About Scripps The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP) serves audiences and businesses through a growing portfolio of television, radio and digital media brands. Scripps is one of the nation’s largest independent TV station owners, with 33 television stations in 24 markets and a reach of nearly one in five U.S. households. It also owns 34 radio stations in eight markets. Scripps also runs an expanding collection of local and national digital journalism and information businesses, including multi-platform satire and humor brand Cracked, podcast industry leader Midroll Media and over-the-top video news service Newsy. Scripps also produces television shows including “The List” and “The Now,” 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. Founded in 1878, Scripps has held for decades to the motto, “Give light and the people will find their own way.”

The Bee’s Purpose Our purpose is to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, CELEBRATING 90 YEARS learn concepts and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives.

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: 301-965-5571 Speller & Sponsor Desk during Bee Week: 301-965-5570 90 2017 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE

#spellingbee BEE WEEK GUIDE spellingbee.com 1 THEN NOW

Table of Competition Schedule 1 Competition Tuesday, May 30

Contents Thank You to Our Sponsors 2 Schedule Preliminaries Test 8:30 a.m. — 9:30 a.m. | Maryland Ballroom Spellebrity Video Contest Finalists 3 All spellers will participate in this multiple choice test.

Contest Rules 4 Wednesday, May 31

Journey to the Trophy 8 Preliminaries: Round Two Live on ESPN3 8:00 a.m. — 12:15 p.m. | Maryland Ballroom 20 Questions 10 • Spellers 1 through 145 spell onstage between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. • Spellers 146 through 291 spell onstage between 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Get to Know the 90th Class of National Finalists 14

90 Years? Preliminaries: Round Three Live on ESPN3 Champions and Their Winning Words 16 Your math is weird! 1:15 p.m. — 6:00 p.m. | Maryland Ballroom Actually, the Bee • Spellers 1 through 145 spell onstage between 1:15 and 3:30 p.m. wasn’t held from 1943 Celebrating 90 Years of the National Spelling Bee 18 through 1945, so this is • Spellers 146 through 291 spell onstage between 3:45 and 5:00 p.m. our 90th competition. Learn more here! Prizes 20 Announcement of Finalists Approximately 6:00 p.m. | Maryland Ballroom Spellers and Sponsors 21

Leadership and Year-Round Staff 34 Thursday, June 1

Officials and College Crew 35 Finals: Live on ESPN2 Beginning at 10:00 a.m. | Maryland Ballroom Bee Week Staff 36 Tiebreaker Test Beginning at 6:00 p.m. | Camellia 3

Finals: Live on ESPN Pre-Broadcast Program Beginning at 7:30 p.m. | Maryland Ballroom The live broadcast will begin at 8:30 p.m. Follow Us! All Wednesday times (except for the start of Round Two) are approximate and may vary by up to an hour.

spellingbee.com /ScrippsNational /ScrippsBee /ScrippsBee /ScrippsNational /ScrippsBee SpellingBee SpellingBee #spellingbee #spellingbee The first national spelling bee was held in 1925. 1926 Television Find our official photos at flickr.com/ScrippsBee. That means the Bee is older than... 90 YEARS 2 3

This year, the Bee and Kindle sponsored the second Spellebrity Video Contest, Thank You to Our Sponsors an opportunity for students to create short, fun videos that inspire others to “Kindle the love of reading.” On Tuesday, May 29, spellers will attend the Spellebrity Video Contest Premiere to watch the Finalist videos, ask questions of the filmmakers, and receive their ballots to cast a vote for the Champion video! The Scripps National Spelling Bee is only possible through the support of our sponsors and supporters. Join us for the Spellebrity Video Contest Premiere in the Maryland Ballroom on Tuesday, May 29, at 7:00 p.m. Before our national finalists were great spellers, they were great readers. The Scripps National The following five teams were declared Finalists following a public voting period, and each team received an expenses-paid trip to the Spelling Bee and Kindle share a love of letters, words and reading. Now, with Kindle as the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee. presenting sponsor of the Bee, two internationally recognized brands are working together to Bigham Yago Bryn with a Bee Kindle Cousins Team Champion The Fab Four Valencia, California Lawrence, Kansas Oneonta, New York Chandler, Arizona Cedar Park, Texas spark a love of reading and foster an appreciation of the power of words. Rio Norte Junior High Southwest Oneonta Middle School Champion Chandler Westside School and Tesoro del Middle School Charter School Elementary School Orem, Utah Valle Elementary School and Kyrene Over the coming year, the Bee and Kindle will work together to deepen the learning Windsor Traditional Academy Elementary School experience for all spellers. Starting at the classroom level of competition, the 11 million Salt Lake City, Utah students who participate in the Bee each year will have the opportunity to study from a Evergreen Junior High School and Highland Park list of words found in exciting and inspiring Kindle titles: what we call our “Great Words, Elementary School Great Works” reading list. Kindle features like Kindle FreeTime and Word Wise, which

automatically provides short and simple definitions above difficult words, encourage

students to read more challenging books with fewer interruptions and introduce them

to new worlds of spelling and vocabulary words.

The Bee thanks Kindle for generously supporting our program at every level, from

classroom to Finals. We are proud to celebrate our presenting sponsor this Bee Week,

as we join in celebrating the enormous talents of our champion spellers.

Kindle joins a growing number of companies that show their enthusiasm for education

by supporting the Bee, including Merriam-Webster, Encyclopædia

Britannica and Bananagrams.

And our local sponsors are the lifeblood of the Bee. There are more

than 270 organizations that administer local spelling bees. All of our

local sponsors are listed in the Spellers and Sponsors section, which 1957 2014 Spellers with Ed Sullivan Spellers with Jimmy Kimmel starts on page 22.

The Bee is older than... 1927 1928 1929 90 YEARS Sliced bread Bubble gum Sunglasses 4 5 Contest Rules Rule 1: Eligibility (13) The speller, upon qualifying for the Bee, must submit a completed online Champion Registration form, a signed A speller qualifying for the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee Appearance Consent and Release Agreement, a signed (the Bee) must meet these requirements: Certification of Eligibility Form, a signed General Liability Waiver, (1) The speller must not previously have been declared champion and a photo to the Bee. The speller will notify the Bee, at least 24 of the Bee. hours prior to the first day of competition, if any of the statements (2) The speller must attend a school that is officially enrolledwith made on the Certification of Eligibility Form are no longer true or the Bee. require updating. (3) The speller must not have passed beyond the eighth grade on The Bee may disqualify prior to or during competition any or before February 1, 2017. speller who is not in compliance with any of the above Eligibility (4) The speller must not have repeated any grade for the purpose Requirements; and it may — at any time between the conclusion of extending spelling bee eligibility. If the speller has repeated of the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee and April 30, 2018 — any grade, the speller must notify the Bee of the circumstances require any speller who is found to have not been in compliance of grade repetition by April 18, 2017 and the Beewill, in its sole with any of the Eligibility Requirements to forfeit any prizes, discretion, determine the speller’s eligibility status on or before rank and other benefits accorded to the speller as a result of April 30, 2017. participation in the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee. (5) The speller — or the speller’s parent, legal guardian or school official acting on the speller’s behalf — must not have declared to Rule 2: Preliminaries Format another entity an academic classification higher than eighthade gr The Preliminaries takes place on May 30 and 31 and is the first of for any purpose including high school graduation equivalency or two distinct segments of the competition, Preliminaries and Finals. proficiency examinations and/or examinations such as the PSAT, SAT or ACT. The Preliminaries consists of a test with written spelling items and multiple choice vocabulary items (Preliminaries Test) administered (6) The speller must not have earned the legal equivalent of a high school diploma. Tuesday, May 30, at 8:30 a.m. EDT, and two rounds of oral spelling onstage on Wednesday, May 31, between the hours of (7) The speller must not have completed nor ever been enrolled 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. EDT. Spellers may earn up to 36 points in more than six high school-level courses or two college-level during the Preliminaries: up to 30 points on the Preliminaries Test, courses on or before April 30, 2017. three points for correctly spelling in Round Two and three points (8) The speller must not bypass or circumvent normal school for correctly spelling in Round Three. activity to study for spelling bees. The Bee defines normal school The Preliminaries Test has 26 written and multiple choice items activity as adherence to at least four courses of study other than divided in four sections, with spellers identifying their responses language arts, spelling, Latin, Greek, vocabulary and etymology for on test forms. A speller receives one point for each of the 12 at least four hours per weekday for 34 of the 38 weeks between items spelled correctly in the Round One Spelling section, one August 29, 2016, and May 22, 2017. point for each of the 12 items identified correctly in the Round (9) The speller must not have reached the age of 15 on or before One Vocabulary section, three points for a correct answer to August 31, 2016. the single item in the Round Two Vocabulary section, and three (10) The speller must have been declared a champion of a final points for a correct answer to the single item in the Round Three local spelling bee on or after February 1, 2017, or be a spelling Vocabulary section. champion of a school whose application for participation in the During the afternoon of Wednesday, May 31, the Bee will email Scripps National Spelling Bee’s school self-sponsorship program Preliminaries Test score reports to parents and spellers. has received final approval by the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Eliminations: There are no immediate eliminations for providing (11) The speller must not have been disqualified at any level an incorrect answer in the Preliminaries Test. Upon incorrectly 1961 Champion 2005 Champion of a sponsor’s spelling bee program between June 2016 and spelling a word in Round Two or Three, the speller is eliminated John Capehart Anurag Kashyap April 2017. Further, if the speller becomes disqualified at any from the competition. Spellers eliminated during Round Two are level of a sponsor’s spelling bee program before April 2017, tied for the same place. Spellers eliminated during Round Three the speller will be ineligible to compete in the Bee and may not seek advancement in the Bee through another sponsor and/or are tied for the same place. Immediately after Round Three, a enrollment in another school. “maximum of 50” standard is applied to remaining spellers’ scores accrued during the Preliminaries. Spellers’ scores are plotted on a (12) The speller must not have any first-, second- or third-degree chart. Beginning at 36 on the chart, spellers at each consecutive relatives (i.e., sibling, parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, scoring level are added until a sum of no more than 50 spellers nephew, half-sibling or first cousin) who are current employees of has been attained. The E.W. Scripps Company. All remaining spellers are eliminated. All spellers eliminated after Round Three and before the start of the Finals are tied for the same place.

The Bee is older than... 1930 1931 1932 90 YEARS Chocolate chip cookies Electric guitars Radio telescopes 6 7

