February — the month of love. In addition, for members of the campus Greek community, it is also the Month of the Scholar. To celebrate, fraternity and sorority members are hosting a spelling bee Feb. 24.

“It’s important because it’s a way to show others that fraternities and sororities take education seriously,” said nursing sophomore Kaitlynn Watterson, Alpha Phi member.

She also said her sorority plans to send about five members to be in the spelling bee.

Reagan White, Chi Omega member, said she will also have sisters in the bee, but will not participate herself. She said she does not like the idea of a theme.

White, nursing junior, said, “It’s kind of degrading that we have to have a dress up theme for the spelling bee since people already think we don’t value academics.”

However, she said she agrees with holding a spelling bee for Month of the Scholar to show that the Greeks are competent.

The idea came about in a meeting discussing what activity to do. Chi Omega member Kylie Goble jokingly suggested a spelling bee. But Whitney Threatt, director of scholarship for Panhellenic Council and Alpha Phi member, said she liked the idea and ran with it.

“A spelling bee sounded a lot more fun than the other ideas, like a GPA contest, or a study-hour competition,” Threatt, social work freshman, said.

And the rest of the council agreed.

Watterson also said the idea of adding a theme would make more people want to get involved, and that she hopes for the spelling bee to become a Month of the Scholar tradition.

Threatt said there will be a prize for first place like a gift basket. A theme she describes as a “smarty-pants theme” is being added to make the spelling bee a little more fun.