The Lakemont Lions Club will host their 64th annual spelling bee on April 14 at ArtsAltoona.

The club annually invites fifth and sixth graders from Blair County schools to participate in the spelling bee. Each school selects two students from each class in fifth and sixth grades to represent their school.

Schools should expect letters of invitation to the competition by February. The club strives for growth in the competition and welcomes any inquiries from Blair County schools. Teachers and parents also can request inclusion on an email list for the event by contacting Lion Sondra Stacey at 717-552-9472.

The winning student and school will receive the traveling Lakemont Lions Larry and Susan Edwards trophy, engraved with the winner’s name and his or her school’s name. The spelling bee winning student also earns an ice cream social, hosted by the Lakemont Lions Club members, for the student’s entire class.

Seventeen students from five schools competed in the 2025 bee, with then-fifth grader Raine Welles from Blair County Christian School as the winner. Students from Altoona Area Junior High School, Juniata Gap Elementary, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy and Great Commission School also participated.

Lakemont Lions Club members, the spelling bee wordsmith, and a panel of three judges, look forward to hosting parents, teachers and school principals who attend the event to support their participating students.

Lakemont Lions Club conducts activities related to the eight key Lions global causes of childhood cancer, diabetes, disaster relief, environment, humanitarian efforts, hunger, vision and youth.

The club serves the local community through vision screenings, activities benefiting veterans, participation in environmental projects, holiday flower deliveries to shut-ins and other activities.

The club collects used eyeglasses as part of the Lions Recycle for Sight program, providing eyeglasses to people in developing countries.

Lions Club International Foundation provides monetary assistance across the globe in support of persons affected by disasters.

The club welcomes new members. Information on joining Lakemont Lions Club is available by calling Club President Mike O’Neill at 814-615-3538.