SCRIPPS NATIONAL 2015 SPELLING BEE BEE WEEK GUIDE Table of Contents Competition Schedule

CompetitionCompetition ScheduleSchedule 11 Tuesday, May 26 AboutAbout OurOur ProgramProgram 22 Preliminaries Test ThankThank YouYou toto OurOur SponsorsSponsors 33 9:15 – 10:00 a.m. | Maryland Ballroom All spellers will participate in this multiple ContestContest RulesRules 44 choice test. CompetitionCompetition FlowFlow ChartChart 88

TwentyTwenty QuestionsQuestions (Answered)(Answered) 1010 Wednesday, May 27 MeetMeet thethe SpellebritiesSpellebrities 1414 Preliminaries: Round Two Live on ESPN3 ChampionsChampions andand TheirTheir WinningWinning WordsWords 1616 8:00 – 11:45 a.m. | Maryland Ballroom • Spellers 1 through 142 spell onstage between PrizesPrizes 1818 8:00 and 9:45 a.m. SpellersSpellers andand SponsorsSponsors 1919 • Spellers 143 through 285 spell onstage between 10:00 and 11:45 a.m. LeadershipLeadership andand Year-RoundYear-Round StaffStaff 3131 Preliminaries: Round Three Live on ESPN3 Officials Officials 3232 1:15 – 4:45 p.m. | Maryland Ballroom BeeBee WeekWeek StaffStaff 3232 • Spellers 1 through 142 spell onstage between 1:15 and 2:45 p.m. • Spellers 143 through 285 spell onstage between 3:15 and 4:45 p.m.

Announcement of Semifinalists: Live on ESPN3 Approximately 5:00 p.m. | Maryland Ballroom

Semifinals Test 7:00 – 7:45 p.m. | Chesapeake G All Semifinalist spellers will participate in this multiple choice test. This event is not open to the public.

Thursday, May 28 Semifinals: Live on ESPN2 SpellingBee.comSpellingBee.com 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Maryland Ballroom

Follow Us! Championship Finals: Live on ESPN 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. | Maryland Ballroom /ScrippsNationalSpellingBee /ScrippsNationalSpellingBee /ScrippsBee/ScrippsBee #scrippsbee /ScrippsBee /ScrippsBee #spellingbee #spellfie Visit buzzworthy.spellingbee.com to download our app! 1 Schools About Our Program Every fall, thousands of schools enroll in our program. Throughout the fall and winter, schools conduct spelling The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation’s bees at the classroom, grade and school level to choose Thank You largest and longest-running educational their representatives for the next level of competition. program. Local spelling bees take place in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Students may further compete in district, county or regional Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and spelling bees before earning the right to represent their The Scripps National Spelling Bee is only possible Department of Defense Schools in Europe. It also communities at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. through the support of our sponsors and supporters. is administered in cooperation with local spelling bee sponsors from seven other countries: the Students For the first time this year, Words With Friends joins Bahamas, Canada, China, Ghana, Jamaica, Japan More than 11 million students participated in this year’s us as a broadcast sponsor of the 2015 Scripps National and South Korea. We are administered on a not- Scripps National Spelling Bee at one level or another. Spelling Bee. Launched in 2009, Words With Friends is for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company in To prepare, students used study materials created by one of the world’s most popular mobile word games of cooperation with local spelling bee sponsors. spelling bee staff and Merriam-Webster using our official all time. Words With Friends encourages vocabulary dictionary: Webster’s Third New International Dictionary and expansion and word discovery through challenging its addenda section, copyright 2002. players to create the highest-scoring words while playing against friends, family or random opponents. Purpose All of the spellers here have advanced to the Scripps Millions of spellers, both competitive and not, have used National Spelling Bee by winning spelling bees as outlined Words With Friends as an exciting and motivating way Our purpose is to help students improve their spelling, by their local spelling bee sponsors. In general terms, to build their vocabulary while connecting with others increase their vocabularies, learn concepts and develop the program is open to students who are 15 years old or correct English usage that will help them all their lives. younger, have not passed beyond eighth grade and attend through social word-play. The Bee thanks Words With schools officially enrolled with our program for the Friends for its generous support. To better achieve this purpose, in 2013 the evaluation of current academic year. See Rule 1 on page 4 for full vocabulary knowledge was formally incorporated as an eligibility requirements. element of the national finals. The change was well- received and has been incorporated into all levels of the Bee. History This is the 88th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee. We are also proud and grateful to announce that The National Spelling Bee started in 1925 with nine Microsoft joins us as a broadcast sponsor for the second Local Spelling Bee Sponsors contestants. Frank Neuhauser of Louisville, , Each year we grant a limited number of local spelling correctly spelled “gladiolus” to win the inaugural Bee. year in a row. This means that the nation’s largest and bee sponsorships to media organizations, universities, longest-running educational program is collaborating nonprofits and other community leaders. Most The E.W. Scripps Company took ownership in 1941 with the worldwide leader in software, services, devices organizations sponsoring local spelling bees are not and, after not holding the competition for three years and solutions. Microsoft remains deeply committed to owned by The E.W. Scripps Company. In fact, only four during World War II, has managed the Bee continuously supporting educators and educational programs. local spelling bee programs are run by Scripps-owned since 1946. television stations this year. The Bee declared co-champions in 1950, 1957, 1962 and Local sponsors conduct community spelling 2014. Of the 91 champions, 47 have been girls and 44 bee programs in cooperation with teachers and have been boys. See pages 16 and 17 for a complete list administrators at public, of champions and their winning words. Microsoft and Words With Friends join a growing private, parochial, charter, virtual and home schools. number of companies that show their enthusiasm for The champion of each An American Institution education by supporting the Bee, including: sponsor’s program While the Scripps National Spelling Bee has been around qualifies for for a long time, it’s more than a contest for children. It is a participation in the classic element of Americana. Scripps National Spelling Bee. Since 1925, participating in a spelling bee has been part of the collective American experience — even immortalized by a Norman Rockwell lithograph. As millions have gone And our local sponsors are the lifeblood of the Bee. to the front of a classroom or taken the stage to spell a There are more than 270 organizations that administer word, it has become an iconic symbol of education, local spelling bees. All of our local sponsors are listed progress, and the opportunity for future generations to in the Spellers and Sponsors section, which starts on be more enriched than the previous. page 19.

2 knaidel \ kəˈnādəl \ 3 CONTEST RULES OF THE #spellfie 2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee

