From left to right: Frederick G. Slabach, president; Steve Daniell, dean, School of Arts and Letters; Mary Ann Clark, professor of biology; Bruce McDonald, professor of religion; Marilyn Pugh, professor of psychology; Beverly Volkman Powell, chairman of the board

The Texas Wesleyan Crushers prevailed again among the 20 teams that participated in the 7th annual Tarrant Literacy Coalition Corporate Spelling Bee, held at Texas Christian University on Tuesday, April 21.

Team members Mary Ann Clark, Ph.D., and Marilyn Pugh, Ph.D., along with team captain Bruce McDonald, Ph.D. won first place for the second year in a row with the winning word "quinquagenarian" in the eighth round. Quinquagenarian is of Latin origin meaning "a person between 50 and 59 years old."  

Beverly Volkman Powell, Texas Wesleyan chairman of the board, served as chair of the event.

The traveling trophy will remain at Texas Wesleyan for another year, until next year's Corporate Spelling Bee. 

• First place: Texas Wesleyan University
• Second place: Acme Brick
• Third place: BNSF

Participants included: Alcon, BNSF Railway, JPS Foundation, Lockheed Martin, Mayor Betsy Price, Star-Telegram, Texas Christian University, United Way of Tarrant County and other area businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Proceeds of the Corporate Spelling Bee support the mission of the Tarrant Literacy Coalition, which works to improve the quality and increase the quantity of adult literacy services for adults in and around Tarrant County.