Rule 3: Finals Format Rule 5: Time Rule 8: Judges’ Role spelling, alters the letters or sequence of letters from those first uttered; or (4) who, in the process of spelling, utters unintelligible The Finals takes place on Thursday, June 1, and is the second of Constraints: During the Preliminaries Test and Tiebreaker Test, the The judges listen carefully, determine whether or not words or nonsense sounds. two distinct segments of the competition, Preliminaries and Finals. speller may make or change responses on the test form during are spelled correctly, and uphold the rules. The decisions of the Speller activities that do not merit disqualification: The judges The Finals consists of rounds of oral spelling beginning with the time that the test is being administered by the pronouncer, judges are final. may not disqualify a speller (1) for failing to pronounce the word Round Four and continuing, with breaks as the officials deem and for 10 minutes afterward. During oral spelling rounds in the Misunderstandings: The judges will not respond to the speller’s either before or after spelling it; (2) for asking a question; or (3) for necessary, until a champion is declared, or co-champions are Preliminaries and Finals, the speller’s time at the microphone question(s) about the word and its pronunciation but, if the noting or failing to note the capitalization of a word, the presence declared. The Finals also consists of a Tiebreaker Test, which will has a limit of 2 minutes. Time begins when the pronouncer first judges sense that the speller has misunderstood the word, the of a diacritical mark, or the presence of a hyphen or other form be offered to all spellers remaining in the Finals at 6:00 p.m. on pronounces the word. For the first 1 minute and 15 seconds, the judges will direct the speller and pronouncer to interact until of punctuation. Thursday, June 1. The Tiebreaker Test consists of 24 items: 12 speller will have the benefit of viewing a monitor displaying a green they are satisfied that reasonable attempts have been made spelling and 12 multiple choice vocabulary. Each correct response traffic light. After 1 minute and 15 seconds, the monitor will show to assist the speller in understanding the word within the time is worth one point. a yellow traffic light and the time clock as it counts down to the constraints outlined in Rule 5. It is sometimes impossible to detect Rule 9: Speller’s Role 30-second mark. At the 30-second mark, the monitor will show All spellers who have not been eliminated from the competition a misunderstanding until a spelling error has been made, and the The speller makes an effort to face the judges and pronounce the a red traffic light and a countdown of the remaining 30 seconds. judges are not responsible for the speller’s misunderstanding. spell one word in each round. Upon incorrectly spelling a word The judges and pronouncer will not communicate with the speller word for the judges before spelling it and after spelling it. The during an oral spelling round, the speller is eliminated from the during the final 30 seconds. The judges will disqualify any speller Pronouncer Errors: The judges compare the pronouncer’s speller while facing the judges makes an effort to utter each letter competition, except as provided under “End-of-Bee Procedure” who does not provide a complete spelling before the expiration of pronunciation with the diacritical markings in the word list. If distinctly and with sufficient volume to be understood by the herein. All spellers eliminated in the same round are tied for the time (0 seconds). If the judges and pronouncer need to discuss a the judges feel that the pronouncer’s pronunciation does not judges. The speller may ask the pronouncer to say the word again, same place. competition-related matter while a speller is contemplating a word, match the pronunciation specified in the diacritical markings, the define it, use it in a sentence, provide the part of speech, provide judges will direct the pronouncer to correct the error as soon as it the language(s) of origin and/or provide an alternate pronunciation End-of-Bee Procedure: If all spellers in an oral spelling round they may pause the time clock, and they will inform the speller is detected. or pronunciations. The speller may also ask root word questions misspell, all remain in the competition and a new round begins when they pause and resume the time clock. that meet the specifications delineated in Rule 7. with the spellers spelling in their original order. If only one speller Schedule modifications: Bee officials may, in their sole discretion, Disqualifications for reasons other than clear misspelling: The spells correctly in a round, a new one-word round begins and announce schedule and/or location changes in response to judges will disqualify a speller (1) who does not approach the Misunderstandings: The speller is responsible for any the speller is given an opportunity to spell the next word on the unexpected circumstances. microphone when it is the speller’s time to receive the word misunderstanding of the word unless (1) the pronouncer never list (anticipated winning word). If the speller correctly spells the unless there are extenuating circumstances that, in the judges’ provided a correct pronunciation; (2) the pronouncer provided anticipated winning word in this one-word round, the speller is sole discretion, merit holding the speller’s word in reserve and incorrect information regarding the definition, part of speech, or declared the champion. If the speller misspells the anticipated Rule 6: Special Needs offering it to the speller after all other spellers in the round have language of origin; or (3) the speller correctly spelled a homonym winning word in a one-word round, a new round begins with all The Bee strives to provide accommodation for spellers who have spelled and before the close of the round; (2) who engages in of the word and the pronouncer failed to either offer a definition the spellers who spelled correctly and incorrectly in the previous diagnosed medical conditions. All requests for accommodation unsportsmanlike conduct; (3) who, in the process of retracing a or distinguish the homonyms. round: These spellers spell in their original order. of special needs should be directed in writing to the executive Round Limit and Provision for Declaration of Co-Champions: director of the Bee before May 1, 2017. The judges have There will be no more than 25 consecutive rounds of oral spelling discretionary power to amend spelling requirements on a case-by- involving three or fewer spellers. At the end of a round when it case basis for spellers with diagnosed medical conditions. is mathematically impossible for a single champion to emerge through oral spelling in subsequent rounds, the officials will Rule 7: Pronouncer’s Role disclose only the Tiebreaker Test scores of the spellers remaining in the competition. The speller remaining in the competition with The pronouncer strives to pronounce words according to the the highest Tiebreaker Test score will be declared champion, and diacritical markings in Merriam-Webster Unabridged. the ranking of the other remaining spellers will be determined Homonyms: If a word has one or more homonyms, the pronouncer by their Tiebreaker Test scores. If, however, there is a tie on the indicates which word is to be spelled by defining the word. Tiebreaker Test among the remaining spellers, the spellers with Speller’s requests: In oral competition the pronouncer responds the highest tying score will be declared co-champions. only to the speller’s requests for repetition of the word’s pronunciation, a definition, a sentence, part of speech, language(s) Rule 4: Official Dictionary and Source of Words of origin and alternate pronunciation(s). When presented with requests for alternate pronunciations, the pronouncer or associate Merriam-Webster Unabridged, available at http://unabridged. pronouncer checks for alternate pronunciations in Merriam- merriam-webster.com, is the final authority and sole source Webster Unabridged. If the speller wishes to ask if the dictionary for the spelling of words; the primary source used to craft the lists a specific root word as the root of the word to be spelled, the pronunciations, definitions and language origins for the Bee; and speller must specify a pronunciation of the root (not a spelling), the only authority consulted by officials, as well as the sole source its language and its definition. The pronouncer will grant all such used during the Bee to verify the information in our prepared requests as long as they are in accordance with time constraints lists. If more than one spelling is listed for a word, any of these outlined in Rule 5. spellings will be accepted as correct if the following three criteria are met: (1) the pronunciations are identical, (2) the definitions are Pronouncer’s sense of helpfulness: The pronouncer may offer identical, and (3) the words are identified as being variants of each word information — without the speller having requested the other. Spellings having temporal labels (such as archaic, obsolete), information — if the pronouncer senses that the information is stylistic labels (such as substand, nonstand) or regional labels (such helpful and the information appears in the 2017 Scripps National as North, Midland, Irish) that differ from main entry spellings not Spelling Bee word list or Merriam-Webster Unabridged. 1946 Champion 2016 Speller having these status labels will not be accepted as correct. John McKinney Shiva Yeshlur

The Bee is older than... 1933 1934 1935 90 YEARS FM radio Trampolines Parking meters 8 9 Journey to the Trophy

PRELIMINARIES FINALS

Preliminaries Test Finals Threshold: Tuesday morning, May 30 Announcement of Finalists Do not meet Wednesday, May 31, approximately 6 p.m. | ESPN3 threshold Round 1 Spelling 12 words 1 point each and out Round 1 Vocabulary 12 words 1 point each No more than 50 spellers will advance to the Finals. Rounds 2 and 3 Vocabulary 1 word per 3 points each (See rules for details.)

Earn up to 30 points for correct responses.

Finals: Beginning Round Two Spelling with Round Four Misspell Misspell Thursday, June 1, 10 a.m. | ESPN2 Wednesday morning, May 31 | ESPN3 and out and out The first portion of the Finals will continue through approximately Spell correctly and earn 3 points in this round. 2:00 p.m. or until Bee Officials determine a break is needed.

Finals, continued Misspell Round Three Spelling Thursday, June 1, 8:30 p.m. | ESPN Misspell out, with two Wednesday afternoon, May 31 | ESPN3 exceptions: and out

Spell correctly and earn 3 points in this round. Spell correctly 1. If all spellers in a round misspell, all remain in the competition and a new round begins with the spellers spelling in their original order.

2. If the speller misspells the anticipated winning word in a one-word round, a new round begins with all the spellers who spelled correctly and incorrectly in the CHAMPION! previous round; these spellers spell in their original order. See rule 3 on page 6 for details on end-of-bee procedure and provisions for declaring co-champions.

The Bee is older than... 1936 1937 1938 90 YEARS Helicopters Shopping carts Soft serve 10 11 20 Questions

1. Didn’t she spell that word correctly? That’s how my dictionary spells it. 8. What are the time limits?

She didn’t spell the word the way it’s spelled in the Bee’s official dictionary, Merriam-Webster Unabridged Online. Bee rules state that During the Preliminaries Test, Dr. Bailly will pause for 20 seconds between each word or vocabulary question. At the end of the Merriam-Webster Unabridged is the final authority for the spelling of words. Preliminaries Test, spellers will be able to take advantage of two consecutive five-minute review periods. During all rounds of onstage spelling, spellers have a limit of two minutes. 2. Where does Dr. Bailly get the words? 9. Why does the pronouncer give a lot of information to some spellers and very little information The individuals — Bee officials and special contributors — who collaborate to produce the word list find the words in the course to others? of going about their lives, reading books and traveling. Then they confirm the words’ presence in Merriam-Webster Unabridged. Occasionally, we hear theories that the Bee strategically recycles words from previous lists or creates special themes for its word lists. Some words have multiple pronunciations, long definitions and complex origins. Other words have only one pronunciation, a brief Let’s just say that we find these theories amusing. definition and a simple origin. Here’s the interesting part: There is no correlation between the volume of information and the spelling difficulty level.

3. Dr. Bailly mispronounced the word. What can be done? Also, some spellers don’t ask for information, while others ask multiple questions. The rules give Dr. Bailly discretion to offer information (as long as it’s in the word list or Merriam-Webster Unabridged) if he feels that it would be helpful to the speller, or if he What Dr. Bailly did was pronounce the word according to the diacritical markings in Merriam-Webster Unabridged. Diacritical markings has a sentence that he thinks is funny. are symbols such as ä and ŋ that you see in a dictionary. If he didn’t pronounce it the way you expected it to be pronounced, it’s because your pronunciation wasn’t in the dictionary, and the pronouncer is bound by the rules to pronounce only what is listed in the dictionary. It’s also important to note that the legion of Bee officials in the front of the ballroom closely listen to Dr. Bailly and 10. What if the speller doesn’t understand the word? immediately alert him to make an on-the-spot correction in the event of an error. The rules say that it’s the speller’s responsibility to understand the word. If he doesn’t understand the word, misspelling is likely. Bee officials are not aware of a problem unless the speller: 4. Why does the Bee ask so many foreign words? 1. says “I don’t understand,” Most words in the English language are words that we borrowed from other languages. We borrowed them, used them and now call them our own. 2. distinctly mispronounces the word while facing the judges, or 3. delivers an Oscar-worthy interpretation of confusion.

5. What happens when a speller misspells onstage? If the officials detect a lack of understanding, they will do all that they can within the limits of the rules to help the speller achieve an understanding of the word. The judges’ bell will ring, the pronouncer will offer the correct spelling, and the speller will exit in the direction of the sofas located stage right. One or both of the speller’s parents will meet the speller at the sofas and lead the speller from the stage area. 11. How many rounds will there be?

6. What happens if every speller in a round misspells? The Preliminaries consists of three rounds with Round One being a written test. The Finals begins with Round Four, but we simply don’t know how many rounds it will take to determine a Champion. It all depends on how many spellers misspell in each round. Every speller who misspelled in the round is reinstated to the competition. A new round begins, and they spell in their original order.

12. What happens if the Bee runs out of words? 7. What happens if the speller correctly spells a homonym of the word? That’s not a significant concern of Bee officials, as the list contains enough words for us to conduct the Bee through dawn on The speller is out of luck unless Dr. Bailly failed to say that the word is a homonym or did not provide a definition of the word. Friday morning.

The Bee is older than... 1939 1941 1942 90 YEARS Snowboards Velcro Duct tape 12 13

13. Why do the screens count down from 25 rounds at the end of the Bee? 17. How many spellers usually advance beyond the Preliminaries?

The screens count down from 25 rounds to indicate that the Bee has moved into the Championship Rounds. If a Champion is not Looking over the past five Bees, 45 spellers advanced beyond the Preliminaries in 2016. determined in the course of administering a maximum of 25 rounds, the Tiebreaker Test scores will come into play. In 2015, it was 49; 2014: 46; 2013: 42; and 2012: 50.

14. Why didn’t the Champion have to correct the spelling of the other speller onstage? 18. When will the daytime portion of the Finals end?

The rule about correcting the other speller’s spelling went away in 1991. Now, in order to be declared Champion, you must be the only Bee officials will pause the competition until the primetime portion of the Finals when there are about a dozen spellers remaining speller to spell correctly in a round; plus, in the next round — a one-word, one-person round — you must spell correctly. onstage — give or take a few spellers. The pause in competition is at the sole discretion of Bee officials, and it may come at the end of a round or while a round is under way. 15. When will the spellers ever see or use these words again? 19. How many spellers usually appear in the primetime portion of the Finals? Maybe never. And that’s fine by us. Why? Because the spellers you see onstage are the crème de la crème, the best from a field of more than 11 million students. Of course we have to give these brilliant kids such difficult words! What really matters are the hundreds Looking back over the past five Bees, 10 spellers advanced in 2016. of important, useful words that they and the 11 million others learned and spelled prior to this competition — words they will definitely In 2015, it was 10; 2014: 12; 2013: 11; and 2012: 9. see and use again such as philanthropy, imperative and amenable. As for those incredibly difficult words, they’re out there — in great works of literature, guide books, high school and college textbooks, and other great places. We’re proud to put the spotlight on these 20. How does the Bee rank spellers as they exit the competition? rare and important gems of the English language. Here is a summary: 16. How does the Bee decide who makes it to the Finals? Timing of Competition Exit Rank Let’s suppose that 225 spellers remain in the Bee at the end of Round Three. Each of the 225 spellers has a Preliminaries score — Misspell in Round Two Number of spellers in Bee at the end of Round Two +1 points earned in the Preliminaries Test and Rounds Two and Three. The highest possible Preliminaries score a speller can earn is 36. Now let’s suppose that the scoring distribution looks like this: Misspell in Round Three Number of spellers in Bee at the end of Round Three +1

In Bee at the end of Round Three but do not qualify for the Finals Number of Finalists +1 No more than 50 spellers will make it Cumulative Number of Number of Spellers Misspell during the Finals Number of spellers spelling in the round occurring Preliminaries Score Spellers at or Above to the Finals. In this example, the Finals Achieving This Score immediately after the round in which speller This Scoring Level scoring threshold is 32. All spellers who achieved Preliminaries scores of was eliminated +1 36 2 2 at least 32 — in this sample case, it’s 35 3 5 44 spellers — qualify for the Finals. 34 8 13 The remainder of this sample scoring 33 12 25 distribution table not shown. 32 19 44 31 18 62 30 23 85 29 17 102

The Bee is older than... 1943 1945 1946 90 YEARS Silly Putty Microwave ovens Credit cards 14 15