Rule 1: Eligibility (10) The speller must have been declared a champion of a A speller qualifying for the 2015 Scripps National final local spelling bee on or after February 1, 2015. Spelling Bee (the Bee) must meet these requirements: (11) The speller must not have been disqualified at any (1) The speller must not previously have been declared level of a sponsor’s spelling bee program between champion of the Bee. June 2014 and April 2015. Further, if the speller becomes disqualified at any level of a sponsor’s (2) The speller must attend a school that is officially spelling bee program before April 2015, the speller enrolled with the Bee. will be ineligible to compete in the Bee and may not seek advancement in the Bee through another (3) The speller must not have passed beyond the eighth sponsor and/or enrollment in another school. grade on or before February 1, 2015. (12) The speller must not have any first-, second- or third- (4) The speller must not have repeated any grade for the degree relatives (i.e., sibling, parent, grandparent, aunt, purpose of extending spelling bee eligibility. If the uncle, niece, nephew, half-sibling or first cousin) who speller has repeated any grade, the speller must notify are current employees of The E.W. Scripps Company. the Bee of the circumstances of grade repetition by March 31, 2015; and the Bee will, in its sole discretion, (13) The speller, upon qualifying for the Bee, must submit determine the speller’s eligibility status on or before a completed online Champion Profile form, a signed April 30, 2015. Certification of Eligibility Form, a signed Appearance Consent and Release Form, and a hard or electronic The Preliminaries Test has 26 multiple choice items copy of a photo to the Bee. The speller will notify the Rule 3: Semifinals Format (5) The speller — or the speller’s parent, legal guardian or divided in four sections, with spellers identifying their The Semifinals is the second of three distinct segments school official acting on the speller’s behalf — must Bee, at least 24 hours prior to the first day of responses on Scantron test forms. A speller receives one competition, if any of the statements made on the of the competition: Preliminaries, Semifinals and not have declared to another entity an academic point for each of the 12 items identified correctly in the Championship Finals. classification higher than eighth grade for any purpose Certification of Eligibility Form are no longer true or Round One Spelling section, one point for each of the 12 including high school graduation equivalency or require updating. The speller’s sponsor will provide items identified correctly in the Round One Vocabulary access to the necessary forms. The Semifinals consists of a multiple choice test proficiency examinations and/or examinations such as section, three points for a correct answer to the single (Semifinals Test) administered Wednesday evening, May the PSAT, SAT or ACT. item in the Round Two Vocabulary section, and three The Bee may disqualify prior to or during competition any 27 and two rounds of oral spelling onstage on Thursday, points for a correct answer to the single item in the Round May 28. Spellers may earn up to 36 points during the (6) The speller must not have earned the legal equivalent speller who is not in compliance with any of the above Three Vocabulary section. Eligibility Requirements; and it may — at any time Semifinals: up to 30 points on the Semifinals Test, three of a high school diploma. points for correctly spelling in Round Five and three between the conclusion of the 2015 Scripps National During the afternoon of Wednesday, May 27 the Bee will Spelling Bee and April 30, 2016 — require any speller who points for correctly spelling in Round Six. (7) The speller must not have completed nor ever been email Preliminaries Test score reports to parents and Spellers must report to Chesapeake Room G in the enrolled in more than six high school-level courses or is found to have not been in compliance with any of the spellers. Eligibility Requirements to forfeit any prizes, rank, and Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center for the two college-level courses on or before April 30, 2015. Semifinals Test on Wednesday, May 27 at 7:00 p.m. EDT. other benefits accorded to the speller as a result of Eliminations: There are no immediate eliminations for (8) The speller must not bypass or circumvent normal participation in the 2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee. providing an incorrect answer in the Preliminaries Test. The Semifinals Test has 26 multiple choice items divided in school activity to study for spelling bees. The Bee Upon incorrectly spelling a word in Round Two or Three, four sections, with spellers identifying their responses on defines normal school activity as adherence to at the speller is eliminated from the competition. Spellers Scantron test forms. A speller receives one point for each least four courses of study other than language arts, Rule 2: Preliminaries Format eliminated during Round Two are tied for the same place. of the 12 items identified correctly in the Round spelling, Latin, Greek, vocabulary and etymology for at The Preliminaries is the first of three distinct segments of Spellers eliminated during Round Three are tied for the Four Spelling section, one point for each of the 12 items least four hours per weekday for 34 of the 38 weeks the competition: Preliminaries, Semifinals and same place. Immediately after Round Three a “maximum identified correctly in the Round Four Vocabulary section, between August 26, 2014, and May 17, 2015. Championship Finals. of 50” standard is applied to remaining spellers’ scores three points for a correct answer to the single item in the accrued during the Preliminaries. Spellers’ scores are Round Five Vocabulary section, and three points for a (9) The speller must not have reached the age of 15 on or The Preliminaries consists of a multiple choice test plotted on a chart. Beginning at 36 on the chart, spellers at correct answer to the single item in the Round Six before August 31, 2014. (Preliminaries Test) administered Tuesday, May 26 at each consecutive scoring level are added until a sum of no Vocabulary section. 9:15 a.m. EDT, and two rounds of oral spelling onstage on more than 50 spellers has been attained. Wednesday, May 27 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and During the morning of Thursday, May 28 the Bee will 6:00 p.m. EDT. Spellers may earn up to 36 points during All remaining spellers are eliminated. All spellers email Semifinals Test score reports to Semifinalist the Preliminaries: up to 30 points on the Preliminaries eliminated after Round Three and before the start of spellers and their parents. 4 guerdon \ˈgər-dən \ Test, three points for correctly spelling in Round Two and the Semifinals are tied for the same place. 5 three points for correctly spelling in Round Three. Eliminations: There are no immediate eliminations for speller spells correctly in a round, a new one-word round Schedule modifications: Bee officials may, in their sole outlined in Rule 6. It is sometimes impossible to detect a providing an incorrect answer in the Semifinals Test. Upon begins and the speller is given an opportunity to spell the discretion, announce schedule and/or location changes in misunderstanding until a spelling error has been made, incorrectly spelling a word in Round Five or Six, the speller next word on the list (anticipated winning word). If the response to unexpected circumstances. and the judges are not responsible for the speller’s is eliminated from the competition. Spellers eliminated speller succeeds in correctly spelling the anticipated misunderstanding. during Round Five are tied for the same place. Spellers winning word in this one-word round, the speller is Rule 7: Special Needs eliminated during Round Six are tied for the same place. declared the champion. If the speller misspells the The Bee strives to provide accommodation for spellers Pronouncer Errors: The judges compare the pronouncer’s Immediately after Round Six a “maximum of 12” standard anticipated winning word in a one-word round, a new who have diagnosed medical conditions. All requests for pronunciation with the diacritical markings in the word is applied to remaining spellers’ scores accrued during the round begins with all the spellers who spelled correctly accommodation of special needs should be directed in list. If the judges feel that the pronouncer’s pronunciation Preliminaries and Semifinals. Spellers’ scores are plotted and incorrectly in the previous round: these spellers spell writing to the director of the Bee before May 1, 2015. does not match the pronunciation specified in the on a chart. Beginning at 72 on the chart, spellers at each in their original order. The judges have discretionary power to amend spelling diacritical markings, the judges will direct the pronouncer consecutive scoring level are added until a sum of no more requirements on a case-by-case basis for spellers with to correct the error as soon as it is detected. than 12 spellers has been attained. All remaining spellers Rule 5: Official Dictionary and Source diagnosed medical conditions. are eliminated unless, in the course of applying the of Words Disqualifications for reasons other than clear misspelling: maximum of 12 standard, it appears that fewer than nine The judges will disqualify a speller (1) who does not Webster’s Third New International Dictionary and its spellers will qualify for the Championship Finals. In this Rule 8: Pronouncer’s Role approach the microphone when it is the speller’s time addenda section, copyright 2002, Merriam-Webster circumstance, spellers at the next consecutive scoring The pronouncer strives to pronounce words according to to receive the word unless there are extenuating (Webster’s Third) is the final authority and sole source for level (or levels) may be named as Championship Finalists the diacritical markings in Webster’s Third. circumstances that, in the judges’ sole discretion, merit the spelling of words; the primary source used to craft the if, in sole determination of Bee officials, there is sufficient holding the speller’s word in reserve and offering it to the pronunciations, definitions, and language origins for the time and word list content to accommodate additional Homonyms: If a word has one or more homonyms, the speller after all other spellers in the round have spelled Bee; and the only printed authority consulted by officials, spellers in the Championship Finals. All spellers pronouncer indicates which word is to be spelled by and before the close of the round; (2) who engages in as well as the sole source used during the Bee to verify the eliminated after Round Six and before the start of the defining the word. unsportsmanlike conduct; (3) who, in the process of information in our prepared lists. If more than one spelling Championship Finals are tied for the same place. retracing a spelling, alters the letters or sequence of is listed for a word, any of these spellings will be accepted Speller’s requests: In oral competition the pronouncer letters from those first uttered; or (4) who, in the process as correct if the following three criteria are met: responds only to the speller’s requests for repetition of spelling, utters unintelligible or nonsense sounds. Rule 4: Championship Finals Format (1) the pronunciations are identical, (2) the definitions of the word’s pronunciation, a definition, sentence, The Championship Finals is the third of three distinct are identical, and (3) the words are identified as being part of speech, language(s) of origin and alternate Speller activities that do not merit disqualification: segments of the competition: Preliminaries, Semifinals variants of each other. Spellings having temporal labels pronunciation(s). When presented with requests for The judges may not disqualify a speller (1) for failing to and Championship Finals. (such as archaic, obsolete), stylistic labels (such as alternate pronunciations, the pronouncer or associate pronounce the word either before or after spelling it, substand, nonstand) or regional labels (such as North, pronouncer checks for alternate pronunciations in (2) for asking a question, or (3) for noting or failing to The Championship Finals consist of rounds of oral spelling Midland, Irish) which differ from main entry spellings not Webster’s Third. If the speller wishes to ask if the note the capitalization of a word, the presence of a beginning with Round Seven and continuing until a having these status labels will not be accepted as correct. dictionary lists a specific root word as the root of the word champion is declared (or co-champions are declared). diacritical mark, or the presence of a hyphen or other to be spelled, the speller must specify a pronunciation of form of punctuation. Rule 6: Time Constraints the root (not a spelling), its language and its definition. The All spellers who have not been eliminated from the During the Preliminaries and Semifinals Tests: The pronouncer will grant all such requests as long as they are competition spell one word in each round. Upon Rule 10: Speller’s Role speller may make or change responses on the test form in accordance with time constraints outlined in Rule 6. incorrectly spelling a word, the speller is eliminated from The speller makes an effort to face the judges and during the time that the test is being administered by the the competition except as provided under “End-of-Bee pronounce the word for the judges before spelling it and pronouncer, and for 10 minutes afterward. Pronouncer’s sense of helpfulness: The pronouncer may Procedure” herein. All spellers eliminated in the same after spelling it. The speller while facing the judges makes offer word information — without the speller having round are tied for the same place. an effort to utter each letter distinctly and with sufficient During oral spelling rounds in the Preliminaries, requested the information — if the pronouncer senses volume to be understood by the judges. The speller may Semifinals and Championship Finals: The speller’s time at that the information is helpful and the information Championship Words and Provision for Declaration of ask the pronouncer to say the word again, define it, use the microphone has a limit of 2 minutes. Time begins when appears in the 2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee word Co-Champions: At the beginning of any round in which it in a sentence, provide the part of speech, provide the the pronouncer first pronounces the word. For the first list or Webster’s Third. either two or three spellers remain, the pronouncer will language(s) of origin and/or provide an alternate 1 minute and 15 seconds, the speller will have the benefit move to the 25-word championship section of the word pronunciation or pronunciations. The speller may also of viewing a monitor displaying a green traffic light. After list. If a champion does not emerge in the course of Rule 9: Judges’ Role ask root word questions that meet the specifications 1 minute and 15 seconds, will show a yellow administering these final 25 words, the remaining spellers The judges listen carefully, determine whether or not delineated in Rule 8. traffic light and the time clock as it counts down to the will be declared co-champions. In the event that a round words are spelled correctly and uphold the rules. The 30-second mark. At the 30-second mark, the monitor will beginning with more than either two or three spellers decisions of the judges are final. Misunderstandings: The speller is responsible for any show a red traffic light and a countdown of the remaining ends with only one speller to begin the next and perhaps misunderstanding of the word unless (1) the pronouncer 30 seconds. The judges and pronouncer will not final round, the pronouncer will not move to the Misunderstandings: The judges will not respond to never provided a correct pronunciation; (2) the pronouncer communicate with the speller during the final 30 seconds. championship section at that point in the competition. the speller’s question(s) about the word and its provided incorrect information regarding the definition, The judges will disqualify any speller who does not pronunciation but, if the judges sense that the speller has part of speech, or language of origin; or (3) the speller provide a complete spelling before the expiration of time End-of-Bee Procedure: If all spellers in a round misspell, misunderstood the word, the judges will direct the speller correctly spelled a homonym of the word and the (0 seconds). If the judges and pronouncer need to all remain in the competition and a new round begins with and pronouncer to interact until they are satisfied that pronouncer failed to either offer a definition or discuss a competition-related matter while a speller is the spellers spelling in their original order. If only one reasonable attempts have been made to assist the speller distinguish the homonyms. contemplating a word, they may pause the time clock, and in understanding the word within the time constraints they will inform the speller when they pause and resume the time clock. 6 7 8 Multiple Choice Test (Preliminaries) Tuesday morning, May 26 Round 1 Spelling 12 words 1 point each Provide Advance to Round Two Round 1 Vocabulary 12 words 1 point each incorrect response Rounds 2 and 3 Vocabulary 1 word per 3 points each

Earn up to 30 points for correct responses.

Round Two (Preliminaries) Wednesday morning, May 27 | ESPN3 Misspell and out

Spell correctly and earn 3 points in this round.

Round Three (Preliminaries) Wednesday afternoon, May 27 | ESPN3 Misspell and out

Spell correctly and earn 3 points in this round.

Semifinals Threshold Wednesday, May 27, Do not meet threshold Out approximately 5 p.m. | ESPN3

No more than 50 spellers will advance to the Semifinals. (See rules for details.) Multiple Choice Test (Semifinals) Wednesday evening, May 27 Round 4 Spelling 12 words 1 point each Provide Advance to Round 4 Vocabulary 12 words 1 point each incorrect response Round Five Rounds 5 and 6 Vocabulary 1 word per 3 points each

Earn up to 30 points for correct responses.

Round Five (Semifinals) Competition Flow Chart Thursday morning, May 28 | ESPN2 Misspell and out

Spell correctly and earn 3 points in this round.

Round Six (Semifinals) Thursday midday, May 28 | ESPN2 Misspell and out

Spell correctly and earn 3 points in this round.

Championship Finals Threshold Thursday, May 28, Do not meet Out approximately 1 p.m. | ESPN2 threshold

It’s anticipated that no more than 12 spellers will advance to the Championship Finals. (See rules for details.)

Rounds Seven and Higher (Championship Finals) Thursday evening, May 28 | ESPN Misspell Out, with two exceptions:

• If all spellers in a round misspell, all remain in the competition and a new round begins with the Spell correctly spellers spelling in their original order. • If the speller misspells the anticipated winning word in a one-word round, a new round begins CHAMPION with all the spellers who spelled correctly and incorrectly in the previous round; these spellers

9 spell in their original order. 8. What are the time limits? 4. Why does the Bee ask so many foreign The Preliminaries and Semifinals tests will each take about 25 minutes to administer and will be followed by a 10- words? minute period during which spellers may review and finalize Most words in the English language are words that we their responses. During all rounds of onstage spelling, borrowed from other languages. We borrowed them, used spellers have a limit of two minutes. them and now call them our own. 20 9. Why does the pronouncer give a lot of 5. What happens when a speller misspells Questions information to some spellers and very onstage? The judges’ bell will ring, the pronouncer will offer the little information to others? correct spelling, and the speller will exit in the direction of Some words have multiple pronunciations, long definitions the sofas located stage right. One or both of the speller’s and complex origins. Other words have only one parents will meet the speller at the sofas and lead the pronunciation, a brief definition and a simple origin. Here’s speller from the stage area. the interesting part: There is no correlation between the volume of information and the spelling difficulty level.

6. What happens if every speller in a Also, some spellers don’t ask for information, while others round misspells? ask multiple questions. The rules give Dr. Bailly discretion 1. Didn ’t she spell that word correctly? Every speller who misspelled in the round is reinstated to to offer information (as long as it’s in the word list or That’s how my dictionary spells it. the competition. A new round begins, and they spell in their Webster’s Third) if he feels that it would be helpful to the She didn’t spell the word the way it’s spelled in the Bee’s original order. speller, or if he has a sentence that he thinks is funny. official dictionary,Webster’s Third New International Dictionary and its addenda section, copyright 2002, 7. What happens if the speller correctly 10. What if the speller doesn’t Merriam-Webster (Webster’s Third). Bee rules state that Webster’s Third is the final authority for the spelling spells a homonym of the word? understand the word? of words. The speller is out of luck unless Dr. Bailly failed to say that The rules say it’s the speller’s responsibility to understand the word is a homonym or did not provide a definition of the word. If he doesn’t understand the word, misspelling the word. is likely. Bee officials are not aware of a problem unless 2. Where does Dr. Bailly get the words? the speller: The individuals — Bee officials and special contributors — who collaborate to produce the word list find the words 1) says “I don’t understand,” in the course of going about their lives, reading books and 2) distinctly mispronounces the word while facing the traveling. Then they confirm the words’ presence in judges, or Webster’s Third. Occasionally, we hear theories that the Bee 3) delivers an Oscar-worthy interpretation of confusion. strategically recycles words from previous lists or creates special themes for its word lists. Let’s just say that we find If the officials detect a lack of understanding, they will do all these theories amusing. that they can within the limits of the rules to help the speller achieve an understanding of the word. 3. Dr . Bailly mispronounced the word. What can be done? 11. How many rounds will there be? What Dr. Bailly did was pronounce the word according The Preliminaries and Semifinals are each three rounds to the diacritical markings in Webster’s Third. Diacritical with Rounds One and Four being multiple choice tests. markings are symbols such as ä and ŋ that you see in a The Championship Finals begins with Round Seven but we dictionary. If he didn’t pronounce it the way you expected it simply don’t know how many rounds it will take to to be pronounced, it’s because your pronunciation wasn’t determine a Champion. It all depends on how many in the dictionary, and the pronouncer is bound by the rules spellers misspell in each round. to pronounce only what is listed in the dictionary. It’s also important to note that the legion of Bee officials in the front 12. What happens if the Bee runs out of the ballroom closely listen to Dr. Bailly and immediately alert him to make an on-the-spot correction in the event of of words? an error. That’s not a significant concern of Bee officials, as the list contains enough words for us to conduct the Bee through dawn on Friday morning. stromuhr 10 \ˈstrō-mü(ə)r \ 11 17. How many spellers usually qualify for the Semifinals? Continued from previous page Looking over the past five Bees, 46 spellers qualified for the Semifinals in 2014. In 2013, it was 42; 2012: 50; 2011: 41; and 2010: 48.

