Westford Networks for Education and Technology Partnership 

THE RETURN OF THE  BEE... Second Annual Bee

March 11 - Sun Microsystems Wins!

Stony Brook auditorium was the site of WestNET's second corporate spelling bee, "the Return of the Bee".  As WestNET President, Stefany Eck welcomed employees from Sun Microsystems, InterSense, Raytheon, and a freelance group, the teams knew that WestNET was not sponsoring an ordinary spelling bee.  WestNET was sponsoring a "Word Fest".  In addition to challenging spelling rounds, Bee Keeper and WestNET Vice President, Tim Martin challenged the corporate teams with anagrams, "sniglets" and a final all or nothing trivia challenge.  Team members collectively spelled words such as "sesquipedalianism" and "floccinaucinihilipilification" and had to guess what  "baldage" could mean.

The two hour competition between the four teams was spirited and in the end the team from Sun Microsystems, earned the coveted WestNET Spelling Bee trophy.  The winning Sun team was represented by Michele Walker (captain), Anne Tucker, Emil Gilliam, Gregory Vozzo, Ken~Weiss, Olga Hall, Ted Ferreti.  Employees Tom McGovern, Mike Grumbach (WestNET), WestNET member Karen Stefanski, and Superintendent of the Westford Schools, Dr. Stephen Foster, represented Raytheon.  Employees Mike D'Antuono, Tom Neuburger, and Dean Wormell (WestNET) represented interSense.  A freelance team was formed by consultants working with area companies; Elizabeth Michaud, Mark Mudgett, Joseph Zahavi and Stefany Eck (WestNET). 

In addition to hosting and serving as the "MC" for the evening, Tim Martin spoke to the needs of the Westford Public Schools, especially during these tight fiscal times.  He went on to explain ways in which businesses could partner with WestNET to make a difference.  A long term goal of WestNET is to form corporate relationships with local companies to look for opportunities which can benefit both the WPS and corporate partners.  Having wired the majority of classrooms in the WPS to the Internet, WestNET is now planning for "bridging the final 30 feet" from the classroom walls to the student's desks. WestNET needs both the resources and financial support of local corporations to accomplish this task. Companies value employee involvement in the community.  Please contact Tim Martin (tmartin@westford.mec.edu) if your company would like to be involved in the work of WestNET.

If you would like to take part in the next Spelling Bee, please email westnetmail@westnet.org. WestNET is a non-profit group dedicated to helping the Westford Public Schools. You will find more information about our organization on our website: http://www.westfordnet.org.

WestNET creates alliances with businesses to benefit education. Your employer values a partnership with your community. Help us to complete The “Final 30 Feet”!

contact: westnetmail@westfordnet.org

FIRST CORPORATE SPELLING BEE - May 15, 2003

The first Corporate Spelling Bee took place on May 15, 2003 at Westford Academy Cafeteria.  Teams from Sun Microsystems, Lucent Technologies and Living Lab participated in the lively spellling bee which was co-hosted by the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Stephen Foster and WestNET Vice President, Tim Martin. Participants worked as a team to guess the correct spellling for a variety of words.

The Lucent Team won the Bee Trophy and proudly displayed it in the lobby of Lucent Technologies. Members of the Lucent team were: Hua Kuang, Michele Liguori, Michael O'Loughlin, and Nirav R. Shah. WestNET liaisions were Dave Levy and Joe Motyl

The Sun team, consisting of: Ken Weiss, Olga Hall, Michele Walker, Vidya Neelakantapillari, Harris Thamby, and Bobbi Burns gave a spirited competition.  Dean Wormell and Jeff Sutton , WestNET liasions assisted the Sun team.

The Living Lab team members were: Carol Shestok, Jeannette Wilkinson, JoAnn Simon, and Roy Socolow. WestNET President, Stefany Eck assisted the Living Lab team.

The teams were treated to a half-time show coordinated by Mike Towers and Bill Cody of Westford Academy fame! The following students participated in the half-time show:

Ashley C. - Grade 11
Jessica J. - Grade 11
Chris G. - Grade 10
Nicholas J. - Grade 7
Cameron C. - Grade 5
Liza G. - Grade 5
Michael B. - Grade 3
Patrick T. - Grade 1

Click  Here for more information and ways that you can volunteer.