Spell-peaters Speller Highlights Coming into this year, 73 spellers have previously competed in the Bee. This year’s competitors are all great spellers, but that’s not all they do! Four-Year Repeaters (3) 26 Melinda Buhlman 197 Reese Perry Here’s a glimpse into the lives of some 143 Tejas Muthusamy 27 Rohan Sachdev 205 Siyona Mishra of the spellers. 173 Harshita Shet 31 Haley Jeffers 209 Olivia Charles 207 Tara Singh 36 Erin Howard 211 Riley Hamp Speller 49 Daniel Larsen Get to Know the 90th Class of National Finalists 50 Michael Goss 215 Soyeon Park Daniel is the youngest New Three-Year Repeaters (14) 53 Julian Connaughton 224 Tien Nguyen York Times crossword puzzle constructor ever. His puzzle 32 Ashwin Prasad 60 Anastasia Spahr 229 Ryan Rayos appeared on February 14, 2017. 55 Sameera Hussain 61 Briana Joseph 233 Kael Miranda 59 Andrew Gould 75 Mira Dedhia 239 Una VanWynsberghe Speller 172 Zach Swyers Spellers by the Numbers Family Statistics 62 Joel Miles 77 Vanya Virmani 245 Jashun Paluru Zach has been in 4-H for six years, 120 Jack Miller 81 Anna Kleist 249 Rishubh Kaushal and this past summer he took 1st 128 Owen Kovalik 86 Leonardo Chen 254 Shourav Dasari place in showmanship with his Age Total Percent 33 spellers are only children. 164 Sravanth Mall 89 Lucas Mooney 258 Tyler Berndt cow, Adirondack Midnight. 168 Rebekah Ziegler 121 Charity-Dakota Jordan 259 Alex Iyer 6 1 0.3% 194 Charles Li 132 Mary Elizabeth Vaughan 261 Deuce Ditton Speller 173 Harshita Shet 138 have one sibling. Harshita was nominated for a 8 1 0.3% 210 Naysa Modi 136 Grant Taylor 263 Nick Sarji 2017 New York Emmy for her 212 Kasey Torres 141 Storrie Kulynych-Irvin 264 Ananya Vinay work on the documentary What 9 2 0.7% The remaining 120 spellers have 344 siblings combined. 223 Kodai Speich 142 Neil St. John 265 Catherine Chung Happened to Black Wall Street? 10 16 5.5% 262 Martius Bautista 148 Liam Nyikos 268 Eujine Kim Speller 207 Tara Singh 13 spellers — spellers 17, 35, 87, 121, 126, 135, 206, 234, 242, 253, 271, 279 and 282 289 Lucinda Storz 157 Gabriel Ennin 275 Samuel Paul 11 35 12.0% 167 Sreeniketh Vogoti 276 Akshra Paimagam Tara recently celebrated the — have five siblings or more. 175 Neil Dave 278 Shruthika Padhy 3rd anniversary of her blog, 12 50 17.2% Two-Year Repeaters (56) 5 Shaheer Imam 180 Daniel Chen 280 Srikar Chamarthi where she discusses interesting 13 99 34.0% 12 Sam Fetters 182 Aditya Badlani 285 Marin Gray etymologies and chronicles her Bee Week adventures. 17 Hailey Jinkins 187 Saketh Sundar 288 Aisha Randhawa 14 84 28.9% 20 Vasundara Govindarajan 189 Rutvik Gandhasri 291 Marlene Schaff Speller 146 Calvin Alexander, Jr. 15 3 1.0% Cal has been in three Broadway Speller 35 Z’Qi Chapman has touring shows: He played “Small six brothers and seven sisters. Speller Favorites Boy” in Billy Elliot, “Randy” in Grade Total Percent A Christmas Story, and “Nigel” Favorite Foods Favorite Novels Favorite Musician in the first national tour of Kindergarten 1 0.3% Matilda the Musical. 1. Pizza 1. J.K. Rowling’s Harry 1. Taylor Swift Speller 242 Cassidy Crawford is 3 2 0.7% 2. Pasta Potter series 2. Adele and the second of 10 children in her family. Speller 50 Michael Goss 3. Mexican/Tex Mex 2. Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Lin-Manuel Miranda Michael once won a steak dinner 4 8 2.7% 4. Sushi Games trilogy 4. Ed Sheeran and for accurately reciting all the 5 27 9.3% 15 spellers have a twin, and three of them — spellers 12, 67 and 279 — are identical. 3. Rick Riordan’s Heroes Pentatonix U.S. presidents, vice presidents, Favorite Sports of Olympus series and and their party affiliations in 6 46 15.8% Lois Lowry’s The Giver Favorite Subject chronological order. Speller 176 Maggie Sheridan is 1. Soccer 7 83 28.5% a triplet. 2. Basketball 1. Math Speller 247 Penda Ba 3. Tennis Favorite Movies 2. Science 8 124 42.6% Penda attended the International 4. Swimming 1. The Harry Potter series 3. English and Language Arts Science and Engineering Fair 5. Football 2. The Star Wars series 4. History in Phoenix last year. She loves Spelling in Their Blood 3. Akeelah and the Bee, architecture and hopes to create School Type Total Percent Favorite Sports Figure Interstellar and The Lord Favorite T.V. Shows safe, innovative infrastructure one day. Public 191 65.6% of the Rings series 29 spellers have relatives who have participated in a combined 51 Scripps National 1. Michael Phelps 1. Shark Tank 2. Simone Biles 2. Mythbusters, Speller 249 Rishubh Kaushal Private 44 15.1% Spelling Bees. 3. Serena Williams Favorite Actor Sherlock and Rishubh loves flying. He has Parochial 24 8.2% 1. Emma Watson The Flash copiloted a Cessna 182 and flown in a Blackhawk and a C-130, Home 21 7.2% 2. Harrison Ford 3. Matt Damon Hope to Attend and he also regularly plans flight Lekshmi Nair, the mother Speller 3 Sharanya Pastapur’s simulator events with his friends. Charter 11 3.8% of speller 75 Mira Dedhia, sister, Aishwarya, tied for 1. Harvard competed in 1988, 1989 second place in 2009. 2. Stanford Speller 219 Jenia Marquez and 1990. 3. M.I.T. Jenia has been studying ballet Gender Total Percent 4. Yale since she was three years old, and she has performed for several 8 Languages Spoken Girls 13 47% Speller 281 Thomas York’s Speller 120 Jack Miller’s sister, seasons with the American Ballet English is not the first language of 71 spellers. Theatre at the Metropolitan Opera. Boys 153 53% father, Michael York, Kate, tied for eighth place competed in 1982. in 2014. Overall, 126 spellers speak or study 38 languages other than English, including Bengali, Number of spellers: 291 Filipino, Mandarin, Ewe, Italian, German, Samoan, French, Hindi, Korean, Malayalam, Croatian, Norwegian, Laotian, Twi, Urdu, Vietnamese and American Sign Language.

The Bee is older than... 1948 1949 1951 90 YEARS Flying discs Lego bricks Super glue 16 17

1936: interning (1950 cont.) 1961: smaragdine 1972: macerate 1984: luge 1996: vivisepulture 2008: guerdon Champions Jean Trowbridge and John Capehart Robin Kral Daniel Greenblatt Wendy Guey Sameer Mishra and Their Des Moines Register & Tribune Colquitt Dean Tulsa Tribune Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Loudoun Times-Mirror The Palm Beach Post Journal and Courier Winning Des Moines, Iowa Atlanta Journal Tulsa, Oklahoma Lubbock, Texas Leesburg, Virginia West Palm Beach, Florida Lafayette, Indiana Words 1937: promiscuous Atlanta, Georgia 1962: esquamulose 1973: vouchsafe 1985: milieu 1997: euonym 2009: Laodicean Waneeta Beckley 1951: insouciant Nettie Crawford Barrie Trinkle Balu Natarajan Rebecca Sealfon Kavya Shivashankar Louisville Courier-Journal Irving Belz El Paso Herald-Post Fort Worth Press Chicago Tribune Daily News The Olathe News 1925: gladiolus Louisville, Kentucky El Paso, Texas Fort Worth, Texas Chicago, Illinois New York, New York Olathe, Kansas Frank Neuhauser Memphis Press Scimitar Louisville Courier-Journal 1938: sanitarium Memphis, Tennessee and 1974: hydrophyte 1986: odontalgia 1998: chiaroscurist 2010: stromuhr Louisville, Kentucky Marian Richardson 1952: vignette Michael Day Julie Anne Junkin Jon Pennington Jody-Anne Maxwell Anamika Veeramani Louisville Times St. Louis Globe-Democrat Birmingham Post-Herald The Patriot News Phillips & Phillips Stationery The Plain Dealer 1926: cerise Doris Ann Hall Louisville, Kentucky Winston-Salem Journal St. Louis, Missouri Birmingham, Alabama Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Suppliers Cleveland, Ohio Pauline Bell Kingston, Jamaica Louisville Courier-Journal 1939: canonical Winston-Salem, North 1963: equipage 1975: incisor 1987: staphylococci 2011: cymotrichous Carolina Louisville, Kentucky Elizabeth Ann Rice Glen Van Slyke III Hugh Tosteson Stephanie Petit 1999: logorrhea Sukanya Roy Worcester Telegram & Gazette The Knoxville News Sentinel San Juan Star The Pittsburgh Press Nupur Lala Times Leader 1927: luxuriance 1953: soubrette Worcester, Massachusetts Elizabeth Hess Knoxville, Tennessee San Juan, Puerto Rico Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The Tampa Tribune Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Dean Lucas Tampa, Florida Akron Beacon Journal 1940: therapy Arizona Republic 1964: sycophant 1976: narcolepsy 1988: elegiacal 2012: guetapens Phoenix, Arizona Akron, Ohio Laurel Kuykendall William Kerek Tim Kneale Rageshree Ramachandran 2000: demarche Snigdha Nandipati The Knoxville News Sentinel Akron Beacon Journal Syracuse Herald Journal- The Sacramento Bee George Abraham Thampy U-T San Diego 1928: albumen 1954: transept Knoxville, Tennessee William Cashore Akron, Ohio American Sacramento, California St. Louis Post-Dispatch San Diego, California Betty Robinson Syracuse, New York St. Louis, Missouri South Bend News-Tribune 1941: initials Norristown Times Herald 1965: eczema 1989: spoliator 2013: knaidel Norristown, Pennsylvania South Bend, Indiana Louis Edward Sissman Michael Kerpan, Jr. 1977: cambist Scott Isaacs 2001: succedaneum Arvind Mahankali Detroit News Tulsa Tribune John Paola Rocky Mountain News Sean Conley Daily News 1929: asceticism 1955: crustaceology Detroit, Michigan Sandra Sloss Tulsa, Oklahoma The Pittsburgh Press Denver, Colorado Aitkin Independent Age New York, New York Virginia Hogan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Aitkin, Minnesota The Omaha World-Herald 1942: sacrilegious St. Louis Globe-Democrat 1966: ratoon 1990: fibranne 2014: stichomythia St. Louis, Missouri Omaha, Nebraska Richard Earnhart Robert A. Wake 1978: deification Amy Marie Dimak 2002: prospicience Sriram Hathwar El Paso Herald-Post Houston Chronicle Peg McCarthy The Seattle Times Pratyush Buddiga Corning Rotary Club 1930: fracas 1956: condominium El Paso, Texas Melody Sachko Houston, Texas The Topeka Capital-Journal Seattle, Washington Rocky Mountain News Corning, New York Helen Jensen Topeka, Kansas Denver, Colorado Des Moines Register & Tribune 1946: semaphore The Pittsburgh Press 1967: Chihuahua 1991: antipyretic and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Des Moines, Iowa John McKinney Jennifer Reinke 1979: maculature Joanne Lagatta 2003: pococurante feuilleton Des Moines Register & Tribune The Omaha World-Herald Katie Kerwin The Wisconsin State Journal Sai R. Gunturi Ansun Sujoe 1931: foulard 1957: schappe Des Moines, Iowa Sandra Owen Omaha, Nebraska Rocky Mountain News Madison, Wisconsin The Dallas Morning News Texas Christian University Ward Randall Denver, Colorado Dallas, Texas Fort Worth, Texas White Hall Register-Republican 1947: chlorophyll Canton Repository 1968: abalone 1992: lyceum Canton, Ohio White Hall, Illinois Mattie Lou Pollard Robert L. Walters 1980: elucubrate Amanda Goad 2004: autochthonous 2015: scherenschnitte Atlanta Journal and The Topeka Daily Capital Jacques Bailly The Richmond News Leader David Scott Pilarski Tidmarsh Vanya Shivashankar 1932: knack Atlanta, Georgia Dana Bennett Topeka, Kansas Rocky Mountain News Richmond, Virginia South Bend Tribune The Olathe News Dorothy Greenwalk Rocky Mountain News Denver, Colorado South Bend, Indiana Olathe, Kansas Des Moines Register & Tribune 1948: psychiatry 1969: interlocutory 1993: kamikaze Denver, Colorado and Des Moines, Iowa Jean Chappelear Susan Yoachum 1981: sarcophagus Geoff Hooper 2005: appoggiatura Akron Beacon Journal Dallas Morning News Paige Pipkin The Commercial Appeal Anurag Kashyap nunatak 1933: torsion 1958: syllepsis Akron, Ohio Jolitta Schlehuber Dallas, Texas El Paso Herald-Post Memphis, Tennessee San Diego Union-Tribune Gokul Venkatachalam Alma Roach Topeka Daily Capital El Paso, Texas San Diego, California St. Louis Post-Dispatch Akron Beacon Journal 1949: dulcimer 1970: croissant 1994: antediluvian Topeka, Kansas St. Louis, Missouri Akron, Ohio Kim Calvin Libby Childress 1982: psoriasis Ned G. Andrews 2006: Ursprache Canton Repository Winston-Salem Journal & Molly Dieveney The Knoxville News Sentinel Katharine Close 2016: Feldenkrais 1934: deteriorating 1959: catamaran Canton, Ohio Joel Montgomery Sentinel Rocky Mountain News Knoxville, Tennessee Asbury Park Press/Home News Jairam Hathwar Sarah Wilson Rocky Mountain News Winston-Salem, North Denver, Colorado Tribune Corning Rotary Club Portland Evening Press 1950: meticulosity 1995: xanthosis Denver, Colorado Carolina Asbury Park, New Jersey Corning, New York Portland, Maine Diana Reynard 1983: Purim Justin Tyler Carroll and Cleveland Press 1971: shalloon Blake Giddens The Commercial Appeal 2007: serrefine 1935: intelligible 1960: eudaemonic Cleveland, Ohio Henry Feldman Jonathan Knisely El Paso Herald-Post Memphis, Tennessee Evan M. O’Dorney gesellschaft Clara Mohler The Knoxville News Sentinel Philadelphia Bulletin El Paso, Texas Contra Costa Times Nihar Janga Akron Beacon Journal Knoxville, Tennessee Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Walnut Creek, California Houston Public Media Akron, Ohio Houston, Texas

The Bee is older than... 1952 1953 1955 90 YEARS Mr. Potato Head Magic Marker TV remotes 18 19 Celebrating 90 Years of the THE SPELLING BEE GOES TO THE WHITE HOUSE National Spelling Bee Over the past 90 years, the White House has become the backdrop for some of our favorite memories.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee, administered on a not-for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company, is the nation’s largest and longest-running educational program. This year, we are celebrating 90 years of improving students’ spelling, vocabulary and English language usage. Since the first national spelling bee in 1925, our program has evolved into more than just a contest for children — it is a classic element of Americana.