13. Why at the end of the Bee do the screens count down 18. How does the Bee decide who makes it to the Championship Finals? from 25 after each speller spells? What happens if it This formula is similar to the one used for the Semifinals. Let’s suppose that 28 spellers remain in the Bee at the end of Round Six. Each of the 28 spellers has a Preliminaries score — points earned in the Preliminaries reaches zero? Test and Rounds Two and Three; also, a Semifinals score — points earned in the Semifinals Test and Rounds The screens count down from 25 to indicate that the pronouncer is offering words Five and Six. Immediately after Round Six, a speller’s Preliminaries score and Semifinals score are added from the 25-word Championship Words section of the list. If a champion is not together. The highest possible cumulative Preliminaries and Semifinals score a speller can earn is 72. Now determined in the course of administering these final 25 words, Co-Champions will let’s suppose that the scoring distribution for the 28 spellers looks like this: be declared as they in 2014.

14. Why didn’t the champion have to correct the spelling CUMULATIVE PRELIMINARIES NUMBER OF SPELLERS CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF SPELLERS AND SEMIFINALS SCORE ACHIEVING THIS SCORE AT OR ABOVE THIS SCORING LEVEL of the other speller onstage? The rule about correcting the other speller’s spelling went away in 1991. Now, in order to be 72 0 0 declared Champion, you must be the only speller to spell correctly in a round; plus, in the next round — a one-word, one-person round — you must spell correctly. 71 1 1 70 1 2 15. When will the spellers ever see or use these words again? 69 2 4 Maybe never. And that’s fine by us. Why? Because the spellers you see onstage are the crème de la 68 4 8 crème — the best from a field of more than 11 million students. Of course we have to give these brilliant 67 2 10 kids such difficult words! What really matters are the hundreds of important, useful words that they and 66 1 11 the 11 million others learned and spelled prior to this competition — words they will definitely see and 65 0 11 use again such as philanthropy, imperative and amenable. As for those incredibly difficult words, they’re 64 2 13 out there — in great works of literature, guide books, high school and college textbooks, and other great 63 1 14 places. We’re proud to put the spotlight on these rare and important gems of the English language. 62 5 19 16. How does the Bee decide who makes it to the Semifinals? The remainder of this sample scoring distribution table is not shown. Let’s suppose that 225 spellers remain in the Bee at the end of Round Three. Each of the 225 spellers It is anticipated that no more than 12 spellers will make it to the Championship Finals. In this example, the has a Preliminaries score — points earned in the Preliminaries Test and Rounds Two and Three. The Championship Finals scoring threshold is 65. All spellers who achieved a cumulative Preliminaries and highest possible Preliminaries score a speller can earn is 36. Now let’s suppose that the scoring Semifinals score of at least 65 — in this sample case, it’s 11 spellers — qualify for the Championship Finals. distribution looks like this: 19. How many spellers usually qualify for the Championship Finals? Looking back over the past five Bees, 12 spellers qualified in 2014. In 2013, it was 11; 2012: 9; 2011: 13; NUMBER OF SPELLERS CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF SPELLERS and 2010: 8. PRELIMINARIES SCORE ACHIEVING THIS SCORE AT OR ABOVE THIS SCORING LEVEL 20. How does the Bee rank spellers as they exit the competition? 36 2 2 35 3 5 Here is a summary: 34 8 13 33 12 25 TIMING OF COMPETITION EXIT RANK 32 19 44 Misspell in Round Two number of spellers in Bee at the end of Round Two + 1 31 18 62 30 23 85 Misspell in Round Three number of spellers in Bee at the end of Round Three + 1 29 17 102 In Bee at the end of Round Three but do not number of Semifinalists + 1 qualify for the Semifinals The remainder of this sample scoring distribution table is not shown. Misspell in Round Five number of spellers in Bee at the end of Round Five + 1

No more than 50 spellers will make it to the Semifinals. In this example, the Semifinals scoring threshold Misspell in Round Six number of spellers in Bee at the end of Round Six + 1 is 32. All spellers who achieved Preliminaries scores of at least 32 — in this sample case, it’s 44 spellers — In Bee at the end of Round Six but do not number of Championship Finalists + 1 qualify for the Semifinals. qualify for the Championship Finals Misspell and are eliminated during the number of spellers spelling in the round occurring immediately 12 Championship Finals after the round in which speller was eliminated + 1 13 Get to Know the Spellers Favorite Foods Favorite Sports Favorite Sports Figures Favorite Musicians/Bands 1. Pizza 1. Soccer 1. Gabby Douglas 1. Taylor Swift Meet the Spellebrities 2. Pasta 2. Basketball 2. Lionel Messi 2. Imagine Dragons 3. Chicken 3. Tennis 3. Michael Jordan 3. Maroon 5 4. Sushi 4. Swimming 3. Serena Williams 4. Fall Out Boy 5. Steak 5. Volleyball 5. Roger Federer 5. Bruno Mars

Favorite Songs Favorite TV Shows Favorite Novels Spellers by the Numbers 1. “Centuries” – Fall Out Boy 1. Doctor Who 1. J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series 2. “Uptown Funk” – Mark 2. The Big Bang Theory 2. Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy AGE TOTAL PERCENT GRADE TOTAL PERCENT SCHOOL TYPE TOTAL PERCENT Ronson ft. Bruno Mars 3. Once Upon a Time 3. Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians series 3. “Let It Go” – Idina Menzel 4. Shark Tank 4. J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy 9 3 1.1% 3 1 0.3% Public 191 67% 4. “Happy” – Pharrell Williams 5. SpongeBob SquarePants 5. Veronica Roth’s Divergent series 10 11 3.9% 4 5 1.8% Private 50 17.5% 11 35 12.3% 5 24 8.4% Parochial 18 6.3% Favorite Movies Dream Colleges Favorite Historical Figures Favorite Subjects 12 70 24.6% 6 58 20.3% Home 13 4.6% 1. The Hunger Games series 1. Harvard 1. Abraham Lincoln 1. Math 13 88 31% 7 78 27.4% Charter 12 4.2% 2. The Harry Potter series 2. Stanford 2. Mahatma Gandhi 2. English and Language Arts 14 75 26% 8 119 41.8% Virtual 1 0.4% 3. Big Hero 6 3. MIT 3. Albert Einstein 3. Science 15 3 1.1% 4. The Star Wars series 4. Yale 4. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 4. Social Studies 146 Girls: 51.23% 139 Boys: 48.77% Number of Spellers: 285 5. George Washington 5. History

Languages Spoken

Studying Siblings Spelling In Their Blood English is not the first language of 21 spellers. Overall, 117 spellers speak or study 37 languages other than English, including Swedish, Filipino, Mandarin, Italian, German, French, Hindi, Korean, Malayalam, Marathi, Czech, Russian, Laotian, Turkish, Thirty-six spellers have relatives who have Many spellers list their brothers and Urdu, Hebrew and Vietnamese. sisters as study buddies. Of this year’s participated in a combined 81 Scripps spellers, 44 are only children and 137 National Spelling Bees. Robert Rosenberg, the spellers have one sibling. The remaining grandfather of speller 13, Cooper Komatsu, 103 spellers have 210 siblings combined. competed in 1955, and speller 197, Marie This year’s competitors are all great spellers, but that’s not all they do! Here’s a brief look into the interests and Seventeen spellers – spellers 3, 4, 7, 14, Wallie’s mother, Carolyn Cross Wallie, placed accomplishments of the students competing to become the 2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion. 34, 51, 85, 137, 141, 174, 182, 195, 197, third in 1971. Speller 90, Vanya Shivashankar’s sister, Kavya, won in 2009; speller 159, Srinath 217, 233, 252, and 268 – have 5 siblings Speller 133 Speller 143 Speller 273 Mahankali’s brother, Arvind, won in 2013; and or more. Speller 34, Jeffery Thompson, is Junah Jong Daniel Taylor Andrew Gould the youngest of 10 children, and speller 7, speller 153, Jairam Hathwar’s brother, Sriram, won in 2014. Junah appeared in over Daniel is a dedicated Andrew can give you Jackson Parker, has nine siblings as well. 300 performances as a snowboarder who has directions from any one member of the original competed in the USASA U.S. city to another via Eight spellers have a fraternal twin – Spell-Peaters spellers 19, 86, 124, 179, 192, 247, 257 revival cast of Annie Snowboard National interstates, a skill that he and 268 – and Speller 115, Spencer Coming into this year, 57 spellers have collectively competed on Broadway in New Championships for the cultivated through his Pogue, is a triplet. in 136 Scripps National Spelling Bees. York City. past two years. interest in civil engineering.

