CONCORD — The New Hampshire State Spelling Bee will be more exciting than ever this year as nearly 200 of the state's top elementary and middle school spellers gather in the state's capital to compete.

The public is encouraged to attend this free event on Saturday, March 3, at the Capitol Center for the Arts starting at 1 p.m. The student to emerge as the top speller will represent the Granite State at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in May.

The New Hampshire Union Leader has organized the New Hampshire State Spelling Bee for the last 58 years. This year the top speller from each participating school will go directly to the state bee. This format is a departure from previous bees involving regional competitions.

“The changes were made to ensure the longevity of the program and help raise the visibility of this important educational program,” said Teresa Robinson, Union Leader community relations manager. “We look forward to a celebration of New Hampshire's top spellers.”

Longtime sponsor, the New Hampshire Elks Association, continues its support of the program by providing volunteers and funding for the winner and a family member to travel to the national competition.

Additional sponsors include Granite State College, Liberty Harbor Academy, New Hampshire Public Radio, and The Common Man, which is providing free lunch for all the spellers.

The new format will mirror that of the national bee, which involves written and oral finals. After the written round in the morning, about 30 spellers will go on to the live oral round at 1 p.m. on the Capitol Center stage. Photos of all participating spellers will appear in a special Kids Connection section in the New Hampshire Sunday News on Sunday, Feb.26.

Additional information can be found at www.unionleader.com/spellingbee.