Local spelling bee programs are administered by Bee-selected sponsors in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Department of Defense Schools in Europe. It is also administered in cooperation with local sponsors in six other countries: the Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Jamaica, Japan and South Korea. This year’s 291 spellers advanced through classroom, school and local spelling bees, making them the very best of the more than 11 million students who participated in 1953 1936 the program this year. Bee champion Elizabeth Hess with Spellers at White House President Dwight D. Eisenhower NATIONAL SPELLING BEE TIMELINE 1953 Spellers with Vice President 1925: The Louisville Courier-News organizes the first national 1981: Alex Cameron, professor of English at the Richard Nixon spelling bee. University of Dayton, becomes official pronouncer.

1930: NBC broadcasts the final hour of competition on 1987: A record 185 participants forces Bee officials to eliminate the radio. the practice round of spelling.

1940: The Bee moves from the Smithsonian’s National Museum 1991: CNN provides live coverage of the finals. to the National Press Club. 1994: The Bee begins broadcast partnership with ESPN. 1941: Scripps-Howard Newspapers takes over ownership of the program. 1996: The Bee moves from the Capital Hilton to the 1925 Grand Hyatt Washington. Nine original national finalists at 1943: The Bee takes a three-year hiatus during World War II. White House 1974 1998: Jody-Anne Maxwell of Jamaica becomes first international Spellers with First Lady Pat Nixon 1946: The Bee is first broadcast on television on NBC. speller to win the Bee.

1948: Benson S. Alleman, director of forensics at 1999: Spellbound documentary films the national spelling bee. Bellarmine College, becomes official pronouncer. 2002: The Bee implements a written test for the first time. 1950: After hours of head-to-head spelling, Colquitt Dean and Diana Reynard are declared the first co-champions. 2003: Jacques Bailly, associate professor of classics at the 1983 Spellers with President Ronald Reagan University of Vermont, becomes official pronouncer. 1952: The 25th national spelling bee takes place in the U.S. Department of Commerce auditorium. 2006: The championship finals air live in primetime on ABC.

1961: Richard Baker, professor of philosophy at the 2011: The Bee moves from the Grand Hyatt Washington to the University of Dayton, becomes official pronouncer. Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center.

1974: A taped version of the finals appears on PBS. 2013: The Bee adds vocabulary to the written test. 2004 1975: Hugh Tosteson of Puerto Rico becomes first spelling bee Bee champ David Tidmarsh with champion from outside the 50 states. 2017: 5-year-old Edith Fuller becomes youngest to ever qualify President George W. Bush 2014 for the national finals. Bee co-champs Sriram Hathwar and Ansun 1980: The Bee moves from the Mayflower Hotel to Sujoe with President Barack Obama the Capital Hilton.

901956 1959 1965 The Bee is older than... 90 YEARS Video tape recorders Barbie Gatorade 20 21 Prizes Speller Numbers by State, Territory or Country ALABAMA The Telegram, Times-News, Twin JAMAICA The Herald Rosa International OHIO PUERTO RICO U.S. VIRGIN Adventure Travel, St. John’s, Falls … 267 Jamaica Gleaner, Palladium, St. Joseph Middle School, Akron Beacon Eureka Enrichment & ISLANDS Birmingham … 36 Newfoundland and Kingston … 122 … 54 Cherry Hill … 278 Journal … 128 Learning Center, Inc., The Virgin Islands Labrador … 190 ILLINOIS San Juan … 78 Daily News, St. For the Champion ALASKA Boone-Winnebago JAPAN The Jackson Citizen Somerset County Dayton-Area Spelling COLORADO Patriot … 150 Library System, Thomas … 35 Alaska Dispatch Regional Office of The Japan Times, Bee Collaborative RHODE ISLAND Barnes & Noble, Education, Loves Bridgewater … 244 … 84 From Scripps: a $40,000 cash prize and Scripps National Spelling Bee engraved trophy News, Anchorage Tokyo … 28 The Macomb Daily The Valley Breeze, UTAH … 133 Boulder … 165 Park … 223 … 99 South Jersey Spelling Educational Service Cumberland … 232 Park Record … 26 KANSAS Bee, Folsom … 69 Fairbanks North The Denver Post Carroll/JoDaviess/ Center of Lorain SOUTH CAROLINA Southeast Education From Merriam-Webster: a $2,500 U.S. savings bond and a complete reference library … 204 Stephenson Regional Hays Daily News The Oakland Press, County, LaGrange Star Borough School … 226 Pontiac … 37 Tri-State Spelling Anderson Service Center, Price District … 234 Office of Education, … 170 … 279 CONNECTICUT Freeport … 209 Bee Committee, Independent Mail From Encyclopædia Britannica: $400 of reference works including a 1768 Encyclopædia Britannica Replica Set Deluxe Edition and a The Olathe News Traverse City Montague … 53 Lancaster Eagle- … 80 AMERICAN SAMOA Noah Webster … 41 Record-Eagle … 85 The City Journals, House West Chicago Public Gazette … 157 Salt Lake City … 30 three-year membership to Britannica Online Premium Samoa News, Pago Schools … 220 NEW MEXICO Pee Dee Education Pago … 46 Hartford Historical The Topeka Capital- Upper Peninsula The Albuquerque Ohio University’s Center, Florence VERMONT Society, New Haven Chicago Spelling Bee Journal … 125 Spelling Bee Journal … 171 Scripps College of … 193 a trip to New York City for the Champion to appear on Live with Kelly and Ryan ARIZONA … 93 Collaborative … 131 Collaborative, Iron Communication, Rutland Herald/Barre PLUS: KENTUCKY Mountain … 283 The Post and Arizona Educational DELAWARE NEW YORK Athens … 71 and Times-Argus … 289 Foundation, Commonwealth Louisville Spelling 176 Courier, Charleston which airs weekday mornings in national syndication. Delaware Spelling WXYZ Channel 7, Amani Public Charter … 237 VIRGINIA Scottsdale … 247 Edison, Chicago Bee Collaborative Detroit … 277 School, Mount Bee Collaborative, ... 75, 182 and 203 … 207 Salem News, East Big Brothers and Vernon … 67 The Sun News, a trip to Hollywood for the Champion to appear on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! Navajo Times Wilmington … 111 MINNESOTA Liverpool Review and Big Sisters, Danville Publishing Company, Daily Chronicle, Scripps Howard First Corning Rotary Club The Morning Journal Myrtle Beach … 137 … 221 Window Rock … 199 DISTRICT OF DeKalb … 266 Amendment Center, Lakes Country … 163 … 206 which airs weeknights at 11:35|10:35c (pending availability). COLUMBIA Lexington … 230 Service Cooperative, USC Upstate Boys & Girls ARKANSAS The Washington Grundy/Kendall Fergus Falls … 228 Daily News, New The Blade, Toledo Foundation, Club of Northern Informer … 110 County Regional LOUSIANA York … 217 and 219 … 225 Spartanburg … 147 Shenandoah Valley, Arkansas Democrat Office of Education, Metropolitan Gazette, Little Rock and 202 Kiwanis Club of Educational SOUTH DAKOTA Winchester … 14 … 95 Morris … 105 Lafayette … 50 Fieldstone Middle The Herald-Star, For the Champion’s School and Sponsor EUROPE Cooperative Service School, Thiells … 164 Steubenville … 124 University of South Fairfax County Kane County Unit, Arden Hills CALIFORNIA European PTA, Louisiana Children’s Dakota, Vermillion Council of PTAs, Regional Office of … 241 Finger Lakes Times, The Lima News … 74 … 155 East Bay Times, Defense and State Discovery Center, Merrifield … 198 From Scripps: Scripps National Spelling Bee engraved plaques Education, Geneva Hammond … 64 Geneva … 269 Walnut Creek … 114 Department Schools … 18 National Joint The Marietta Times SOUTH KOREA Four Seasons YMCA, … 229 Powers Alliance, Louisiana Tech Hofstra University, … 23 Yoon’s English Tazewell … 103 Fort Irwin Middle Lake County Staples … 119 Hempstead … 257 School … 177 FLORIDA University, School, Seoul … 47 Regional Office of Shreveport … 146 and 286 The News-Herald, InsideNoVa/Prince Corbett Preparatory Education, Grayslake Press-Republican, Willoughby … 160 and 265 William, Manassas For the Finalists For All Spellers Imperial County School of IDS, Tampa … 3 South Central Plattsburgh … 172 Office of Education, The News-Star, TENNESSEE … 16 … 256 Monroe … 210 Service Cooperative, The Plain Dealer/ El Centro … 213 Macon-Piatt Regional North Mankato … 61 The Daily Star, cleveland.com … 117 Chattanooga Times Loudoun County A medal from the Scripps National Spelling Bee From Kindle: a Kindle Paperwhite Espiritu Santo Office of Education, Oneonta … 9 Free Press … 238 KERO 23 ABC, The Times-Picayune, Public Schools, Catholic School, Decatur … 48 New Orleans … 224 Southeast Service The Repository, Leesburg … 249 Bakersfield … 138 Safety Harbor … 116 Cooperative, The Leader-Herald, Canton … 92 Knoxville News Misspell in Rounds 4 through 6: $500 gift card From Merriam-Webster: a one-year subscription to Merriam- Northwest Herald, MAINE Rochester … 281 Gloversville … 156 Sentinel … 19 Richmond Times- KPIX-TV & KCBS Hidden Oaks Middle Crystal Lake … 126 The Times Leader, Dispatch … 143 Webster Unabridged Online Radio AM & FM, San School, Palm City Husson University, MISSISSIPPI The Palladium-Times, Martins Ferry … 91 Tennessee Titans, Misspell in Round 7 through to 7th Place: $2,000 Francisco … 189 … 8 Peoria Journal Star Bangor … 142 Mississippi Oswego … 174 Nashville … 129 Rockingham … 113 Association of The Tribune District Ruritans, Los Angeles Spelling Kiwanis Club of Portland Press The Post-Standard, Chronicle, Warren The Commercial From Mr. Jay Sugarman: the Samuel Louis Sugarman Award — Bee Collaborative Herald/Maine Educators, Jackson Harrisonburg … 132 6th Place: $2,500 West Palm Beach Sauk Valley Media, … 215 Syracuse … 192 … 52 Appeal, Memphis a 2017 United States Mint Proof Set presented by Mr. Sugarman … 101 … 258 Dixon … 168 Sunday Telegram … 1 … 275 The Daily Progress MISSOURI Theodore D. Young The Vindicator, and News Virginian, 5th Place: $5,000 Monterey County Naples Daily News Schaff Family MARYLAND Community Center, Youngstown … 139 Union University, Charlottesville … 211 in honor of his father Office of Education, … 188 Homeschool ... 291 Anne Arundel Columbia Daily White Plains … 173 Jackson … 56 Salinas … 109 County Public Tribune … 233 WCPO 9 On Your The Free Lance-Star, 4th Place: $10,000 Orlando Sentinel The Daily Journal, Schools, Annapolis Times Herald- Side, Cincinnati … 66 TEXAS Fredericksburg … 15 From Encyclopædia Britannica: a one-year membership to Quest Literacy Communications Kankakee … 68 … 141 Congress Middle Record, Middletown and 218 Abilene Reporter- Consortium, … 205 School, Kansas City … 87 News … 120 The News & 3rd Place: $20,000 Britannica Online Premium Diamond Bar … 180 The Dispatch and Frederick County … 282 OKLAHOMA Advance, Lynchburg Polk County The Rock Island Public Libraries Times Union, Albany KJRH-TV, Tulsa Amarillo Globe-News … 268 San Bernardino School District Argus, Moline … 100 … 127 Kansas City Public … 7 … 290 … 154 Spelling Bee Collaborative, Library … 90 The Roanoke Times 2nd Place: $30,000 Spellers who are eliminated from the competition in the same round are Collaborative … 208 INDIANA Watertown Daily Bartow … 175 Howard County Raymore-Peculiar The Oklahoman, Corpus Christi … 6 Administrator Library, Columbia Times … 17 Oklahoma City Caller-Times … 97 assigned the same rank (place). If Bee officials declare Co-Champions, The Fresno Bee Ridgecrest … 187 School District … 62 … 235 The Virginian-Pilot, … 264 Assistance, NORTH CAROLINA Elementary School, Brookston … 245 Rolla Junior High Dallas Sports Norfolk … 252 each Co-Champion will receive a $40,000 first place cash prize. The Orange County North Largo … 98 Maryland School … 261 Delta Center for Life OREGON Commission … 25 Ball State University Independent, Development, Inc., WASHINGTON Register, Santa Ana Saint Edward’s Joseph Lane Middle Ector County … 115 - WIPB-TV, Muncie Waldorf … 38 Sedalia Spelling Bee Rocky Mount … 107 School, Roseburg North Central School, Vero Beach … 273 Collaborative … 102 … 285 Independent School Washington The Press-Enterprise, … 183 The Baltimore Bee Duke University’s District, Odessa Collaborative Riverside … 288 Christ the King … 5 St. Joseph News- Office of Durham Portland Tribune … 255 Spelling Bee, Saint Paul’s School, Catholic School, Press … 145 and Regional Affairs … 196 Wenatchee … 86 The Sacramento Bee Clearwater … 201 South Bend … 166 The Enterprise, … 22 El Paso Times … 148 … 65 Lexington Park … 96 St. Louis Post- PENNSYLVANIA Skagit Valley Herald, South Tampa Evansville Courier & Dispatch … 191 Harnett County Houston Public Mount Vernon … Independent School Press … 197 The Herald-Mail, Spelling Bee Chester County Media … 200 and The San Diego … 263 Hagerstown … 274 Intermediate Unit, 254 121 Union-Tribune … 181 Three Rivers Collaborative, Downingtown … 149 Indiana University, Community College, Lillington … 43 Town Hall Seattle Tallahassee Bloomington … 49 The Meakem Group, Laredo Morning Ventura County Star, Democrat … 39 Bethesda … 130 Poplar Bluff … 184 Delaware County Times … 79 … 45 Camarillo … 31 Macon G.E.M.S., Intermediate Unit, Indiana University- MONTANA Franklin … 240 WEST VIRGINIA The Florida Times- Purdue University The Recorder, Prince Morton … 152 Lubbock Avalanche- Visalia Times-Delta/ Union, Jacksonville Frederick … 81 Lee Newspapers of Journal … 136 Charleston Gazette- Tulare Advance- Indianapolis … 287 PAGE of Wake Mail … 162 … 167 Montana, Billings County, Raleigh … 27 Discover Lehigh Register … 55 Indiana Wesleyan University of … 51 Valley, Allentown Midland Reporter- The Miami Herald … Maryland Eastern … 231 Telegram … 280 Diocese of CANADA University, Marion The Charlotte Wheeling-Charleston 13 and 20 … 72 Shore, Princess Anne NEBRASKA Observer … 276 Big Brothers Big … 24 Omaha World- LNP Always Rapoport Holdings, … 284 Sisters of Canada, GEORGIA Ivy Tech Community Herald, Omaha The Clayton News- Lancaster … 253 LLC, Waco … 270 Central Ontario & MASSACHUSETTS The Clarksburg Georgia Association College, Kokomo … 123 Star … 153 Exponent-Telegram Greater Toronto of Educators, Tucker … 60 Boston Centers for Pennridge Rio Grande Valley … 227 NEVADA The Fayetteville Community AIM Media Texas, … 59 … 216 Youth & Families Education McAllen … 260 Kankakee Valley … 134 Greenspun Media Observer … 179 The Dominion Post, Big Brothers Big The Augusta REMC, Wanatah Foundation, Perkasie Sisters of Canada, … 10 Group, Las Vegas The Gaston Gazette, … 70 San Angelo Standard- Morgantown … 161 Chronicle … 194 Sentinel & … 151 Times … 212 Greater Ottawa & Enterprise, Fitchburg Gastonia … 112 The Journal, Montreal … 159 GHANA Orange County … 248 Pittsburgh Post- Publishing Co. Inc., NEW HAMPSHIRE The Shelby Star Gazette … 40 San Antonio Express- Martinsburg … 89 Big Brothers Big Young Educators New Hampshire News … 259 Foundation, Accra Paoli … 57 The Daily Item, Lynn … 108 WISCONSIN Sisters of Canada, … 214 Union Leader, Reading Eagle … 83 Lower British … 243 The Journal Gazette, Manchester … 88 The Wilson Times Texas Christian Wisconsin State The Philadelphia University, Fort Journal, Madison … Columbia … 76 GUAM Fort Wayne … 239 The Martha’s … 158 Vineyard Times, NEW JERSEY Tribune … 63 Worth … 82 73, 106 and 262 Big Brothers Big Pacific Daily News, The Tribune-Star, Vineyard Haven Asbury Park Press/ Times-News, Sisters of Canada, Hagåtña … 44 Terre Haute … 250 Burlington … 104 The Republican Times Record News, WYOMING … 12 Home News Tribune, Herald, Pottsville Wichita Falls … 222 Nova Scotia … 186 Neptune … 34 Wyoming HAWAII Williams Comfort Air, MICHIGAN Washington Daily … 236 Community Big Brothers Big Carmel … 32 News … 185 Victoria Advocate Kama’aina Kids, Kent Intermediate Bergen County Times Leader, … 42 Foundation, Laramie Sisters of Canada, Kailua … 178 Division of Cultural … 21 PEI & New IOWA School District, Winston-Salem Wilkes-Barre … 242 Grand Rapids … 4 & Historic Affairs, THE BAHAMAS Brunswick … 77 IDAHO Iowa State Journal … 246 Hackensack … 11 WITF: Public The Nassau Guardian Boise State University, Greenlee Ludington Daily Media for Central Big Brothers Big School of Journalism Hartshorn NORTH DAKOTA … 271 Sisters of Canada, University … 94 News … 169 Pennsylvania, & Communication, Elementary School, North Dakota Harrisburg … 33 Southwestern Coeur d’Alene Press Ames … 140 Saginaw County Short Hills … 29 Association Ontario … 195 … 144 Spelling Bee … 272 of County 1955 Champion 1997 Champion Telegraph Herald, Hudson County Superintendents, Lewiston Tribune Dubuque … 118 The County Press, Office of Cultural Bismarck … 2 Sandra Sloss Rebecca Sealfon … 58 Lapeer … 135 and Heritage Affairs, Jersey City … 251