Speller 105 Speller 270 Speller 262 FIVE-YEAR THREE-YEAR TWO-YEAR 115 Spencer Pogue 199 Annabelle Day Selomi Dayaprema Ayush Noori Eliza Willett REPEATER (1) REPEATERS (13) REPEATERS (40) 130 Christine Farnberg 218 Razeen Basunia Selomi participated in Ayush is currently in the Eliza hopes to earn her 90 Vanya Shivashankar 56 Zander Patent 2 Bryce Tasso 132 Dev Jaiswal 229 Bates Bennett the European Forces process of establishing certification as a pet therapy 85 Zander Reed 9 Eesha Sohail 135 Joel Miles 244 Kasey Torres Swimming League his own 501(c)(3) charity, leader soon, so she can FOUR-YEAR 122 Nathaniel Britton 12 Jillian Fusi 144 Arushi Kalpande 246 Muriel Cotman Championships in Maitri Miracles, to support take her trained therapy REPEATERS (3) 154 Gavin Buehler 22 Kaylee Kim 150 Anish Kumar 257 Jessie Ditton Eindhoven, Netherlands underprivileged children. pig, Ruthie, to nursing 140 Gokul Venkatachalam 158 Sai Vishudhi 44 Charles Li 151 Lydia Loverin 261 Ankita Vadiala in 2011, 2012, and 2013. homes and schools. 164 Dylan O’Connor Chandrasekhar 76 Cy Orentlicher 155 Maggy Lambo 264 Tejas Muthusamy Speller 113 284 Katharine Wang 185 Manu Nair 92 Paul Keaton 165 Harshita Shet 272 Varun Kukkillaya Speller 123 Lela Festa Speller 61 191 Alotus Wei 93 Tara Singh 168 Abigail Pittman 280 Anika Malayappan 200 Cole Shafer-Ray 105 Selomi Dayaprema 169 Bettie Closs Neha Middela Lela loves to crochet, and Brennon Cavanagh 214 Alexandra Harper 107 Tamya Matthews 170 Ashrita Vadlapatla In just one month, Neha she even started her own Brennon teaches the 221 Kalika Bridwell 109 Selena Antosh 175 Emily Garcia wrote 50,000 words as a Etsy shop as a way to sell importance of wetlands 237 Shobha Dasari 110 Gia Lauren Bautista 180 Madeline Rickert part of the National Novel her creations and learn conservation as a member 255 Samuel Pereles 112 Christy Jestin 196 Phoebe Jackson Writing Month challenge. entrepreneurial skills. of the Junior Stewards 275 Lillian Bischof 114 Mitchell Robson 198 Melina Gabele 14 program led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 15 1970: croissant 1981: sarcophagus 1993: kamikaze 2005: appoggiatura Champions and Their Winning Words Libby Childress Paige Pipkin Geoff Hooper Anurag Kashyap Winston-Salem Journal El Paso Herald-Post The Commercial Appeal San Diego Union-Tribune 1925: gladiolus 1936: interning 1950: meticulosity 1959: catamaran & Sentinel El Paso, Memphis, Tennessee San Diego, Frank Neuhauser Jean Trowbridge Diana Reynard Joel Montgomery Winston-Salem, Louisville Courier-Journal Des Moines Register & Tribune Press North Carolina 1982: psoriasis 1994: antediluvian 2006: Ursprache Louisville, Kentucky Des Moines, Iowa Cleveland, Ohio Denver, Colorado Molly Dieveney Ned G. Andrews Katharine Close and 1971: shalloon Rocky Mountain News The Knoxville News Sentinel Asbury Park Press/ 1926: cerise 1937: promiscuous Colquitt Dean 1960: eudaemonic Jonathan Knisely Denver, Colorado Knoxville, Tennessee Home News Tribune Pauline Bell Waneeta Beckley Atlanta Journal Henry Feldman Philadelphia Bulletin Asbury Park, New Jersey Louisville Courier-Journal Louisville Courier-Journal Atlanta, Georgia The Knoxville News Sentinel Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1983: Purim 1995: xanthosis Louisville, Kentucky Louisville, Kentucky Knoxville, Tennessee Blake Giddens Justin Tyler Carroll 2007: serrefine 1951: insouciant 1972: macerate El Paso Herald-Post The Commercial Appeal Evan M. O’Dorney 1927: luxuriance 1938: sanitarium Irving Belz 1961: smaragdine Robin Kral El Paso, Texas Memphis, Tennessee Contra Costa Times Dean Lucas Marian Richardson Memphis Press Scimitar John Capehart Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Walnut Creek, California Akron Beacon Journal Louisville Times Memphis, Tennessee Tulsa Tribune Lubbock, Texas 1984: luge 1996: vivisepulture Akron, Ohio Louisville, Kentucky Tulsa, Oklahoma Daniel Greenblatt Wendy Guey 2008: guerdon 1952: vignette 1973: vouchsafe Loudoun Times-Mirror The Palm Beach Post Sameer Mishra 1928: albumen 1939: canonical Doris Ann Hall 1962: esquamulose Barrie Trinkle Leesburg, Virginia West Palm Beach, Florida Journal and Courier Betty Robinson Elizabeth Ann Rice Winston-Salem Journal Nettie Crawford Fort Worth Press Lafayette, Indiana South Bend News-Tribune Worcester Telegram & Gazette Winston-Salem, El Paso Herald-Post Fort Worth, Texas 1985: milieu 1997: euonym South Bend, Indiana Worcester, Massachusetts North Carolina El Paso, Texas Balu Natarajan Rebecca Sealfon 2009: Laodicean and 1974: hydrophyte Chicago Tribune Daily News Kavya Shivashankar 1929: asceticism 1940: therapy 1953: soubrette Michael Day Julie Anne Junkin Chicago, Illinois New York, New York The Olathe News Virginia Hogan Laurel Kuykendall Elizabeth Hess St. Louis Globe-Democrat Birmingham Post-Herald Olathe, The Omaha World-Herald The Knoxville News Sentinel Arizona Republic St. Louis, Missouri Birmingham, Alabama 1986: odontalgia 1998: chiaroscurist Omaha, Nebraska Knoxville, Tennessee Phoenix, Arizona Jon Pennington Jody-Anne Maxwell 2010: stromuhr 1963: equipage 1975: incisor The Patriot News Phillips & Phillips Anamika Veeramani 1930: fracas 1941: initials 1954: transept Glen Van Slyke III Hugh Tosteson Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Stationery Suppliers The Plain Dealer Helen Jensen Louis Edward Sissman William Cashore The Knoxville News Sentinel San Juan Star Kingston, Jamaica Cleveland, Ohio Des Moines Register & Tribune Detroit News Norristown Times Herald Knoxville, Tennessee San Juan, Puerto Rico 1987: staphylococci Des Moines, Iowa Detroit, Michigan Norristown, Pennsylvania Stephanie Petit 1999: logorrhea 2011: cymotrichous 1964: sycophant 1976: narcolepsy Nupur Lala Sukanya Roy 1931: foulard 1942: sacrilegious 1955: crustaceology William Kerek Tim Kneale Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The Tampa Tribune Times Leader Ward Randall Richard Earnhart Sandra Sloss Akron Beacon Journal Syracuse Herald Tampa, Florida Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania White Hall Register-Republican El Paso Herald-Post St. Louis Globe-Democrat Akron, Ohio Journal-American 1988: elegiacal White Hall, Illinois El Paso, Texas St. Louis, Missouri Syracuse, New York Rageshree Ramachandran 2000: demarche 2012: guetapens 1965: eczema George Abraham Thampy Snigdha Nandipati 1932: knack 1946: semaphore 1956: condominium Michael Kerpan, Jr. 1977: cambist Sacramento, California St. Louis Post-Dispatch U-T San Diego Dorothy Greenwalk John McKinney Melody Sachko Tulsa Tribune John Paola St. Louis, Missouri San Diego, California Des Moines Register & Tribune Des Moines Register & Tribune The Pittsburgh Press Tulsa, Oklahoma The Pittsburgh Press 1989: spoliator Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines, Iowa Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Scott Isaacs 2001: succedaneum 2013: knaidel 1966: ratoon Rocky Mountain News Sean Conley Arvind Mahankali 1933: torsion 1947: chlorophyll 1957: schappe Robert A. Wake 1978: deification Denver, Colorado Aitkin Independent Age Daily News Alma Roach Mattie Lou Pollard Sandra Owen Houston Chronicle Peg McCarthy Aitkin, Minnesota New York, New York Akron Beacon Journal Atlanta Journal Canton Repository Houston, Texas The Topeka Capital-Journal 1990: fibranne Akron, Ohio Atlanta, Georgia Canton, Ohio Topeka, Kansas Amy Marie Dimak 2002: prospicience 2014: stichomythia and 1967: Chihuahua The Seattle Times Pratyush Buddiga Sriram Hathwar 1934: deteriorating 1948: psychiatry Dana Bennett Jennifer Reinke 1979: maculature Seattle, Washington Rocky Mountain News Corning Rotary Club Sarah Wilson Jean Chappelear Rocky Mountain News The Omaha World-Herald Katie Kerwin Denver, Colorado Corning, New York Portland Evening Press Akron Beacon Journal Denver, Colorado Omaha, Nebraska Rocky Mountain News 1991: antipyretic and Portland, Maine Akron, Ohio Denver, Colorado Joanne Lagatta 2003: pococurante feuilleton 1958: syllepsis 1968: abalone The Wisconsin State Journal Sai R. Gunturi Ansun Sujoe 1935: intelligible 1949: dulcimer Jolitta Schlehuber Robert L. Walters 1980: elucubrate Madison, Wisconsin The Dallas Morning News Texas Christian University Clara Mohler Kim Calvin Topeka Daily Capital The Topeka Daily Capital Jacques Bailly Dallas, Texas Fort Worth, Texas Akron Beacon Journal Canton Repository Topeka, Kansas Topeka, Kansas Rocky Mountain News 1992: lyceum Akron, Ohio Canton, Ohio Denver, Colorado Amanda Goad 2004: autochthonous 1969: interlocutory The Richmond News Leader David Scott Pilarski Tidmarsh Susan Yoachum Richmond, Virginia South Bend Tribune 16 Dallas Morning News South Bend, Indiana 17 Ursprache \ˈu̇(ə)rˌshpräḵə \ Dallas, Texas Spellers and Sponsors FOR THE CHAMPION From Scripps: a $30,000 cash prize and the Scripps National ALABAMA THE BAHAMAS 16 Snehaa Ganesh Spelling Bee engraved trophy 1 Victor M. Sutton of 8 Charles Hamilton Jr. of Kumar of Folsom is a PRIZES Auburn is a 12-year-old Nassau is a 12-year-old 12-year-old 7th grader From Merriam-Webster: a $2,500 U.S. savings bond and a 7th grader at J.F. Drake 8th grader at St. Anne’s at Folsom Middle School. complete reference library Middle School. His School. His sponsor is Her sponsor is The sponsor is Adventure The Nassau Guardian. Sacramento Bee. From Encyclopaedia Britannica: $1,100 of reference works Travel, Birmingham. including the Britannica Global Edition, 1768 Encyclopaedia CALIFORNIA 18 Colleen Ung of San Britannica Replica Set Deluxe Edition and three-year ALASKA 9 Eesha R. Sohail of Bernardino is a 13-year- old 8th grader at Cesar membership to Britannica Online Premium 2 Bryce Tasso of Eagle Bakersfield is a 13-year- River is a 14-year-old 8th old 8th grader at Norris E. Chavez Middle School. Her sponsor is the San From Words With Friends: a $5,000 cash prize grader at Grace Christian Middle School. Her School. His sponsor is sponsor is KERO 23 ABC, Bernardino Spelling Bee the Alaska Dispatch News, Bakersfield. Collaborative. FOR THE CHAMPION’S SCHOOL Anchorage. 10 Labiba Sardar of 19 Oona Mary Nikko AND SPONSOR 3 Bethany Therese Ventura is a 13-year-old Flood of Solana Beach is From Scripps: Scripps National Spelling Bee engraved plaques Doudna of Fairbanks is 8th grader at Balboa a 14-year-old 8th grader a home-schooled Middle School. Her at Earl Warren Middle 14-year-old 8th grader sponsor is the Ventura School. Her sponsor is FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP with Interior Distance County Star, Camarillo. U-T San Diego. FINALISTS Education of Alaska. Her sponsor is the Daily 11 Nicholas M. Lee of 20 Meera Suresh of Santa A medal from the Scripps National Spelling Bee News-Miner, Fairbanks. Rancho Cucamonga is an Clara is a 12-year-old 11-year-old 5th grader at 7th grader at Warren Misspell in Round 7 through to 7th Place $1,500 AMERICAN SAMOA Caryn Elementary School. E. Hyde Middle School. Her sponsor is KPIX-TV 4 Debrinna-Meggie His sponsor is Quest & KCBS Radio AM & FM, 6th Place $2,000 Saleutogi Alaia Su’a of Literacy Consortium, Inc., San Francisco. Pago Pago is a 12-year-old Diamond Bar. 5th Place $2,500 7th grader at Manulele 21 Sarika Rau of Irvine is 4th Place $3,000 Tausala Elementary 12 Jillian Grace Fusi of a 13-year-old 7th grader School. Her sponsor is the Imperial is a 13-year-old 3rd Place $7,500 at Sierra Vista Middle Samoa News, Pago Pago. 8th grader at Calvary 2nd Place $12,500 Chapel Christian School. School. Her sponsor is Her sponsor is the Imperial The Orange County ARIZONA Register, Santa Ana. FOR THE SEMIFINALISTS 5 Marcus E. Behling of Valley Press, El Centro. Chandler is a 13-year-old A medal from the Scripps National Spelling Bee 13 Cooper Komatsu of 22 Kaylee Erin Kim of 8th grader at Arizona Fort Irwin is a 12-year- College Prep. His sponsor Los Angeles is a 12-year- $500 Visa gift card old 7th grader at Culver old 7th grader at Fort is the Arizona Educational Irwin Middle School. Foundation, Scottsdale. City Middle School. His sponsor is the Los Her sponsor is the Daily Press, Victorville. FOR ALL SPELLERS 6 Kelvin G. Winney of Angeles Spelling Bee Collaborative. From Merriam-Webster: Webster’s Third New International Chinle is a 10-year-old 23 Sameera Naseem 5th grader at Canyon de Dictionary, Unabridged, including a CD-ROM 14 Emily Grace Alldrin Hussain of Porterville is Chelly Elementary School. a 12-year-old 6th grader His sponsor is the Navajo of Palo Cedro is a From Mr. Jay Sugarman: The Samuel Louis Sugarman home-schooled 13-year- at Westfield Elementary Award — a 2015 Mint Proof Set presented by Times Publishing School. Her sponsor is the Company, Window Rock. old 7th grader with The Mr. Sugarman in honor of his father Learning Connection. Visalia Times-Delta/ Her sponsor is the Tulare Advance-Register. ARKANSAS Record From Encyclopaedia Britannica: a one-year Searchlight, Redding. membership to Britannica Online Premium 7 Jackson C. Parker of 24 Timothy Yue of Paragould is a 14-year-old 15 Jenna-May Ingal Danville is a 13-year- 8th grader at Paragould Spellers who are eliminated from the competition in the same round are of Cathedral City is a old 7th grader at The Junior High School. His assigned the same rank (place). If Bee officials declare Co-Champions, 14-year-old 8th grader Dorris-Eaton School. sponsor is the Arkansas each Co-Champion will receive a $30,000 first place cash prize. at James Workman His sponsor is the Democrat Gazette, Contra Costa Times, Little Rock. Middle School. Her sponsor is The Press- Walnut Creek. Enterprise, Riverside. 18 19 Laodicean \ lā-ˌä-də-ˈsē-ən \ Spellers and Sponsors continued CANADA 282 Arjun Jagjivan 36 Trishala Kumar of GEORGIA ILLINOIS 61 Brennon Lee 25 Rehana Jasmine of West Hartford is a Miramar is a 13-year-old 44 Charles Sirui Li of 52 Summit Kumar of Cavanagh of Savanna is Lalani of Mississauga is 13-year-old 8th grader 8th grader at American Martinez is a 12-year-old Plainfield is a 13-year-old a 12-year-old 6th grader a 13-year-old 7th grader at Sedgwick Middle Heritage School. 6th grader at Stallings 7th grader at Troy Middle at West Carroll Middle School. His sponsor is School. His sponsor is the at Allan A. Martin Senior Her sponsor is The Island Middle School. School. His sponsor is Carroll/JoDaviess/ Public School. Her Sedgwick Middle School, . His sponsor is The Commonwealth Stephenson Regional sponsor is Big Brothers West Hartford. Augusta Chronicle. Edison, Chicago. Office of Education, Freeport. Big Sisters of Canada, 37 Jack Benveniste-Plitt

