, Interview of Tausif Malik, Founder, Muslim Spelling Bee, ummaland.com "Chicago based company launches World’s First Muslim Spelling Bee Competition=muslimspellingbee.com"] Check |url= value (help).
  4. ↑ "The Muslim Spelling Bee Competition: Connecting a community to the mainstream=muslimspellingbee.com".
  5. ↑ "Winners 2012=muslimspellingbee.com".
  6. ↑ "Winners 2012=muslimspellingbee.com".
  7. ↑ "Winners 2012=muslimspellingbee.com".
  8. ↑ "Winners 2012=muslimspellingbee.com".
  9. ↑ "Winners 2012=muslimspellingbee.com".
  10. ↑ "Winners 2012=muslimspellingbee.com".
  11. ↑ "Winners 2012=muslimspellingbee.com".
  12. ↑ "Winners 2012=muslimspellingbee.com".
  13. ↑ "Winners 2012=muslimspellingbee.com".
  14. ↑ "Winners 2013=muslimspellingbee.com".
  15. ↑ "Winners 2013=muslimspellingbee.com".
  16. ↑ "Winners 2013=muslimspellingbee.com".
  17. ↑ "Winners 2013=muslimspellingbee.com".
  18. ↑ "Winners 2013=muslimspellingbee.com".
  19. ↑ "Winners 2013=muslimspellingbee.com".
  20. ↑ "Winners 2013=muslimspellingbee.com".
  21. ↑ "Winners 2013=muslimspellingbee.com".
  22. ↑ "Winners 2013=muslimspellingbee.com".
  23. ↑ "Winners 2013=muslimspellingbee.com".
  24. ↑ "Winners 2013=muslimspellingbee.com".
  25. ↑ "Winners 2013=muslimspellingbee.com".
  26. ↑ "Muslim Spelling Bee: America's Largest Community based Spelling Bee competition launched in India".
  27. ↑ "The World's First Muslim Spelling Bee Competition Expands Network To UK".
  28. ↑ "Muslim community spelling bee could be on the way to the UAE".

External links

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