The Bee is older than... 1968 1973 1990 90 YEARS Bean bag chairs Cell phones Internet 22 23 Spellers and Sponsors

1 Naomi Zarin of Gray, 9 Melodie D. Loya of 17 Hailey R. Jinkins of 25 Sohum Mandar 33 Ria Sai of 41 David Lye of Olathe, Maine, is a 13-year-old 8th Bainbridge, New York, is Alexandria Bay, New York, Sukhatankar of Allen, Mechanicsburg, Kansas, is a 10-year-old grader at Friends School a 12-year-old 6th grader is a 14-year-old 8th grader Texas, is an 11-year-old Pennsylvania, is a 5th grader at Sunnyside of Portland. Her sponsor is at Sidney Area LEAH. Her at Alexandria Central High 5th grader at Sloan Creek 13-year-old 7th grader at Elementary School. His Portland Press Herald/Maine sponsor is The Daily School. Her sponsor is the Intermediate School. His Mechanicsburg Middle sponsor is The Olathe News. Sunday Telegram Star, sponsor is the Dallas School. Her sponsor is WITF: . Oneonta. Watertown Daily Times. 42 Stella Grace Motl Sports Commission. Public Media for Central 2 Rayne T. Korsmo 10 Grace Jones of 18 Minh T. Nguyen of Port Lavaca, Texas, Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. of Northwood, North New Carlisle, Indiana, is a of Gilberts, Illinois, is a 26 Melinda Buhlman of is a 12-year-old 6th Dakota, is a home-schooled 13-year-old 7th grader at 13-year-old 8th grader at St. Heber, Utah, is a 13-year- 34 Ishaan Pravar Akula grader at Our Lady of 13-year-old 7th grader at New Prairie Middle School. Charles Borromeo School. old 8th grader at Rocky of Morganville, New Jersey, the Gulf Catholic School. Greater Grand Forks Home Her sponsor is Kankakee His sponsor is the Kane Mountain Middle School. is a 10-year-old 5th grader Her sponsor is the School Association. His Valley REMC, Wanatah. County Regional Office of Her sponsor is the Park at Frank Defino Central Victoria Advocate. sponsor is the North Dakota Education, Geneva. Record, Elementary School. His 11 Asha Chauhan of Park City. 43 Helena Thompson Association of County sponsor is Elmwood Park, New Jersey, 19 Lydia Pulsinelli of 27 Rohan Sachdev of Asbury Park of Sanford, North Carolina, Superintendents, Bismarck. is a 13-year-old 8th grader Knoxville, Tennessee, is Cary, North Carolina, is a Press/Home News is a 12-year-old 7th grader Tribune, 3 Sharanya E. Pastapur at Elmwood Park Memorial a 13-year-old 7th grader 14-year-old 8th grader at Neptune. at Highland Middle School. of Lake Zurich, Illinois, is a Middle School. Her sponsor at West Valley Middle Carnage Magnet Middle 35 Z’Qi Chapman of Her sponsor is the Harnett 13-year-old 7th grader at is the Bergen County School. Her sponsor is the School. His sponsor is PAGE Christiansted, U.S. Virgin County Spelling Bee Lake Zurich Middle School Division of Cultural & Knoxville News Sentinel. of Wake County, Raleigh. Islands, is a 13-year-old Collaborative, Lillington. North. Her sponsor is the Historic Affairs, Hackensack. 20 Vasundara 28 Shantanu Shrirang 8th grader at Church of 44 Alyssa Faith Achate Lake County Regional Office God (Holiness) Academy. 12 Sam Fetters of West Govindarajan of Miami, Edgaonkar of Tokyo, Dela Cruz of Dededo, of Education, Grayslake. His sponsor is Tisbury, Massachusetts, is a Florida, is a 13-year-old Japan, is a 13-year-old 7th The Virgin Guam, is a 14-year-old 8th 4 Aashray Reddy 12-year-old 7th grader 7th grader at Archimedean grader at Global Indian Islands Daily News, grader at Saint Anthony Mandala of Grand Haven, at West Tisbury School. Middle Conservatory. International School. His St. Thomas. Catholic School. Her Michigan, is a 13-year-old His sponsor is The Her sponsor is The sponsor is The Japan 36 Erin Howard of sponsor is the Pacific Daily 7th grader at Lakeshore Martha’s Vineyard Times, Miami Herald. Times, Tokyo. Huntsville, Alabama, is a News, Hagåtña. Middle School. His sponsor 12-year-old 6th grader at Vineyard Haven. 21 Sakiusa 29 Tanay Nandan of 45 Vithul Ravivarma of is Kent Intermediate School Mountain Gap P-8 School. 13 Simone D. Kaplan Caveranakoula Meador Short Hills, New Jersey, is Sammamish, Washington, is District, Grand Rapids. Her sponsor is Adventure of Davie, Florida, is an of Marbleton, Wyoming, is a 10-year-old 4th grader a 13-year-old 7th grader at Travel, Birmingham. 5 Shaheer Ali Imam of 11-year-old 5th grader at an 8-year-old 3rd grader at Hartshorn Elementary Beaver Lake Middle School. Catonsville, Maryland, is a St. Bonaventure Catholic at Big Piney Elementary School. His sponsor is 37 Varad Mulay of Novi, His sponsor is Town 13-year-old 8th grader at Al- School. Her sponsor is The School. His sponsor is the Hartshorn Elementary Michigan, is a 13-year-old Hall Seattle. Rahmah School. His sponsor Miami Herald. Wyoming Community School, Short Hills. 8th grader at Novi Middle 46 Avril Andales Regis is The Baltimore Bee. Foundation, Laramie. School. His sponsor is 14 Nikil V. Shyamsunder 30 Matthew Delis of The of Pago Pago, American Oakland Press, 6 William “Liam” N. of Winchester, Virginia, 22 Jason E. Sorin of Sandy, Utah, is a 14-year- Pontiac. Samoa, is a 14-year-old Myers of Chilhowie, is a 12-year-old 6th grader Durham, North Carolina, is old 8th grader at Summit 38 Haley Elizabeth 8th grader at St. Theresa Virginia, is a 14-year-old at Powhatan School. an 11-year-old 5th grader Academy Independence. Payton of La Plata, Elementary School. Her 8th grader at Marion His sponsor is the at Triangle Day School. His His sponsor is The City Maryland, is a 14-year-old sponsor is Samoa News, Middle School. His sponsor Boys & Girls Club of sponsor is Duke University’s Journals, Salt Lake City. 7th grader at Milton M. Pago Pago. is Northern Shenandoah Office of Durham and Somers Middle School. Her The Roanoke Times. 31 Haley Jeffers of 47 Seunga Hong of Valley, Winchester. Regional Affairs. sponsor is the 7 Dhruv Kaderu of Camarillo, California, is a Maryland Gangnam-gu, South Korea, Independent Fishkill, New York, is a 15 Bethanya Yared 23 Cecelia M. Fatta of 14-year-old 8th grader at , Waldorf. is a 13-year-old 6th grader 14-year-old 8th grader of Stafford, Virginia, is a Parkersburg, West Virginia, Las Colinas Middle School. 39 Marisa Langley of at Eonju Elementary School. at Van Wyck Junior High 13-year-old 8th grader at is a 14-year-old 8th Her sponsor is the Ventura Tallahassee, Florida, is a Her sponsor is Yoon’s School. His sponsor is the St. William of York Catholic grader at Jackson Middle County Star, Camarillo. home-schooled 13-year-old English School, Seoul. School. Her sponsor is School. Her sponsor is 7th grader. Her sponsor is Times Union, Albany. 32 Ashwin V. Prasad 48 Jake Blackburn the 8 David Scot Firestone The Free Lance-Star, The Marietta Times, of Carmel, Indiana, is a Tallahassee Democrat. of Decatur, Illinois, is a Marietta, of Palm City, Florida, is an Fredericksburg. Ohio. 14-year-old 8th grader at 40 Jamari Reeves of 14-year-old 8th grader at 11-year-old 6th grader 16 Aditya Chezhiyan 24 Erin Marie Welch Creekside Middle School. Crescent, Pennsylvania, is Garfield Montessori School. at Hidden Oaks Middle of Bristow, Virginia, is a of Princess Anne, Maryland, His sponsor is Williams a 14-year-old 8th grader His sponsor is Macon- School. His sponsor is 13-year-old 7th grader at is a 14-year-old 8th Comfort Air, Carmel. at Moon Area Middle Piatt Regional Office of Hidden Oaks Middle Marsteller Middle School. grader at St. Francis de School. Her sponsor is the Education, Decatur. School, Palm City. His sponsor is InsideNoVa/ Sales Catholic School. Her Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Prince William, Manassas. sponsor is the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne. 24 25