Burlington, Ontario. DELAWARE of Surfside is a 14-year- 45 Monisha P. Mahadevan 53 Bernadette A. Miao 62 Aniket Nuthalapati 30 Keo Pangan of old 8th grader at Rabbi of Atlanta is a 14-year-old of Western Springs is a of Buffalo Grove is a 26 Thomas Duck of Wilmington is a 13-year- Alexander S. Gross 8th grader at Woodward 14-year-old 8th grader at 14-year-old 8th grader Halifax is a 12-year-old old 7th grader at Hebrew Academy. Academy. Her sponsor is Saint John of the Cross at Aptakisic Junior High 7th grader at St. Agnes Immaculate Heart of His sponsor is The the Georgia Association of Parish School. Her School. His sponsor Junior High School. His Mary School. His sponsor Miami Herald. Educators, Tucker. sponsor is Commonwealth is the Lake County sponsor is The Chronicle is the Delaware Spelling Edison, Chicago. Regional Office of Herald, Halifax, Bee Collaborative, 38 Jonathon Schafer of GHANA Estero is a 13-year-old Education, Grayslake. Nova Scotia. Wilmington. 46 Vishal Mukesh 54 Christopher Chang of 7th grader at Royal Palm Thakwani of Accra is a Oak Brook is a 13-year- 63 Eric Rohit Errampalli 27 Greta Warner of Academy. His sponsor is DISTRICT OF 13-year-old 7th grader old 8th grader at Butler of Bourbonnais is a St. John’s is an 11-year- the Naples Daily News. COLUMBIA at Delhi Public School. Junior High School. His 14-year-old 8th grader at old 6th grader at Bishop 31 Julia Weinrod of His sponsor is the sponsor is Commonwealth 39 Siyona Mishra of Bourbonnais Upper Grade Feild Elementary School. Washington is an 11-year- Young Educators Edison, Chicago. Orlando is an 11-year-old Center. His sponsor is The Her sponsor is The old 5th grader at Horace Foundation, Accra. 6th grader at Orlando Daily Journal, Kankakee. Telegram, St. John’s, Mann Elementary School. 55 Gerardo Amaro of Newfoundland and Science Middle High Her sponsor is The GUAM Chicago is a 14-year-old 64 Katrina Marie La Labrador. School. Her sponsor is Washington Informer. 47 Justine Calayo of 8th grader at Beaubien Madrid of Belvidere is a Orlando Sentinel Saipan is a 13-year-old Elementary School. His 12-year-old 6th grader Communications. CHINA EUROPE 8th grader at Grace sponsor is Chicago at St. Bridget School. 17 Sophia Han of Public Schools. Her sponsor is the 32 Ryan Joseph Rayos of 40 Rafael Caballero of Christian Academy. Her Tianjin is a 14-year-old Naples, Italy, is a 12-year- sponsor is the Pacific Daily Boone-Winnebago Riverview is a 13-year-old 56 Zander G. Patent of 8th grader at Tianjin old 6th grader at Naples News, Hagåtña. Regional Office of 7th grader at Williams Chicago is a 14-year-old Nankai Middle School. Elementary School. His Education, Loves Park. Her sponsor is Tianjin Middle Magnet School. 8th grader at Latin School sponsor is the European His sponsor is the HAWAII Nankai Middle School. of Chicago. His sponsor is 65 Uma Kasichainula of PTA, Defense and State Tampa Bay Spelling 48 Nick Sarji of Kailua is a the Chicago Spelling Bee Bettendorf, Iowa, is an Department Schools. Bee Collaborative, 12-year-old 6th grader at COLORADO Collaborative. 11-year-old 6th grader St. Petersburg. ’Aikahi Elementary School. 28 Cameron Keith of FLORIDA His sponsor is Kama’aina at Hopewell Elementary Longmont is a 9-year-old 57 Mareike Western of School. Her sponsors are 33 Bryce Harrell of 41 Jeremy Ortmann of Kids, Kailua. 3rd grader at Friends Johnsburg is a 14-year-old and Lakeland is a 13-year-old Hobe Sound is a 14-year- The Dispatch The Rock School. His sponsor is 8th grader at Johnsburg , Moline. 7th grader at South old 8th grader at Island Argus Barnes & Noble, Boulder. Junior High School. Her McKeel Academy. His Murray Middle School. His 49 Kendall L. Foster of sponsor is the Northwest 66 Aditya Nadkarni of sponsor is the Polk sponsor is Treasure Coast Post Falls is a 13-year-old 29 Sylvie Lamontagne of Herald, Crystal Lake. Aurora is a 14-year-old County School District Newspapers, Stuart. 7th grader at Canfield Lakewood is a 12-year-old 8th grader at Bednarcik Collaborative, Bartow. Middle School. His 7th grader at Creighton 58 Lauryn Pugh of Junior High School. His 42 Farzan Shiju of sponsor is the Coeur Middle School. Her Decatur is a 14-year-old sponsor is the Grundy/ 34 Jeffery D. Thompson Tallahassee is an 11-year- d’Alene Press. sponsor is 8th grader at Holy Family Kendall County The Denver Post. of Fort Myers is a 14-year- old 5th grader at Conley Catholic School. Her Regional Office of old 8th grader at Fort Elementary School. His 50 McKenna Noland of sponsor is the Macon- Education, Morris. CONNECTICUT Myers Middle Academy. sponsor is the Tallahassee Clarkston, Washington, is Piatt Regional Office of 280 Anika R. Malayappan His sponsor is The Daily Democrat. a 12-year-old 6th grader Education, Decatur. 67 Benjamin L. Hollis of of Danbury is a 12-year- News, Bonita Springs. at Asotin Junior Senior Hamilton is a 12-year-old old 6th grader at 43 Tyler Berndt of High School. Her sponsor 59 Nolan Bunger of 6th grader at Hamilton Broadview Middle School. 35 Vaishnavi Suren of Jupiter is a 12-year-old is the Lewiston Tribune. Cortland is a 12-year-old Elementary School. His Her sponsor is Broadview Jacksonville is a 14-year- 6th grader at All Saints 6th grader at Huntley sponsor is the Peoria Middle School, Danbury. old 8th grader at Julia Catholic School. His 51 Jaren Rose of Twin Middle School. His Journal Star. Landon College sponsor is the Kiwanis Falls is a 13-year-old 7th sponsor is the Daily 281 Aahil T. Nishad of Preparatory. Her sponsor Club of West Palm Beach. grader at Vera C. O’Leary Chronicle, DeKalb. 68 Tejas Shyamsundar Danbury is a 9-year-old is The Florida Times-Union, Junior High School. His of Hoffman Estates is an 4th grader at Stadley Jacksonville. sponsor is the Times-News, 60 Rebekah G. Zeigler 11-year-old 5th grader Rough Elementary School. Twin Falls. of Polo is a 10-year-old His sponsor is Stadley 4th grader at Centennial at Lincoln Elementary School. His sponsor 20 Rough Elementary Elementary School. 21 School, Danbury. serrefine \ ˌser-ˈfēn \ Her sponsor is The is the Kane County Telegraph, Dixon. Chronicle, Saint Charles. Spellers and Sponsors continued 69 Dylan Hembrough of 78 Mohamed Bouftas 86 Bryan D. Keck of LOUISIANA 102 Andrew Lazenby of 110 Gia Lauren B. Sherman is an 11-year-old of West Lafayette is a Dubuque is a 13-year-old 94 Abhirami Jeyaseelan of Baldwin is an 11-year-old Bautista of Salisbury is a 5th grader at Williamsville 14-year-old 8th grader 7th grader at Eleanor Baton Rouge is a 12-year- 6th grader at St. James 13-year-old 8th grader at Middle School. His at Battle Ground Middle Roosevelt Middle School. old 6th grader at Glasgow Academy. His sponsor is Wicomico Middle School. sponsor is School. His sponsor is His sponsor is the Telegraph Middle School. Her Learn It Systems, Her sponsor is the University Journal-Register, the Journal and Courier, Herald, Dubuque. sponsor is the Louisiana Baltimore. of Maryland Eastern Springfield. Lafayette. Children’s Discovery Shore, Princess Anne. JAMAICA Center, Hammond. 103 Raffae Aman 70 Meagan Moore of 79 Jenna M. King of 87 Sara-Beth Alina Chowdhury of 111 Craig Storm of Rock Falls is a 14-year-old Upland is a 13-year-old McPherson of Kingston is 95 Megan Marie Clarksburg is an 11-year- Waldorf is a 13-year-old 8th grader at St. Mary’s 8th grader at Eastbrook Lavergne of Lafayette is a old 6th grader at Rocky 7th grader at Mattawoman School. Her sponsor is a 13-year-old 8th grader Junior High School. Her 12-year-old 7th grader at Hill Middle School. His Middle School. His The Daily Gazette, Sterling. at Holy Childhood High sponsor is Indiana Wesleyan School. Her sponsor is the Carencro Catholic School. sponsor is The Meakem sponsor is the Maryland University, Marion. Group, Bethesda. Independent, Waldorf. INDIANA Jamaica Gleaner, Kingston. Her sponsor is the Kiwanis Club of Lafayette. 71 Nicholas James Bitar 80 Munthira Raju of 104 Lauren A. Smith of Anderson is a 12-year- JAPAN MASSACHUSETTS Muncie is a 13-year-old 96 Naysa Modi of of Jessup is an 11-year- old 6th grader at Liberty 88 Sean Andrew Fogerty 112 Christy Jose Jestin 8th grader at Yorktown old 6th grader at Bethel Christian School. His of Misawa is a 13-year- Monroe is a 9-year-old of West Roxbury is a Middle School. Her Christian Academy. Her sponsor is old 7th grader at Robert 4th grader at River Oaks 13-year-old 7th grader sponsor is The Star sponsor is the Howard Bulletin, Anderson. D. Edgren High School. School. Her sponsor is at Boston Latin School. , Muncie. County Library, Columbia. Press His sponsor is The Japan The News-Star, Monroe. His sponsor is the 72 Chloee G. Robison of Times, Tokyo. Boston Centers for Youth Morgantown is a 12-year- 81 Matthew Phillip Ross 97 Tien Thuy Nguyen 105 Selomi G. Dayaprema & Families. of Orleans is a 14-year- of Frederick is a 12-year- old 7th grader at Brown KANSAS of New Orleans is a old 8th grader at Orleans 12-year-old 6th grader old 7th grader at County Junior High 89 Kushala S.V. Madduru 113 Lela Ann Festa of Junior Senior High School. at Einstein Charter Urbana Middle School. School. Her sponsor is of Overland Park is an Still River is a 13-year-old Indiana University, His sponsor is Orange School. Her sponsor is Her sponsor is the 11-year-old 5th grader at 7th grader at Immaculate Bloomington. County Publishing Co. TheTimes-Picayune, New Frederick County Cedar Hills Elementary Heart of Mary School. Her Inc., Paoli. Orleans. Public Libraries. School. Her sponsor is the sponsor is the Sentinel & 73 Ashwin V. Prasad of , Fitchburg. Hays Daily News. Enterprise Carmel is a 12-year-old 82 Olivia Hajicek of 98 Rosie Shultz of Ruston 106 Jan Lemoel 6th grader at Creekside Goshen is a home- is a 10-year-old 4th Lomahan of Hagerstown 114 Mitchell A. Robson of 90 Vanya Shivashankar Middle School. His schooled 13-year-old 7th grader at Cypress Springs is a 13-year-old 8th grader Marblehead is a 13-year- of Olathe is a 13-year-old sponsor is Williams grader with The Elkhart Elementary School. Her at Heritage Academy. old 7th grader at 8th grader at California Comfort Air, Carmel. Area Christian Home sponsor is the Alliance For His sponsor is The Marblehead Community Trail Middle School. Her Educators. Her sponsor is Education, Shreveport. Herald-Mail, Hagerstown. Charter Public School. 74 Reese Steven Perry sponsor is The Olathe the South Bend Tribune. His sponsor is The Daily of Evansville is an News. MAINE 107 Tamya Michelle Item, Lynn. 11-year-old 6th grader 83 Katie Collins of Terre Matthews of Clinton is at Washington Middle 91 Ella M. Rosenkranz of 99 Neil St. John of Haute is a 12-year-old a 13-year-old 8th grader 115 Spencer Pogue of School. His sponsor is the Manhattan is a 13-year- Bangor is an 11-year-old 6th grader at Woodrow at Mt. Calvary Catholic Edgartown is a 13-year- Evansville Courier & Press. old 7th grader at Dwight 6th grader at Bangor Wilson Middle School. School. Her sponsor is The old 7th grader at D. Eisenhower Middle Christian School. His Her sponsor is The Gazette & The Star, Laurel. Edgartown School. 75 Lora A. Kuhaneck of School. Her sponsor is sponsor is Husson Warsaw is a 13-year-old Tribune-Star, Terre Haute. University, Bangor. His sponsor is The The Topeka Capital-Journal. 108 Mark E. Beaulieu 8th grader at Edgewood Martha’s Vineyard Times, 84 Julia Oostema of Dyer of Callaway is a 12-year- Vineyard Haven. Middle School. Her KENTUCKY 100 Bryce Morales of sponsor is The Journal is a 14-year-old 8th grader Portsmouth, New old 7th grader at Spring 92 Paul Keaton of Gazette, Fort Wayne. at Highland Christian Hampshire, is a 13-year- Ridge Middle School. His MICHIGAN Pikeville is a 14-year-old School. Her sponsor is the old 8th grader at Berwick sponsor is The Enterprise, 116 Neil S. Brahmbhatt 8th grader at Christ 76 Cy Orentlicher of Kankakee Valley REMC, Academy. His sponsor is Lexington Park. of Canton is a 13-year-old Central School. His Indianapolis is a 14-year- Wanatah. the Portland Press Herald/ 8th grader at Central sponsor is the Scripps old 8th grader at Hasten Maine Sunday Telegram. 109 Selena Antosh of Middle School. His Howard First Amendment Hebrew Academy of IOWA Prince Frederick is a sponsor is WXYZ Center, Lexington. Indianapolis. His sponsor is 85 Zander Reed of MARYLAND 14-year-old 8th grader Channel 7, Detroit. Indiana University-Purdue Ames is a home-schooled at Calvert Middle School. 93 Tara Singh of Louisville 101 William John University Indianapolis. 12-year-old 7th grader Her sponsor is The 117 Lily Mears of Grand is a 10-year-old 5th Phillips Rogers of with the Ames Recorder, Prince Frederick. Haven is a 13-year-old 8th 77 Joseph Batis of grader at Louisville Annapolis is a 14-year-old Homeschool Assistance grader at Lakeshore Kokomo is a 14-year-old Classical Academy. Her 8th grader at St. Mary’s Program. His sponsor is Middle School. Her 8th grader at Northwestern Elementary School. His Iowa State University, sponsor is WHAS-TV, Middle School. His sponsor is Anne Arundel sponsor is the Kent Greenlee School Louisville. sponsor is Ivy Tech County Public Schools, Intermediate School of Journalism & Annapolis. District, Grand Rapids. Community College, 23 22 Kokomo. Communication, Ames. Spellers and Sponsors continued 118 Zander T. Worm of 126 Sophia Kate 134 Sophia Noel MONTANA 148 Darius Daniel 155 Maggy X. Lambo of Ahmeek is an 11-year-old Thompson of Charlevoix Hoffman of Lee’s Summit is 141 Ti’el Lochridge of Bermudez of Milford, Gloversville is a 13-year- 6th grader at Washington is a 14-year-old 8th a 12-year-old 6th grader Dillon is a 14-year-old 8th Pennsylvania, is a old 8th grader at Mayfield Middle School. His sponsor grader at Charlevoix at Highland Park grader at Dillon Middle 13-year-old 7th grader at Junior-Senior High School. is the Upper Peninsula Middle/High School. Her Elementary School. Her School. Her sponsor is Lee Delaware Valley Middle Her sponsor is The Leader- Spelling Bee Collaborative, sponsor is the Traverse sponsor is the Jackson- Newspapers of Montana, School. His sponsor is Herald, Gloversville. Iron Mountain. City Record-Eagle. Clay County Spelling Bee Billings. the Tri-State Spelling Bee Collaborative, Kansas City. Committee, Montague. 