CARMEL — Hamilton County Spelling Bee Champion Vaibhav Vavilala has joined the efforts to help find a spelling bee sponsor.

Friday was the deadline for schools to enroll in the 2010 Scripps National Spelling Bee, and Hamilton County doesn’t yet have a sponsor.

Vavilala, 14, a Carmel High School freshman, for the fourth time earned his way to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., earlier this year.

“I enjoyed my bee career and would like to help to find sponsors so that other kids from the county get a chance to participate in the bee,” said Vavilala, one of 293 students who competed at the 2009 National Spelling Bee.

Vavilala was eliminated in the fifth round nationally and will be ineligible to compete this year. He said he’ll explore sponsors to help with school registration and bee event expenses, and he hopes others will, too.

Vaibhav was the county’s first fourth-grade spelling bee champion in 2005. He also won in 2007 and 2008. The only year he competed and didn’t win — in 2006 — his brother, Vikas Vavilala, won.

“My kids are concerned and want to help,” said Siva Vavilala, the teens’ father said.

The Hamilton County Bee is one of only two bees in the nation in jeopardy of not happening due to lack of sponsorships, said Paige Kimble, director of the 83rd annual national bee, based in Cincinnati.

Nov. 25 will be the deadline to secure a sponsor.

The Indianapolis Star sponsored the 2009 Marion County and Hamilton County bee programs but did not continue the sponsorship for 2010.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Kroger and Indianapolis Rotary Club will sponsor the 2010 Marion County Spelling Bee program, including four local qualifying bees for the regional contest.