49 Daniel C. Larsen of 57 Cameron R. Apple 65 Samhita Sandhya 73 Hanna Ghouse of 80 Langley Vernon of 88 Amelia Ballingall Bloomington, Indiana, is of Paoli, Indiana, is an Kumar of Gold River, Kenosha, Wisconsin, is a Anderson, South Carolina, of Manchester, New a 13-year-old 7th grader 11-year-old 5th grader at California, is an 11-year- 13-year-old 7th grader is a 12-year-old 7th grader Hampshire, is a 13-year- at Jackson Creek Middle Throop Elementary School. old 6th grader at Winston at Kenosha School of at Riverside Middle School. old 8th grader at Nashua School. His sponsor His sponsor is Orange Churchill Middle School. Technology Enhanced Her sponsor is the Anderson Catholic Regional Junior is Indiana University, County Publishing Her sponsor is The Curriculum West. Her Independent Mail. High School. Her sponsor is Bloomington. Co. Inc., Paoli. Sacramento Bee. sponsor is the the Wisconsin 81 Anna Kleist of Prince New Hampshire Union State Journal, Leader, 50 Michael Goss of 58 Louise Julia Garcia 66 Sheridan Hennessy Madison. Frederick, Maryland, is a Manchester. Crowley, Louisiana, is a Grimaldo of Orofino, Idaho, of Cincinnati, Ohio, is an 74 Adith Joshua 14-year-old 8th grader 89 Lucas Mooney 13-year-old 7th grader at is an 11-year-old 6th grader 11-year-old 5th grader George of Sidney, Ohio, at Plum Point Middle of Charles Town, West St. Michael Catholic School. at Orofino Elementary at Hyde Park School. Her is a 12-year-old 7th grader School. Her sponsor is The Virginia, is a home-schooled His sponsor is the Kiwanis School. Her sponsor is the sponsor is WCPO 9 On at Holy Angels Catholic Recorder, Prince Frederick. 13-year-old 8th grader at Club of Lafayette. Your Side, Cincinnati. School. His sponsor is St. James Homeschoolers. Lewiston Tribune. The 82 Will Lourcey of Lima News. His sponsor is 51 Aidan A. Veress of 59 Andrew S. Gould 67 Brandon Anderson Fort Worth, Texas, is a The Journal, Yellowstone National Park, of Weston, West Virginia, of Mount Vernon, New 75 Mira Dedhia 14-year-old 8th grader at Martinsburg. Wyoming, is a 13-year- is a 15-year-old 8th grader York, is a 12-year-old 7th of Western Springs, Trinity Valley School. His 90 Joseph Michael old 7th grader at Gardiner at Robert L. Bland Middle grader at Amani Public Illinois, is a 13-year-old sponsor is Texas Christian Benson of Kansas City, School. His sponsor is School. His sponsor Charter School. His sponsor 8th grader at McClure University, Fort Worth. Missouri, is a 13-year-old Lee Newspapers of is is Amani Public Charter Junior High School. Her 7th grader at Antioch Middle The Clarksburg 83 Isabelle Rose Stetka Montana, Billings. School, Mount Vernon. sponsor is Commonwealth School. His sponsor is the Exponent-Telegram. of Barto, Pennsylvania, is Edison, Chicago. Kansas City Public Library. 52 Jeremy John Slywczak 60 Anastasia C. Spahr 68 Shreeta P. Vachhani a 14-year-old 8th grader of Kinsman, Ohio, is a of Peru, Indiana, is a of Bourbonnais, Illinois, is a 76 Lawrence Fu of at Boyertown Junior High 91 Andrew M. 12-year-old 6th grader 14-year-old 8th grader 14-year-old 8th grader at Surrey, British Columbia, is West. Her sponsor is the Masciarelli of Bellaire, at Joseph Badger Middle at Maconaquah Middle Bourbonnais Upper Grade a 12-year-old 7th grader at Reading Eagle. Ohio, is a 14-year-old 8th School. His sponsor is School. Her sponsor is Center. Her sponsor is Berkshire Park Elementary grader at Bellaire Middle The The 84 Lane Schnell of Ivy Tech Community School. His sponsor is School. His sponsor is Tribune Chronicle, Warren. Daily Journal, Kankakee. Centerville, Ohio, is a The College, Kokomo. Big Brothers Big Sisters 53 Julian Joseph 69 Alexandria Gonzalo 14-year-old 8th grader at Times Leader, Martins Ferry. of Canada, Lower Connaughton of Shohola, 61 Briana Joseph of Ciurlino of Egg Harbor Magsig Middle School. Her 92 Riley E. Meese of British Columbia. Pennsylvania, is a 14-year- Fairmont, Minnesota, is Township, New Jersey, is a sponsor is the Dayton-Area New Philadelphia, Ohio, is old 8th grader at Delaware a 13-year-old 7th grader 13-year-old 7th grader at 77 Vanya Virmani Spelling Bee Collaborative. a 14-year-old 8th grader Valley Middle School. His at Fairmont Junior/Senior St. Vincent de Paul Regional of Fredericton, New 85 Anna E. Cockfield at Joseph Welty Middle sponsor is the Tri-State High School. Her sponsor School. Her sponsor is the Brunswick, is a 9-year-old School. Her sponsor is of Petoskey, Michigan, is a The Spelling Bee Committee, is the South Central South Jersey Spelling 3rd grader at Park Street Repository, 13-year-old 7th grader at Canton. Montague, New Jersey. Service Cooperative, Bee, Folsom. Elementary School. Her Petoskey Middle School. 93 Arin Bhandari of North Mankato. sponsor is Big Brothers 54 Sam Stephens of 70 Chinmay H. Bapat Her sponsor is the Traverse West Haven, Connecticut, Big Sisters of Canada, Stevensville, Michigan, is a 62 Joel C. Miles of of Audubon, Pennsylvania, City Record-Eagle. is a 12-year-old 6th Prince Edward Island & 14-year-old 8th grader at Greenwood, Missouri, is is a 12-year-old 6th grader at May V. Carrigan New Brunswick. 86 Leonardo Chen of Lakeshore Middle School. a 14-year-old 8th grader grader at Skyview Upper Intermediate School. Oroville, Washington, is His sponsor is at Raymore-Peculiar East Elementary School. His His sponsor is the Noah The Herald 78 Ricardo Shawki a 12-year-old 7th grader Middle School. His sponsor sponsor is the Pennridge Webster House West Palladium, St. Joseph. Marrero-Alattar of at Oroville Jr./Sr. High is the Raymore-Peculiar Community Education Hartford Historical Society, 55 Sameera N. Hussain Dorado, Puerto Rico, is School. His sponsor is the School District. Foundation, Perkasie. a 13-year-old 8th grader of Porterville, California, is North Central Washington New Haven. at Saint John’s School. a 14-year-old 8th grader 63 Elizabeth A. 71 Eric V. Gitson of Collaborative Spelling 94 Delaney M. Williams His sponsor is Eureka at Sequoia Middle School. Muganyizi of Wyncote, Delaware, Ohio, is an Bee, Wenatchee. of Boise, Idaho, is a Enrichment & Learning Her sponsor is the Visalia Pennsylvania, is a 11-year-old 5th grader at 10-year-old 4th grader Center, Inc., San Juan. 87 Grace Maxson of 14-year-old 8th grader David Smith Elementary at Highlands Elementary Times-Delta/Tulare New Windsor, New York, at Cedarbrook Middle School. His sponsor is Ohio School. Her sponsor is Advance-Register. 79 Emmanuel Santiago is a 12-year-old 7th grader School. Her sponsor is University’s Scripps College Boise State University. 56 Noah J. Brandt of The Rimocal of Laredo, at Cornwall Central Middle Philadelphia Tribune. of Communication, Athens. Texas, is a 9-year-old 4th Jackson, Tennessee, is a School. Her sponsor is 95 Haris Javed Rana of grader at Kennedy-Zapata 14-year-old 7th grader 64 Cierra J. Wilson 72 Zoe Grace Ward the Times Herald- Fort Smith, Arkansas, is a Elementary School. His at Augustine School. His of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, of Marion, Indiana, is an Record, Middletown. 13-year-old 8th grader at sponsor is the sponsor is Union is a 13-year-old 7th 11-year-old 5th grader Laredo Chaffin Junior High School. University, Jackson. grader at McKinley Middle at Northview Elementary Morning Times. His sponsor is the Academic Magnet. Her School. Her sponsor Arkansas Democrat sponsor is the Louisiana is Indiana Wesleyan Gazette, Little Rock. Children’s Discovery University, Marion. Center, Hammond. 26 27