156 Sahil Sangwan of 119 Srinithi Kanakam of MINNESOTA NEBRASKA East Setauket is a 13-year- Jackson is a 10-year-old 127 Cade A. Klimek of 135 Joel C. Miles of 142 Brooke Biby of 149 Frank Grabowski of old 8th grader at Paul 6th grader at Paragon Hibbing is a 14-year-old Greenwood is a 12-year- Omaha is a 12-year-old Keyport is a 13-year-old J. Gelinas Junior High Charter Academy. Her 8th grader at Chisholm old 6th grader at Eagle 6th grader at Joslyn 7th grader at St. Mary School. His sponsor is sponsor is The Jackson High School. His sponsor Glen Intermediate School. Elementary School. Her Elementary School. His Hofstra University, Citizen Patriot. is the Lakes Country His sponsor is the sponsor is the Omaha sponsor is the Asbury Park Hempstead. Service Cooperative, Raymore-Peculiar School World-Herald. Press/Home News Tribune, 120 John N. Ciurla of Fergus Falls. District. Neptune. 157 Shashwat Patel of Imlay City is a 13-year-old NEVADA Harriman is a 12-year-old 7th grader at Imlay City 136 River Blount of 284 Katharine S. Wang of 7th grader at Monroe- 128 Maxwell E. Meyer of 143 Daniel Taylor of Middle School. His Annapolis is a home- Morristown is a 13-year- Woodbury Middle School. Shorewood is a 13-year- Minden is a 14-year-old sponsor is The County schooled 11-year-old 6th old 8th grader at The Peck His sponsor is the Times old 7th grader at 8th grader at Grace Press, Lapeer. grader with Pineywoods School. Her sponsor is The Herald-Record, Middletown. Minnetonka Middle Christian Academy. His Christian Academy. His Peck School, Morristown. School East. His sponsor sponsor is Greenspun 121 Hailey Jeanne sponsor is Three Rivers 158 Sai Vishudhi is Augsburg College, Media Group, Las Vegas. Hogenson of Ludington is Minneapolis. Community College, NEW MEXICO Chandrasekhar of a 13-year-old 7th grader Poplar Bluff. Flushing is a 13-year-old NEW HAMPSHIRE 150 Anish Kumar of at Mason County Central 129 Briana Joseph of Santa Fe is a 14-year- 8th grader at Hunter 144 Arushi Kalpande of Middle School. Her Fairmont is an 11-year- 137 Christine Sturgill of old 8th grader at Desert College High School. Her Billerica, Massachusetts, sponsor is the Ludington old 5th grader at St. John Sedalia is an 11-year-old Academy. His sponsor is sponsor is the Daily News, is a 13-year-old 7th grader Daily News. Vianney. Her sponsor is 5th grader at Sedalia The Albuquerque Journal. New York. at Nashua Catholic the South Central Middle School. Her Regional Junior High 122 Nathaniel Britton Service Cooperative, sponsor is the Sedalia 159 Srinath Venkat School. Her sponsor is NEW YORK of Macomb is a 14-year- North Mankato. Spelling Bee Collaborative. Mahankali of Bayside the New Hampshire Union 151 Lydia Loverin of East old 8th grader at Shelby Nassau is a 13-year-old Hills is an 11-year-old 6th 138 Kassie McKnight of Leader, Manchester. Junior High School. His 130 Christine Farnberg 7th grader at New grader at Nathaniel Bolivar is a 14-year-old sponsor is The Macomb of Byron is a 13-year-old Lebanon Junior-Senior Hawthorne Middle School 8th grader at Bolivar NEW JERSEY Daily. 8th grader at Holy Spirit High School. Her sponsor 74. His sponsor is the Middle School. Her sponsor 145 Sheikh R. Mahmud , New York. School. Her sponsor is the is the Times Union, Albany. Daily News 123 Neha Middela of Southeast Service is the College of Arts and of Egg Harbor Township is Letters - Missouri State a 14-year-old 8th grader Bloomfield Hills is a Cooperative, Rochester. 152 Michael W. Sobol of 160 Monica “Mollie” University, Springfield. at Alder Avenue Middle 13-year-old 8th grader Williamsville is a 12-year- L. Dugan of Morris is a School. Her sponsor is the at Detroit Country Day 131 Ammy Lin of Baxter old 7th grader at Saints 13-year-old 7th grader 139 Hayden Mildward of South Jersey Spelling Bee School. Her sponsor is The is a 12-year-old 7th grader Peter & Paul School. at Morris Central School. , Pontiac. Maryville is a 14-year-old Collaborative, Galloway. Her sponsor is Oakland Press at Forestview Middle His sponsor is The The Daily 8th grader at Maryville , Oneonta. School. Her sponsor is Buffalo News. Star 124 Delaney Rae Knoll of the National Joint Powers Middle School. His 146 Linda Kalna of sponsor is the Hasbrouck Heights is an Frankenmuth is a 12-year- Alliance, Staples. St. Joseph 153 Jairam Jagadeesh 161 Sydney Rose DeLapp . 11-year-old 6th grader at old 6th grader at E.F. News-Press Hathwar of Painted Post of Oswego is an 11-year- Hasbrouck Heights Rittmueller Middle School. MISSISSIPPI is a 12-year-old 6th grader old 5th grader at 140 Gokul Venkatachalam Middle School. Her Her sponsor is Saginaw 132 Dev Jaiswal of at Alternative School for Kingsford Park of Chesterfield is a sponsor is the Bergen Valley State University. Louisville is a 13-year-old Math and Science. His Elementary School. 14-year-old 8th grader County Division of 8th grader at Winston sponsor is the Corning Her sponsor is The at Parkway West Middle Cultural & Historic Affairs, 125 Brandon Kenneth Academy. His sponsor is Rotary Club. Palladium-Times, Oswego. School. His sponsor is the Hackensack. Kirkendall of Buchanan is the Mississippi Association . a 13-year-old 7th grader of Educators, Jackson. St. Louis Post-Dispatch 154 Gavin Buehler of 162 Grant A. Decker 147 Sean Manuel of at Brandywine Middle/ Pultneyville is a 14-year- of Plattsburgh is a 283 Allyson Margo Bayonne is a 14-year-old Senior High School. His old 8th grader at 13-year-old 7th grader MISSOURI Scribner of Parkville is a 8th grader at Nicholas sponsor is The Herald Williamson Middle School. at Beekmantown Middle , St. Joseph. 133 Junah Jang of 12-year-old 6th grader at Oresko School #14. His School. His sponsor is the Palladium His sponsor is the Finger Columbia is a 12-year- Plaza Middle School. Her sponsor is the Hudson , Lakes Times, Geneva. Press-Republican old 7th grader at Ann sponsor is Plaza Middle County Office of Plattsburgh. Hawkins Gentry Middle School, Kansas City. Cultural and Heritage School. Her sponsor is the Affairs, Jersey City. Columbia Daily Tribune. 24 cymotrichous \ (ˈ)sī¦mä‧trə̇kəs \ 25 Spellers and Sponsors continued 163 Stephen S. Ponzer of 170 Ashrita Vadlapatla of 178 Olivia G. Pedigo 186 Abhilash Yarlagadda 195 Jasmine M. Black PENNSYLVANIA Chittenango is a 13-year- Fayetteville is an 11-year- of Wilson is a home- of Blue Ash is a 13-year- of Hammondsville is a 203 Aidan Graham of old 8th grader at old 7th grader at schooled 12-year-old old 8th grader at Sycamore 14-year-old 8th grader at Ardmore is a 14-year-old Cazenovia High School. Renaissance Classical 6th grader. Her sponsor Junior High School. His Edison High School. Her 8th grader at Cardinal His sponsor is The Christian Academy. is The Wilson Times. sponsor is WCPO 9 On sponsor is The Herald-Star, John Foley Regional Post-Standard, Syracuse. Her sponsor is The Your Side, Cincinnati. Steubenville. Catholic School. Fayetteville Observer. 179 Allison M. Brower His sponsor is The 164 Dylan O’Connor of Huntersville is a 187 Andrew France of 196 Phoebe M. Jackson Chester Spirit. of Alexandria Bay is a 171 Kayleigh M. Guffey 13-year-old 8th grader Chagrin Falls is a 13-year- of Elmore is a 13-year-old 14-year-old 8th grader at of Dallas is a 13-year-old at Pine Lake Preparatory. old 7th grader at Ohio 7th grader at Woodmore 204 Aakash Narayan Alexandria Central School. 7th grader at First Her sponsor is the Virtual Academy. His Junior High School. Her of Malvern is a 12-year- His sponsor is the Wesleyan Christian Winston-Salem Journal. sponsor is the Northeast sponsor is The Blade, old 6th grader at Great Watertown Daily Times. School. Her sponsor is The Ohio Media Group, Toledo. Valley Middle School. His Cleveland. Gaston Gazette, Gastonia. NORTH DAKOTA sponsor is the Chester 165 Harshita M. Shet 180 Madeline Rickert of 197 Marie Wallie of County Intermediate Unit, of White Plains is an 172 Andrew Bowen of 188 Mary Jo Johnson of Southington is a Downingtown. Minot is a 14-year-old 8th Fairborn is a 12-year-old 11-year-old 5th grader at Angier is an 11-year-old home-schooled 15-year- grader at Erik Ramstad 7th grader at Fairborn Richard J. Bailey School. 5th grader at Angier old 8th grader with 205 John M. Grifone Middle School. Her Baker Middle School. Her Her sponsor is the Elementary School. His T.E.A.C.H. Her sponsor of Forks Township is a sponsor is the North sponsor is the Dayton Theodore D. Young sponsor is the Harnett is , 14-year-old 8th grader at Dakota Association of Daily News. The Tribune Chronicle Community Center, County Spelling Bee County Superintendents, Warren. St. Jane Frances de White Plains. Collaborative, Lillington. Bismarck. 189 Emma E. Jankowski Chantal School. of Avon Lake is a 14-year- 198 Melina V. Gabele of His sponsor is The 285 Sravanth Mohan 173 Rohan Sachdev of old 8th grader at Willoughby is a 13-year- Express-Times, Easton. Malla of Haverstraw is an Cary is a home-schooled OHIO Learwood Middle School. old 8th grader at Mater 11-year-old 5th grader at 10-year-old 6th grader 181 Owen Kovalik of Her sponsor is the Dei Academy. Her 206 Eugene Lee of Haverstraw Elementary with Cary Homeschoolers. Medina is a 12-year-old Educational Service sponsor is The Palmyra is a 14-year-old School. His sponsor is His sponsor is PAGE of 6th grader at Medina Center of Lorain County, News-Herald, Willoughby. 8th grader at Palmyra Haverstraw Elementary Wake County, Raleigh. Christian Academy. His LaGrange. Area Middle School. His School. sponsor is the Akron 199 Annabelle Day of sponsor is WITF: Public 174 Hannah Elise Beacon Journal. 190 Joshua R. Mason Boardman is a 13-year- Media for Central Gerlach of Rocky Mount of Pickerington is a old 8th grader at Willow Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. NORTH CAROLINA 182 Dray A. Remy of 166 Michael A. Steed of is a 13-year-old 7th 12-year-old 6th grader at Creek Learning Center. Wellston is a 14-year-old 207 William H. Yaeger Burlington is a 14-year- grader at Red Oak Middle Diley Middle School. His Her sponsor is The 8th grader at Wellston of Lancaster is a 13-year- old 8th grader at School. Her sponsor is sponsor is the Lancaster Vindicator, Youngstown. Middle School. His old 8th grader at Turrentine Middle School. the Delta Center for Life Eagle-Gazette. sponsor is Ohio University’s Centerville Middle School. His sponsor is the Development, Inc., Rocky OKLAHOMA Mount. Scripps College of His sponsor is LNP Times-News, Burlington. 191 Alotus Nguyen Wei 200 Cole Shafer-Ray of Communication, Athens. of Lima is a 13-year-old Norman is a 14-year-old Always Lancaster. 167 Akshra P. Paimagam 175 Emily Garcia of 7th grader at Shawnee 8th grader at Alcott Sanford is a 13-year-old 183 Lipika Narisetti of Middle School. Her Middle School. His 208 Bill Jerdan of of Charlotte is a 12-year- Hilliard is a 12-year-old Hatfield is a 13-year-old 8th grader at East Lee sponsor is . sponsor is The Oklahoman, old 6th grader at 7th grader at Hilliard 7th grader at Pennridge Randolph Middle School. Middle School. Her Oklahoma City. sponsor is PAGE of Lee Heritage Middle School. 192 Marilyn B. Santo of Central Middle School. His Her sponsor is The sponsor is the Pennridge County, Sanford. Her sponsor is the Ohio Vienna, West Virginia, is 201 Muhammad Haris Charlotte Observer. Community Education University Libraries, a 14-year-old 8th grader of Tulsa is a 14-year- Athens. at Jackson Middle School. Foundation, Perkasie. 168 Abigail H. Pittman of 176 Rexen B. old 8th grader at Peace Venevongsoth of Kings Her sponsor is The Academy. His sponsor is Four Oaks is a 12-year-old 209 Tiphanie J. Chang Mountain is a 12-year- 184 Shiv Sathya Dewan Marietta Times. KJRH-TV, Tulsa. 7th grader at Southside of North Canton is a of Philadelphia is a Christian School. Her old 7th grader at Kings Mountain Middle School. 12-year-old 7th grader at 193 Sadie McFarland of 12-year-old 6th grader sponsor is The Clayton OREGON His sponsor is The St. Thomas Aquinas St. Clairsville is a 14-year- at Philadelphia Academy News-Star. Middle School. His old 7th grader at Union 202 Natalie Y. Cha of Charter School. Her Shelby Star. West Linn is a 13-year-old sponsor is The Local Middle School. Her sponsor is The 169 Bettie Lehem Closs sponsor is 7th grader at Three 177 Lily Spalding of Repository, Canton. The Times Philadelphia Tribune. of Durham is an 11-year- Leader, Martins Ferry. Rivers Charter School. old 6th grader at Lucas Beaufort is a 12-year-old Her sponsor is the 7th grader at Beaufort 185 Manu U. Nair of 210 Atharv Bhave of Middle School. Her 194 Vince Hoppel of East Portland Tribune. Middle School. Her Union, Kentucky, is a Canonsburg is a 12-year- sponsor is Duke 14-year-old 8th grader at Liverpool is a 13-year-old old 7th grader at sponsor is the Washington 8th grader at Beaver Local University’s Office of Gray Middle School. His Canonsburg Middle Daily News. Middle School. His Durham and Regional sponsor is WCPO 9 On School. His sponsor is sponsors are , Affairs. Your Side, Cincinnati. Salem News the Pittsburgh East Liverpool Review and Post-Gazette. 26 The Morning Journal. 27 Spellers and Sponsors continued 219 Rebecca A. Liu of 227 Annalise Wade of 235 Liam Nyikos of 244 Kasey Cuenca 251 Brody Dicks of Park 211 Nevaeh Lopez of Florence is a 13-year-old Big Sandy is a 12-year-old Carlsbad, New Mexico, is Torres of San Angelo is a City is a 10-year-old 5th Shenandoah is a 12-year- 7th grader at Williams 6th grader at Big Sandy a 10-year-old 5th grader 10-year-old 4th grader grader at Weilenmann old 7th grader at Middle School. Her School. Her sponsors are at Riverside Elementary at Cornerstone Christian School of Discovery. Shenandoah Valley High sponsor is the Pee Dee The Jackson Sun and School. His sponsor is the School. His sponsor is His sponsor is the Park School. Her sponsor is The Education Center, Union University. El Paso Times. the San Angelo Record, Park City. Republican Herald, Pottsville. Florence. Standard-Times. 228 Caitlyn Marentette 236 Michelle Yakubek of 252 James Bryner of 212 Hilary Edwina Good 220 Gracie Benton of of Sevierville is a 14-year- Bedford is a 14-year-old 245 Catherine Raine Price is a 13-year-old 7th of Reading is a 13-year- Conway is a 12-year-old old 8th grader at 8th grader at Harmony Esparza of San Antonio is grader at Mont Harmon old 8th grader at La Salle 6th grader at Conway Pittman Center Science Academy Euless. a 14-year-old 8th grader Middle School. His Academy. Her sponsor is Middle School. Her Elementary School. Her Her sponsor is Texas at BASIS San Antonio. sponsor is the Southeast the Reading Eagle. sponsor is , sponsor is the Knoxville Christian University, Her sponsor is the San Education Service Myrtle Beach. News Sentinel. Fort Worth. Antonio Express-News. Center, Price. 