96 Annalee D. Johnson 104 Paarth Tara of 112 Chad W. Saunders 120 Jack Miller of 129 Sydney Aslan 138 Briandria Elaine of California, Maryland, is Mebane, North Carolina, is of Belmont, North Carolina, Abilene, Texas, is a home- of Brentwood, Tennessee, Starks of Bakersfield, a 13-year-old 8th grader at a 13-year-old 7th grader at is a 15-year-old 8th grader schooled 13-year-old 7th is a home-schooled California, is a 13-year-old Chesapeake Public Charter Woodlawn Middle School. at Gaston Day School. His grader at Big Country 14-year-old 8th grader. Her 7th grader at Valley Oaks School. Her sponsor is The His sponsor is the Times- sponsor is The Gaston Home Educators. His sponsor is the Tennessee Charter School. Her Enterprise, Lexington Park. News, Burlington. Gazette, Gastonia. sponsor is the Abilene Titans, Nashville. sponsor is KERO 23 Reporter-News ABC, Bakersfield. 97 Jessica Rivera of 105 Thomas Kaufman 113 Eleanor Grace . 130 Manjeet Surana Corpus Christi, Texas, is a of Yorkville, Illinois, is a Fournier of Canton, 121 Charity-Dakota Nirula of Silver Spring, 139 Macey Ann 14-year-old 8th grader at 12-year-old 8th grader at Illinois, is a 13-year-old 8th Antoinette Jordan of La Maryland, is a 12-year-old Stancato of Beloit, Ohio, Cunningham Middle School. Yorkville Middle School. grader at Ingersoll Middle Conner, Washington, is a 6th grader at Briggs is a 14-year-old 8th grader Her sponsor is the Corpus His sponsor is the Grundy/ School. Her sponsor is the 13-year-old 7th grader at La Chaney Middle School. His at West Branch Middle Christi Caller-Times. Kendall County Regional Peoria Journal Star. Conner Middle School. Her sponsor is The Meakem School. Her sponsor is The Office of Education, Morris. sponsor is the Group, Bethesda. Vindicator, 98 Arsh C. Shah of 114 Shrinidhi Gopal of Skagit Valley Youngstown. Palm Harbor, Florida, is 106 Kieran Ryan San Ramon, California, is a Herald, Mount Vernon. 131 Jaden M. Fellows 140 Lydia Ann an 11-year-old 5th grader McKinney of West Salem, 13-year-old 8th grader at 122 Deneiro Jason of Chicago, Illinois, is an Bitterman of Cedar at Ridgecrest Elementary Wisconsin, is a 12-year- Gale Ranch Middle School. Hines of Spanish Town, 11-year-old 5th grader at Rapids, Iowa, is a home- School. His sponsor is old 6th grader at Coulee Her sponsor is the East Bay Jamaica, is a 13-year-old The Latin School of Chicago. schooled 12-year-old Ridgecrest Elementary Christian School. His Times, Walnut Creek. 7th grader at Glenmuir High His sponsor is the Chicago 7th grader at Marion School, North Largo. sponsor is the School. His sponsor is the Spelling Bee Collaborative. Homeschool Association. Wisconsin 115 Winston Zuo of State Journal, Her sponsor is Iowa State 99 Brendan M. Pawlicki Madison. Yorba Linda, California, is a Jamaica Gleaner, Kingston. 132 Mary Elizabeth A. University, Greenlee of Shelby Township, 107 Krutik Patel of 12-year-old 7th grader at 123 Hannah Fernandes Vaughan of Harrisonburg, School of Journalism & Michigan, is a 10-year-old Rocky Mount, North Fairmont Private Schools: of Omaha, Nebraska, is Virginia, is a 13-year-old 7th Communication, Ames. 5th grader at St. Lawrence Carolina, is a 14-year-old Historic Anaheim Campus. a 10-year-old 4th grader grader at Thomas Harrison Catholic School. His 8th grader at Rocky Mount His sponsor is The Orange at St. Stephen the Martyr Middle School. Her sponsor 141 Storrie Jamerson sponsor is The Macomb Academy. His sponsor is County Register, Santa Ana. School. Her sponsor is the is Rockingham District Kulynych-Irvin of Daily. the Delta Center for Life 116 Kaitlin A. Ryan Omaha World-Herald. Ruritans, Harrisonburg. Annapolis, Maryland, is a Development, Inc., home-schooled 12-year-old 100 Daniel Joseph of Oldsmar, Florida, is a 124 Grace C. McKeegan 133 Josh Saylor of Eagle Rocky Mount. Healy of Port Byron, 13-year-old 7th grader of Steubenville, Ohio, is a River, Alaska, is an 11-year- 7th grader. Her sponsor Illinois, is an 11-year-old 108 Haven Alexandrea at Espiritu Santo Catholic home-schooled 13-year-old old 6th grader at Mirror is Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Annapolis. 5th grader at Our Lady of Griggs of Lawndale, North School. Her sponsor is 7th grader at Heart Lake Middle School. His Grace Catholic Academy. Carolina, is a 14-year-old Espiritu Santo Catholic of Mary Home School. sponsor is the Alaska 142 Neil St. John His sponsors are The 8th grader at Burns Middle School, Safety Harbor. Her sponsor is The Dispatch News, Anchorage. of Bangor, Maine, is a Dispatch School. Her sponsor is Herald-Star, 13-year-old 8th grader at and The Rock The 117 Mia Ashriem of Steubenville. 134 Farah Raslan Haniff Island Argus, Shelby Star. Bangor Christian School. Moline. Brook Park, Ohio, is a 125 Peter Emmanuel of Boston, Massachusetts, is His sponsor is Husson 101 Jennifer Lau of 109 Paul Hamrick of 14-year-old 8th grader at Westbrook of Lawrence, a 10-year-old 4th grader at University, Bangor. Torrance, California, is a Monterey, California, is a Middleburg Heights Junior Kansas, is a 14-year-old 8th Winship Elementary School. 14-year-old 8th grader home-schooled 13-year- High School. Her sponsor grader at Bishop Seabury Her sponsor is Boston Centers 143 Tejas Muthusamy at Calle Mayor Middle old 7th grader. His sponsor is The Plain Dealer/ Academy. His sponsor is for Youth & Families. of Glen Allen, Virginia, is a School. Her sponsor is the Monterey County cleveland.com. The Topeka Capital-Journal. 135 Mandy Marie Granz 14-year-old 8th grader at is the Los Angeles Spelling Office of Education, Salinas. George H. Moody Middle 118 Haebin Han of 126 Serena Huberty of Imlay City, Michigan, is a Bee Collaborative. School. His sponsor is the 110 Kelly Han of Adelphi, Dubuque, Iowa, is a of Lakewood, Illinois, is a 12-year-old 6th grader at 102 Jacob Anthony Maryland, is a 14-year- 14-year-old 8th grader at 13-year-old 8th grader at Imlay City Middle School. Richmond Times-Dispatch. Muin of Sedalia, Missouri, old 8th grader at Buck Eleanor Roosevelt Middle Richard Bernotas Middle Her sponsor is The County 144 Joseph Moran is an 11-year-old 5th grader Lodge Middle School. Her School. Her sponsor is the School. Her sponsor is Press, Lapeer. of Hayden, Idaho, is a at Sedalia Middle School. sponsor is the home-schooled 10-year- The Washington Telegraph Herald, Dubuque. Northwest Herald, 136 Grant Taylor of His sponsor is the Sedalia old 5th grader at North Informer, Washington, 119 Rose Ming Xu Han Crystal Lake. Lubbock, Texas, is a Spelling Bee Collaborative. District of Columbia. Idaho Home Educators of Staples, Minnesota, is 127 Emma Liu of 14-year-old 8th grader at Association. His sponsor is 103 Tina Huang of 111 Sahil S. Langote a 13-year-old 8th grader Frederick, Maryland, is a Lubbock Christian School. the Tazewell, Virginia, is a of New Castle, Delaware, is at Motley-Staples Middle 14-year-old 8th grader at His sponsor is the Lubbock Coeur d’Alene Press. 13-year-old 7th grader at an 11-year-old 6th grader School. Her sponsor is Urbana Middle School. Her Avalanche-Journal. 145 Sylvia Ngoc Nguyen Tazewell Middle School. at P.S. duPont Middle the National Joint Powers sponsor is Frederick County 137 Alia Abou Dakka of of Saint Joseph, Missouri, Her sponsor is Four School. His sponsor is the Alliance, Staples. Public Libraries. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is a 10-year-old 5th grader Seasons YMCA, Tazewell. Delaware Spelling Bee at Oak Grove Elementary 128 Owen Kovalik of is an 11-year-old 5th grader at Collaborative, Wilmington. School. Her sponsor is the Medina, Ohio, is a 14-year- River Oaks Elementary School. old 8th grader at Medina Her sponsor is The Sun St. Joseph News-Press. Christian Academy. His News, Myrtle Beach. sponsor is the Akron Beacon Journal. 28 29

146 Calvin Alexander, Jr. 154 Jeff Zheng of Amarillo, 163 Nikhil Lahiri of 172 Zach Swyers of 180 Daniel Chen of 188 Surya G. Dodia of Shreveport, Louisiana, is Texas, is a 12-year-old 6th Painted Post, New York, is Plattsburgh, New York, is a Chino Hills, California, is of Naples, Florida, is a a 12-year-old 6th grader grader at Ascension Academy. a 14-year-old 8th grader at 14-year-old 8th grader at a 14-year-old 8th grader 13-year-old 7th grader at Caddo Parish Middle His sponsor is the Amarillo Alternative School for Math Peru Jr./Sr. High School. at Loving Savior Lutheran at North Naples Middle Magnet School. His Globe-News. and Science. His sponsor is His sponsor is the Press- School. His sponsor is School. Her sponsor is the sponsor is Louisiana Tech the Corning Rotary Club. Republican, Quest Literacy Consortium, 155 Nana K. Addo of Plattsburgh. Naples Daily News. University, Shreveport. Diamond Bar. North Sioux City, South 164 Sravanth Mohan 173 Harshita M. Shet of 189 Rutvik Mohan 147 Adom Appiah of Dakota, is a 13-year-old Malla of Haverstraw, New White Plains, New York, is 181 Yash Hande of Gandhasri of San Jose, Spartanburg, South Carolina, 7th grader at Dakota Valley York, is a 13-year-old 7th a 13-year-old 7th grader San Diego, California, is a California, is a 13-year-old is a 13-year-old 7th grader Middle School. His sponsor grader at Fieldstone Middle at Woodlands Middle 13-year-old 8th grader at 8th grader at Chaboya at Spartanburg Day School. is the University of South School. His sponsor is School. Her sponsor is Pacific Trails Middle School. Middle School. His sponsor His sponsor is USC Upstate Dakota, Vermillion. Fieldstone Middle the Theodore D. Young His sponsor is The San is KPIX-TV & KCBS Radio Foundation, Spartanburg. School, Thiells. Community Center, Diego Union-Tribune. AM & FM, San Francisco. 156 Collin Shea of White Plains. 148 Liam Nyikos of Mayfield, New York, is an 165 Ben Lenger of Niwot, 182 Aditya Badlani of Oak 190 Vince Burton of Carlsbad, New Mexico, is 11-year-old 5th grader at Colorado, is a 12-year-old 174 Ava Cloonan of Brook, Illinois, is a 14-year- St. John’s, Newfoundland a 12-year-old 7th grader Mayfield Elementary School. 7th grader at Sunset Middle Oswego, New York, is a old 8th grader at Butler and Labrador, is a at Carlsbad Intermediate His sponsor is The Leader- School. His sponsor is 14-year-old 8th grader at Junior High School. His 12-year-old 7th grader School. His sponsor is the Herald, Gloversville. Barnes & Noble, Boulder. Oswego Middle School. sponsor is Commonwealth at MacDonald Drive Junior Her sponsor is Edison, Chicago. High School. His sponsor El Paso Times, Texas. 157 Gabriel K. Ennin of 166 Samuel J. Thomas The Palladium-Times, is 149 Siddhant Sharma Reynoldsburg, Ohio, is a of South Bend, Indiana, is Oswego. 183 Cristina M. Pines The Telegram, of Downingtown, 13-year-old 7th grader at a 13-year-old 7th grader 175 Neil J. Dave of of Vero Beach, Florida, is a St. John’s, Newfoundland Pennsylvania, is a Pickerington Ridgeview Junior at Christ the King Catholic Lakeland, Florida, is an 14-year-old 8th grader at and Labrador. 13-year-old 7th grader High School. His sponsor is School. His sponsor is 11-year-old 6th grader at Saint Edward’s School. Her 191 Alice Liu of at Downingtown Middle the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Christ the King Catholic Lakeland Christian School. sponsor is Saint Edward’s Chesterfield, Missouri, is School. His sponsor is School, South Bend. His sponsor is the Polk School, Vero Beach. a 10-year-old 5th grader 158 Nathaniel Barnes of the Chester County County School District at Wild Horse Elementary Wilson, North Carolina, is 167 Sreeniketh A. 184 Emily King of Steele, Intermediate Unit, Collaborative, Bartow. School. Her sponsor is the a 13-year-old 7th grader at Vogoti of Saint Johns, Missouri, is a 12-year- Downingtown. James Lee School. His sponsor Florida, is a 14-year-old 176 Maggie E. Sheridan old 6th grader at Cooter St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 150 Ian Shasha of is The Wilson Times. 8th grader at Fruit Cove of Mansfield, Ohio, is a Elementary School. Her 192 Ava Jane Propper Jackson, Michigan, is a Middle School. His sponsor 13-year-old 7th grader sponsor is Three Rivers 159 Jaden Zhang of of Warners, New York, is 14-year-old 8th grader at is at Lexington Junior High Community College, Richmond, Ontario, is a The Florida Times- a 13-year-old 8th grader Middle School at Parkside. School. Her sponsor is Ohio Poplar Bluff. 10-year-old 5th grader at Union, Jacksonville. at West Genesee Middle His sponsor is University’s Scripps College School. Her sponsor is The Jackson Westwind Public School. His 168 Rebekah Zeigler of 185 Elizabeth A. Muller The of Communication, Athens. Citizen Patriot. sponsor is Big Brothers Big Polo, Illinois, is a 12-year- of Frisco, North Carolina, is Post-Standard, Syracuse. 151 Maia Marshall of Sisters of Canada, Greater old 6th grader at Aplington 177 Folau Annie Holi of a 13-year-old 7th grader at 193 Abby Richburg of Las Vegas, Nevada, is a Ottawa & Montreal. Middle School. Her sponsor Fort Irwin, California, is a Cape Hatteras Secondary Manning, South Carolina, 14-year-old 8th grader at is Sauk Valley Media, Dixon. 13-year-old 8th grader at School. Her sponsor is the is a 14-year-old 8th grader 160 Andrew C. Elias St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Fort Irwin Middle School. at Manning Junior High of Novelty, Ohio, is an 169 Lindy G. Murphy Washington Daily News. Catholic School. Her Her sponsor is Fort Irwin School. Her sponsor is 11-year-old 5th grader at of Ludington, Michigan, is 186 Theo Thompson- sponsor is Greenspun Middle School. Pee Dee Education Westwood Elementary School. a 13-year-old 8th grader Armstrong of Halifax, Media Group, Las Vegas. Center, Florence. His sponsor is The News- at Ludington Area Catholic 178 Leela Waterford Nova Scotia, is a 152 Phoebe V. Smith Herald, Willoughby. School. Her sponsor is the of Makawao, Hawaii, is a 14-year-old 8th grader at 194 Charles Li of of Aston, Pennsylvania, 161 Aiden Jeffrey Arnett Ludington Daily News. 13-year-old 7th grader at Gorsebrook Junior High Martinez, Georgia, is a is an 11-year-old 6th Emmanuel Lutheran School. School. His sponsor is Big 14-year-old 8th grader of Morgantown, West 170 Emelie M. Ojukwu grader at Northley Middle Her sponsor is Kama’aina Brothers Big Sisters of Virginia, is a 13-year-old 6th of Lagrange, Ohio, is a at Stallings Island Middle School. Her sponsor is Kids, Kailua. Canada, Nova Scotia. grader at Mountaineer Middle 13-year-old 8th grader School. His sponsor is The the Delaware County Augusta Chronicle. School. His sponsor is The at First Baptist Christian 179 Kendal T. Win of 187 Saketh Sundar Intermediate Unit, Morton. Dominion Post, Morgantown. School. His sponsor is the Fayetteville, North Carolina, of Elkridge, Maryland, 195 Akshansh Ajay Educational Service Center is a 12-year-old 7th grader is an 11-year-old 6th 153 Casper L. Smith of 162 Kelly Elise Mills of Kumar of Kitchener, of Lorain County, LaGrange. at Pine Forest Middle grader at Mayfield Woods Clayton, North Carolina, is Beaver, West Virginia, is a Ontario, is an 11-year-old School. Her sponsor is Middle School. His a 13-year-old 8th grader home-schooled 13-year- 171 Akilan Siva The 6th grader at Doon at Clayton Middle School. Fayetteville Observer. sponsor is Howard County Public School. His sponsor old 7th grader at Raleigh Sankaran of Albuquerque, His sponsor is Library, Columbia. is Big Brothers Big The Clayton Educational Association of New Mexico, is a 10-year- Sisters of Canada, News-Star. Christian Homeschoolers. Her old 4th grader at Manzano Southwestern Ontario. sponsor is the Charleston Day School. His sponsor is Gazette-Mail. The Albuquerque Journal. 30 31