213 Brandi Naprava of Hazle Township is a 221 Kalika Melody 229 Bates Bennett of 237 Shobha Dasari of 246 Muriel Margaret 253 Ariana K. Babbitt 12-year-old 6th grader at Burnett Bridwell of Starkville, Mississippi, is Spring is a 14-year-old Cotman of Cuero is a of South Jordan is a West Hazleton Woodruff is a 14-year-old a 14-year-old 8th grader 8th grader at McCullough home-schooled 14-year- 14-year-old 8th grader Elementary/Middle 8th grader at Florence at Starkville Academy. His Junior High School. Her old 8th grader with at Navigator Pointe School. Her sponsor Chapel Middle School. sponsor is The Commercial sponsor is Houston The Acorn School. Academy. Her sponsors is the Times Leader, Her sponsor is the Appeal, Memphis. Public Media. Her sponsor is the are The City Journals Wilkes-Barre. Herald-Journal, Victoria Advocate. and Overstock.com, Spartanburg. 230 Cady Baltz of 238 Siddharth Salt Lake City. PUERTO RICO Germantown is a Krishnakumar of Pearland 247 Jacob K. Turner of 214 Alexandra Isabel SOUTH DAKOTA 13-year-old 8th grader is a 13-year-old 7th Woodway is a 15-year- VERMONT old 8th grader at Midway Harper of Guayama 222 Owen Coltrane at Houston Middle grader at Pearland Junior 254 Lucinda Maybelle Middle School. His is a 14-year-old 8th Dudley of Vermillion is a School. Her sponsor High West. His sponsor is Storz of Lyndonville is a sponsor is Rapoport grader at Guamaní Private 14-year-old 8th grader at is The Commercial Houston Public Media. 12-year-old 6th grader Holdings, LLC, Waco. School. Her sponsor is the Vermillion Middle School. Appeal, Memphis. at Thaddeus Stevens Commonwealth-Parkville His sponsor is the 239 Kiran K. Malik of School. Her sponsor is Laredo is an 11-year-old 248 Connor Luke School, San Juan. University of South TEXAS the Rutland Herald/Barre 6th grader at United Mitchell of Henrietta is Dakota, Vermillion. 231 Jack Miller of Times-Argus. a 13-year-old 7th grader RHODE ISLAND Abilene is a home- Middle School. Her sponsor is the Laredo at Notre Dame Catholic 215 Christopher E. schooled 11-year-old VIRGINIA SOUTH KOREA Morning Times. School. His sponsor is Relyea of Lincoln is a 5th grader with Big 223 Suin Jung of Busan is the Times Record News, 255 Samuel T. Pereles of 12-year-old 6th grader Country Home Educators. a 12-year-old 5th grader 240 Grant L. Taylor of Wichita Falls. Waynesboro is a 14-year- at Lincoln Middle School. His sponsor is the Abilene at Busan Foreign School. Lubbock is a 12-year-old old 8th grader at Kate His sponsor is The Valley Reporter-News. Her sponsor is Yoon’s 6th grader at Lubbock U.S. VIRGIN Collins Middle School. His Breeze, Cumberland. English School, Seoul. Christian School. His sponsors are The News- 232 Olivia Chen of ISLANDS and sponsor is the Lubbock Virginian The Daily Amarillo is a 10-year-old 249 Makayla G. Todman , Charlottesville. SOUTH CAROLINA 224 Seungtaek Oh of Avalanche-Journal. Progress 216 Meagan Olivia Seoul is a 15-year-old 8th 5th grader at Windsor of Kinghill is a 12-year-old Elementary School. Her 6th grader at Lew Muckle White of Barnwell is a grader at Dunchon Middle 241 Tristan A. Salinas of 256 Caleb D. Adams of 12-year-old 6th grader School. His sponsor is sponsor is the Amarillo Elementary School. Her Danville is a 12-year-old Globe-News. Lyford is a 13-year-old sponsor is The Virgin at Barnwell Elementary Yoon’s English School, 7th grader at W.B. Green 7th grader at Westwood School. Her sponsor is Seoul. Islands Daily News, Middle School. His 233 Kaelin Avery Junior High School. His St. Thomas. The Allendale Sun. sponsors are Big Brothers Bunting of Corpus Christi sponsor is Rio Grande TENNESSEE and Big Sisters, Danville. is a 10-year-old 5th Valley AIM Media Texas, UTAH 217 Emily C. Ladines of 225 Jerilyn Celeste McAllen. grader at Tuloso-Midway 250 Meimi A. Teeples Pendleton is a 14-year-old Challenger of Gallatin is a of 257 Jessie Ditton of Intermediate School. Her Provo is an 11-year-old 8th grader at Riverside 14-year-old 8th grader at 242 Anna-Duyen A. Ngo Stafford is a sponsor is the Corpus 6th grader at Center for Middle School. Her Joe Shafer Middle School. of Midland is an home-schooled 14-year- Christi Caller-Times. Accelerated Studies at sponsor is the Anderson Her sponsor is the 11-year-old 6th grader old 8th grader with Provo Peaks Elementary. Independent Mail. Crossings Nashville at Carver Center. Her SRCH. Her sponsor 234 Smrithi Her sponsor is Utah Action Partnership, sponsor is the Midland is The Free Lance-Star, Upadhyayula of Valley University, Orem. 218 Razeen Basunia of Antioch. Reporter-Telegram. Fredericksburg. North Charleston is a Coppell is a 12-year-old 7th grader at Coppell 12-year-old 8th grader 226 Audrey A. Frische of 243 Evan Haley of Middle School West. at Rollings Middle School Soddy Daisy is a 12-year- Odessa is a 12-year-old Her sponsor is The Dallas of the Arts. His sponsor old 6th grader at Loftis 7th grader at Bowie Morning News. is The Post and Courier, Middle School. Her sponsor Junior High School. 28 Charleston. is the Chattanooga Times His sponsor is the 29 Free Press. . appoggiatura \ ə-ˌpä-jə-ˈtu̇r-ə \ Spellers and Sponsors continued 258 Mary Elizabeth A. 266 Ethan Drake Stinson 273 Andrew Shawn Vaughan of Harrisonburg of Bluefield is a 13-year- Gould of Weston is a Leadership and Year-Round Staff is an 11-year-old 5th old 7th grader at Graham 13-year-old 6th grader at grader at Thomas Middle School. His Robert L. Bland Middle Paige Kimble Nicole Dittoe Harrison Middle School. sponsor is Tazewell School. His sponsor is Her sponsor is the County Fair Association. The Clarksburg Executive Director Local Sponsorship Paige is the 1981 national Rockingham District Exponent-Telegram. Specialist Ruritans, Harrisonburg. 267 Carson Christopher champion and the 1980 Nicole works full-time for the Brown of Mathews is an 274 Marleah J.A. Knights runner-up, representing the El program from The E.W. Scripps 259 Shiv Dang Lamba of 11-year-old 5th grader at of Morgantown is a Paso Herald-Post. She has served Company’s corporate office. Centreville is a 14-year- Thomas Hunter Middle 14-year-old 8th grader at the program in various capacities This is her fifth year with old 8th grader at Loudoun School. His sponsor is Suncrest Middle School. for the past 32 years, including the program. 18 years as executive director. Country Day School. His Adult Literacy on the Her sponsor is The sponsor is Leesburg Today. Middle Peninsula, Dominion Post, Williamsburg. Morgantown. Corrie Loeffler 260 Eujine Kim of Program Manager, Darryl Porter Lynchburg is an 11-year- 268 Edwin Estep of 275 Lillian Taylor Bischof Editorial Senior Business Analyst old 5th grader at Robert S. Berryville is a of Wheeling is a 14-year- Corrie is serving her ninth year Darryl works full-time for the Payne Elementary School. home-schooled 13-year- old 8th grader at Saint on the Bee’s full-time staff after program from The E.W. Scripps Her sponsor is The News & old 7th grader with Michael Parish School. having served five years Company’s corporate office. Advance, Lynchburg. Northern Shenandoah Her sponsor is The on crew and one year on staff. This is his second year with the Valley Homeschoolers. Catholic Spirit, Wheeling. She represented the Merced program. 261 Ankita Vadiala of His sponsor is the Boys & Sun-Star in the 1994, 1995 and Manassas is a 13-year-old Girls Club of Northern WISCONSIN 1996 national finals, tying for 8th grader at Stonewall Shenandoah Valley, 276 Meghna Datta of sixth place in 1995. Middle School. Her Winchester. Verona is a 14-year-old Tyler Hyde sponsor is Prince William 8th grader at Glacier Cybelle Weeks Program Coordinator Today, Manassas. WASHINGTON Creek Middle School. Her Program Manager, Tyler works full-time for the 269 Julia McCoy of sponsor is the Wisconsin program from The E.W. Scripps 262 Eliza V. Willett of Operations and Local Stanwood is a 13-year-old State Journal, Madison. Company’s corporate office. This Virginia Beach is a 7th grader at Mount Sponsorship is her first year with the program. home-schooled 13-year- Vernon Christian School. 277 Ashwin Sankrithi Cybelle works full-time for the old 7th grader. Her Her sponsor is the Skagit of New Berlin is a program from The E.W. Scripps sponsor is The Valley Herald, Mount 13-year-old 8th grader Company’s corporate office. , Norfolk. Virginian-Pilot Vernon. at Eisenhower Middle This is her 18th year with School. His sponsor is the program. Maggie Sears 263 Trisha Balakrishnan 270 Ayush Noori of the Wisconsin State Editorial Coordinator of Fairfax is an 11-year- Issaquah is a 12-year-old Journal, Madison. Maggie works full-time for the old 6th grader at 7th grader at Open Beth Hecquet program from The E.W. Scripps Greenbriar West Window School. His 278 Martius Isaac Program Manager, Events Company’s corporate office. This Elementary School. Her sponsor is Town sponsor is the Bautista of Janesville is Beth works full-time for the is her first year with the program. Fairfax Hall Seattle. County Times, Reston. an 11-year-old 5th grader program from The E.W. Scripps at Edgewood Campus Company’s corporate office. This 271 Ashley Marie 264 Tejas Muthusamy of School. His sponsor is is her first year with the program. Glen Allen is a 12-year-old Blakemore of Omak is a the Wisconsin State 6th grader at George H. 14-year-old 8th grader Journal, Madison. Emily Dunford Moody Middle School. His at Omak Middle School. Her sponsor is the North Response Coordinator sponsor is the Richmond WYOMING Emily works full-time for the Central Washington Times-Dispatch. 279 JoJo Widi of program from The E.W. Scripps Collaborative Spelling Cheyenne is a 13-year-old Laurie Morris Company’s corporate office. This Bee, Wenatchee. 265 Kyoko R. Leaman of 8th grader at McCormick Editorial Specialist is her first year with the program. Roanoke is a 14-year-old Junior High School. His Laurie works full-time for the 8th grader at Cave Spring WEST VIRGINIA sponsor is the Wyoming program from The E.W. Scripps Middle School. Her sponsor 272 Varun Kukkillaya of Community Foundation, Company’s corporate office. is The Roanoke Times. Charleston is a 14-year- Laramie. This is her third year with old 8th grader at John the program. The E.W. Scripps Adams Middle School. His Company sponsor is the Charleston Gazette-Mail. Rich is president, chairman and Speller 17 can be found on page 20 under China. Speller 280, 281 and 282 can be found on page 20 under Connecticut. chief executive officer of The Speller 283 can be found on page 24 under Missouri. E.W. Scripps Company. 30 Speller 284 can be found on page 25 under New Jersey. guetapens \ ¦getə¦päⁿ \ 31 Speller 285 can be found on page 26 under New York. Clinton Hess Kevin Moch Paul Riccobene Bee Week Staff Production Staff Production Staff Production Staff Officials Clinton is senior director of Kevin is a Ph.D. candidate at Paul is a network architect Dr. Jacques A. Bailly Mark Bezold IT project office for The E.W. the University of California, for The E.W. Scripps Production Staff Scripps Company in Berkeley. He represented Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Pronouncer Mark is director of application Cincinnati, Ohio. North Dakota in the 2001 Dr. Bailly is the 1980 national champion, services for The E.W. Scripps and 2002 national finals, Lee Rose representing the Rocky Mountain News. He Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Robyn Hildal tying for third place in 2002. Production Staff is an associate professor of classics at the Production Staff Lee is director of community Amanda Moore University of Vermont. This is his 13th year as Mark Bowen Robyn is vice president of investments for the Scripps Photographer talent and diversity for The Production Staff Howard Foundation in pronouncer after having served 12 years as Mark is a professional free-lance E.W. Scripps Company in Amanda is a social media Cincinnati, Ohio. associate pronouncer. visual content provider in Cincinnati, Ohio. marketing specialist for The Cincinnati, Ohio. E.W. Scripps Company in Brian Schermerhorn Dr. Brian M. Sietsema Robbin Holliday Cincinnati, Ohio. Production Staff Associate Pronouncer Bryan Brandeberry Production Staff Brian is a program manager Production Staff Robbin recently retired from Rob Morrison for The E.W. Scripps Dr. Sietsema is an ordained priest of the Greek Bryan is a systems architect for her position as vice president Production Staff Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Orthodox Archdiocese of America and serves The E.W. Scripps Company in of finance and administration Rob is a systems analyst for a parish in Lansing, Michigan. After receiving Cincinnati, Ohio. for The E.W. Scripps The E.W. Scripps Company Kimball Sigala a doctorate in linguistics in 1989, he was the Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. in Cincinnati, Ohio. Production Staff pronunciation editor for Merriam-Webster Jordan Crone Kimball is director of network Arielle Kass Bret G. Nealis from 1990 to 1998. This is Dr. Sietsema’s 13th Production Staff engineering for The E.W. Production Staff Production Staff Scripps Company in year as associate pronouncer. Jordan is a user experience/ interface designer for The E.W. Arielle is a reporter for the Bret is a software engineer Cincinnati, Ohio. Scripps Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Atlanta Journal-Constitution from Mason, Ohio, and owns Mary Brooks in Atlanta, Georgia. Professional Consulting Bob Stec Mike Epstein Services, Inc. Production Staff Head Judge Andrea Kilgore Bob is a director of systems Mrs. Brooks is a retired West Des Moines, Production Staff Mike is senior director of risk Production Staff Bridget Nealis engineering for The E.W. Iowa, educator. She has served the program management and business Andrea is senior vice Production Staff Scripps Company in in various capacities for the past 44 years, continuity for The E.W. Scripps president at ColorNine, Bridget is a personal banker Cincinnati, Ohio. including 28 years as a judge and five years Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. a marketing consultancy for Fifth Third Bank in as co-director. in Mason, Ohio. Greensburg, Indiana. Lee Swett Rick Ferguson Production Staff Production Staff Vagelis “V” Kontopos Malorie Nealis Lee is a desktop support

Blake Giddens Rick is director of external Production Staff Production Staff technician for The E.W. Judge communications for The E.W. Scripps V is director of human capital Malorie is a recent graduate Scripps Company in Mr. Giddens is the 1983 national champion, Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. solutions for The E.W. Scripps from The Ohio State Cincinnati, Ohio. Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. University and just began her representing the El Paso Herald-Post. He is a career with Campus Crusade Dave Giles David Taylor professional engineer for a civil engineering Vince Marciano for Christ at the university. Production Staff Production Staff firm in Fairfax, Virginia. This is his 15th year as a Production Staff David is a desktop support Dave is vice president, deputy Tara Osborne judge after having served five years as auxiliary general counsel and chief ethics Vince is general manager of architect for The E.W. Scripps judge and four years on staff. officer for The E.W. Scripps United Feature Syndicate, Production Staff Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. part of The E.W. Scripps Tara is a digital strategist for Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. The E.W. Scripps Company in Jennifer Teets Dr. Ed Low Cincinnati, Ohio. Paul Gilman Production Staff Judge Valerie Miller Jennifer is an information Stage Manager Production Staff Brett Pappas security analyst for The Dr. Low is a professor emeritus of English at the Paul is manager of application Valerie is corporate E.W. Scripps Company in Metropolitan State University of Denver. This development for The E.W. Scripps Production Staff communications manager Cincinnati, Ohio. is Dr. Low’s 22nd year as a judge. He has served Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Brett is an application for The E.W. Scripps architect for The E.W. Scripps as a judge for Denver’s spelling bee program Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Barrie Trinkle Abi Haggerty for 28 years and for the Daily Camera (Boulder) Production Staff Production Staff spelling bee for 16 years. Angela Minton Eric Peguero Barrie is a free-lance editor in Abi is director of development and Production Staff Chapel Hill, North Carolina. stewardship for the Scripps Howard Production Staff Angela is a program manager She is the 1973 national George Thampy Foundation in Cincinnati, Ohio. Eric is senior director of for The E.W. Scripps training for The E.W. Scripps champion, representing the Judge Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Fort Worth Press. Mr. Thampy is the 2000 national champion, Jeff Hassan Production Staff representing the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He Sameer Mishra Carole Rawlins Anamika Veeramani Jeff is managing director for Production Staff Production Staff works in pharmaceutical marketing for Eli Lilly planning for The E.W. Scripps Production Staff Sameer is an Economics and Anamika is an undergraduate & Company in Indianapolis, Indiana. This is Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Carole is in the corporate Statistics major at Columbia communications department at Yale University in New Mr. Thampy’s fourth year as judge after having University. He is the 2008 at The E.W. Scripps Company Haven, Connecticut. She is served six years on staff. Kristin Hawkins national champion, in Cincinnati, Ohio. the 2010 national champion, Production Staff representing the Journal and representing the Plain Dealer Kristin currently works in Moscow, Courier in Lafayette, Indiana. Jon Reischel in Cleveland, Ohio. Russia. Kristin represented the Production Staff Loudoun Times-Mirror in the 1999, 2000 and 2001 national finals, Jon is the owner of placing second in 2001. ColorNine, a marketing 32 consultancy in Mason, Ohio. 33 About Scripps

The E.W. Scripps Company (www.scripps.com) serves audiences and businesses through a growing portfolio of media brands. In April 2015, Scripps merged its 21 local television stations with 12 television stations and 34 radio stations that belonged to Journal Communications, making Scripps the nation’s fifth-largest independent owner of TV stations. The two companies also spun off their combined newspaper interests.

Scripps also runs an expanding collection of local and national digital journalism and information businesses, including mobile video news service and weather app developer WeatherSphere. Scripps also produces television shows including The List and Let’s Ask America, runs an award- winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and serves as the long-time steward of the nation’s largest, most successful and longest-running educational program, the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Scripps National Spelling Bee 312 Walnut Street, 28th Floor Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Before and after Bee Week: 513-977-3040

Media Desk during Bee Week (May 25 – May 29): 301-965-5591

Speller & Sponsor Desk during Bee Week (May 25 – May 29): 301-965-5590

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