196 Anna-Livia L. Regan 204 Faith Christine Baca 212 Kasey C. Torres 220 Riya Joshi of 228 Ainsley C. Boucher 236 Erik Dubbs of of Portland, Oregon, is a of Aurora, Colorado, is a of San Angelo, Texas, is Chicago, Illinois, is a of Crookston, Minnesota, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, 14-year-old 8th grader 14-year-old 8th grader at a 12-year-old 6th grader 12-year-old 6th grader at is a 12-year-old 7th is a 13-year-old 8th at ACCESS Alternative Rocky Mountain School of at Cornerstone Christian South Loop Elementary grader at Crookston High grader at Pine Grove Academy. Her sponsor is Expeditionary Learning. Her School. His sponsor is the School. Her sponsor is School. Her sponsor is Area Middle School. His the Portland Tribune. sponsor is The Denver Post. San Angelo Standard-Times. Chicago Public Schools. the Lakes Country Service sponsor is The Republican Cooperative, Fergus Falls. Herald, 197 Reese Steven Perry 205 Siyona Mishra 213 Nathan Ostermann 221 Ryan Patrick Pottsville. of Evansville, Indiana, is of Orlando, Florida, is a of El Centro, California, is Crawford of South 229 Ryan J. Rayos of 237 Brent Earl A. Ebarle a 13-year-old 8th grader 13-year-old 8th grader at a 12-year-old 6th grader Boston, Virginia, is a Naples, Italy, is a 14-year- of Summerville, South at Washington Middle Orlando Science Middle at Sunflower Elementary 12-year-old 6th grader at old 8th grader at Naples Carolina, is a 13-year-old School. His sponsor is the High School. Her sponsor School. His sponsor is the Sacred Heart School. His Middle High School. His 7th grader at Cane Bay Evansville Courier & Press. is Orlando Sentinel Imperial County Office of sponsor is Big Brothers and sponsor is the European Middle School. His sponsor 198 Reshmi Communications. Education, El Centro. Big Sisters, Danville. PTA, Defense and State is The Post and Courier, Department Schools. Charleston. Balakrishnan of Fairfax, 206 Silas L. Black of 214 Ashrita Gandhari 222 Celine Genevieve Virginia, is an 11-year-old Wellsville, Ohio, is a of North Andover, Yap of Wichita Falls, 230 Joey A. Ilagan of 238 Lisa Lin of Signal 6th grader at Greenbriar 13-year-old 7th grader Massachusetts, is a Texas, is a 13-year-old 8th Lexington, Kentucky, is a Mountain, Tennessee, is an West Elementary School. at Southern Local Jr./Sr. 10-year-old 4th grader at grader at Christ Academy. 13-year-old 8th grader at 11-year-old 5th grader at Her sponsor is the Fairfax High School. His sponsors Franklin Elementary School. Her sponsor is the Times Tates Creek Middle School. Thrasher Elementary School. County Council of are the Salem News, East Her sponsor is The Daily Record News, Wichita Falls. His sponsor is the Scripps Her sponsor is Chattanooga PTAs, Merrifield. Liverpool Review Item, Howard First Amendment Times Free Press. and The Lynn. 223 Kodai Speich of Morning Journal. Center, Lexington. 199 Kelly L. Haven of 215 Soyeon Park of Rockford, Illinois, is a 239 Una Fort Defiance, Arizona, is a 207 Tara Singh of Starkville, Mississippi, is 13-year-old 8th grader at 231 Christopher Serrao VanWynsberghe of 12-year-old 6th grader at Louisville, Kentucky, is a a 12-year-old 6th grader Thurgood Marshall School. of Whitehouse Station, Van Wert, Ohio, is a Tsehootsooi Intermediate 12-year-old 7th grader at Armstrong Middle His sponsor is the Boone- New Jersey, is an 11-year- 13-year-old 7th grader at Learning Center. Her at Louisville Classical School. Her sponsor is the Winnebago Regional Office old 5th grader at Holland Lincolnview Elementary sponsor is the Navajo Academy. Her sponsor is Mississippi Association of of Education, Loves Park. Brook School. His sponsor School. Her sponsor is Times Publishing Company, the Louisville Spelling Educators, Jackson. 224 Tien Thuy Nguyen is Discover Lehigh Valley, The Journal Gazette, Fort Window Rock. Bee Collaborative. Allentown, Pennsylvania. Wayne, Indiana. 216 Abhiram Kapaganty of New Orleans, Louisiana, 200 Raksheet Kota of 208 Shubhokkan of Suwanee, Georgia, is is a 14-year-old 8th grader 232 Amelia Edelsberg 240 Ethan G. Greenley Katy, Texas, is a 14-year-old Chakma of San an 11-year-old 5th grader at Einstein Charter Middle of Providence, Rhode Island, of Franklin, North Carolina, 8th grader at Beckendorff Bernardino, California, is a at Burnette Elementary School. Her sponsor is is a 13-year-old 7th grader is a 12-year-old 6th grader Junior High School. His 13-year-old 7th grader at School. His sponsor is the The Times-Picayune, at Lincoln School. Her at Macon G.E.M.S. His sponsor is Houston Public Richardson PREP HI Middle Georgia Association of New Orleans. sponsor is The Valley sponsor is Macon Media. School. His sponsor is the Educators, Tucker. 225 Srivatsav Vuppala Breeze, Cumberland. G.E.M.S., Franklin. San Bernardino Spelling 201 David A. De Coursy 217 Ella Bay Espiritu of Perrysburg, Ohio, is an 233 Kael Miranda of 241 Will Rooke of Bee Collaborative. of Clearwater Beach, of Brooklyn, New York, is 11-year-old 6th grader Columbia, Missouri, is a Deephaven, Minnesota, is Florida, is an 11-year-old 209 Olivia R. Charles a 14-year-old 8th grader at Perrysburg Junior High 12-year-old 7th grader a 13-year-old 7th grader at 5th grader at St. Paul’s of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, is at P.S./I.S. 104 The Fort School. His sponsor is The at John B. Lange Middle Minnetonka Middle School School. His sponsor is Saint a 14-year-old 8th grader Hamilton School. Her Blade, Toledo. School. His sponsor is East. His sponsor is the Paul’s School, Clearwater. at West Carroll Middle sponsor is the Daily News, 226 Shaurir Ramanujan Columbia Daily Tribune. Metropolitan Educational School. Her sponsor is Cooperative Service Unit, 202 Margaret Isacson New York. of Overland Park, Kansas, 234 Daniel A. Doudna the Carroll/JoDaviess/ Arden Hills. of Washington, District of 218 Tanvi Rakesh of is a 13-year-old 8th grader of Fairbanks, Alaska, is a Stephenson Regional Office Columbia, is a 12-year-old Florence, Kentucky, is a at Harmony Middle School. 13-year-old 7th grader at 242 Cassidy Crawford of Education, Freeport. 7th grader at Oyster-Adams 10-year-old 4th grader at His sponsor is the Hays Interior Distance Education of Hunlock Creek, Bilingual School. Her sponsor 210 Naysa Modi of Longbranch Elementary Daily News. of Alaska. His sponsor is Pennsylvania, is a 14-year- is Monroe, Louisiana, is an School. Her sponsor is the Fairbanks North Star old 8th grader at Bear The Washington Informer. 227 Enya V. Hubers of 11-year-old 6th grader WCPO 9 On Your Side, Borough School District. 203 Kevin Fan of Burlington, Ontario, is a Creek Community Charter at River Oaks School. Cincinnati, Ohio. School. Her sponsor is the Plainfield, Illinois, is a home-schooled 11-year-old 235 Rohan Rajeev of Her sponsor is 12-year-old 7th grader The News- 219 Sofia Jenia 6th grader. Her sponsor is Edmond, Oklahoma, is a Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre. Star, at Heritage Grove Monroe. Marquez of New York, Big Brothers Big Sisters of 14-year-old 8th grader 243 Lily Ama Mawuena Middle School. His 211 Riley E. Hamp of New York, is a 14-year- Canada, Central Ontario & at Oklahoma Christian Tugbah of Accra, Ghana, sponsor is Commonwealth Waynesboro, Virginia, is a old 8th grader at Hunter Greater Toronto. School. His sponsor is The is a 13-year-old 7th Edison, Chicago. 13-year-old 8th grader at College High School. Her Oklahoman, Oklahoma City. grader at Solidarity Kate Collins Middle School. sponsor is the Daily News, International School. Her sponsors are The New York. Her sponsor is the Daily Progress and News Young Educators Virginian, Charlottesville. Foundation, Accra. 32 33

244 Anmol Singh Bhatia 252 Xuan K. Tran of 260 Melanie Mascorro 268 Eujine Kim of 276 Akshra P. 284 Devesh Shah of of Greenbrook, New Jersey, Williamsburg, Virginia, is of Brownsville, Texas, is an Lynchburg, Virginia, is a Paimagam of Charlotte, Wheeling, West Virginia, is is a 12-year-old 6th grader a 14-year-old 8th grader 11-year-old 6th grader at 13-year-old 7th grader North Carolina, is a a 13-year-old 8th grader at Green Brook Middle at Queens Lake Middle Harmony Science Academy at P. L. Dunbar Middle 14-year-old 8th grader at The Linsly School. His School. His sponsor is the School. Her sponsor is The - Brownsville. Her sponsor School for Innovation. Her at Randolph Middle sponsor is the Diocese of Somerset County Library Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk. is Rio Grande Valley AIM sponsor is The News & School. Her sponsor is The Wheeling-Charleston. System, Bridgewater. Media Texas, McAllen. Advance, Charlotte Observer. 253 Dale Flanagan Lynchburg. 285 Marin E. Gray of 245 Jashun Paluru Winand of Lancaster, 261 Deuce Ditton 269 Charley B. Wiggins 277 Luca Varanelli of Roseburg, Oregon, is a of West Lafayette, Indiana, Pennsylvania, is a 13-year- of Rolla, Missouri, is a of Ontario, New York, is Grosse Pointe Shores, 12-year-old 7th grader at is a 12-year-old 7th old 7th grader at Centerville 14-year-old 8th grader at a 13-year-old 8th grader Michigan, is a 14-year- Joseph Lane Middle School. grader at Battle Ground Middle School. His sponsor Rolla Junior High School. at Thomas C. Armstrong old 8th grader at Parcells Her sponsor is Joseph Lane Middle School. His is LNP Always Lancaster. His sponsor is Rolla Junior Middle School. His Middle School. His sponsor Middle School, Roseburg. sponsor is Administrator 254 Shourav Dasari High School. sponsor is the Finger is WXYZ Channel 7, Detroit. 286 Meryl S. Tigenoah Assistance, Brookston. Lakes Times, of Spring, Texas, is a 262 Martius Isaac Geneva. 278 Shruthika Padhy of of Baxter, Minnesota, 246 Gabrielle Brown of 14-year-old 8th grader at Bautista of Janesville, 270 Zachary Hoelscher Cherry Hill, New Jersey, is is a 13-year-old 8th grader Salisbury, North Carolina, is McCullough Junior High Wisconsin, is a 13-year-old of Lorena, Texas, is a an 11-year-old 6th grader at Forestview Middle a home-schooled 15-year- School. His sponsor is 7th grader at Edgewood 14-year-old 8th grader at at Rosa International School. Her sponsor is old 8th grader at Rowan Houston Public Media. Campus School. His Robinson Junior High School. Middle School. Her sponsor the National Joint Powers County Homeschool 255 Anika Reddy sponsor is the Wisconsin His sponsor is Rapoport is Rosa International Middle Alliance, Staples. Association. Her sponsor is State Journal, Holdings, LLC, Waco. School, Cherry Hill. Gundlapalli of Odessa, Madison. 287 Nicholas Ivan the Winston-Salem Journal. Texas, is a 10-year-old 263 Nick Sarji of Tampa, 271 Jee’von Arden Pratt 279 Garrett Brynerof of Carmel, Indiana, is a 247 Penda M. Ba of 5th grader at St John’s Florida, is a 14-year-old of Nassau, Bahamas, Price, Utah, is a 12-year-old 13-year-old 8th grader Gilbert, Arizona, is a 13-year- Episcopal School. Her 8th grader at South Tampa is a 12-year-old 7th grader 7th grader at Mont Harmon at Sycamore School. old 8th grader at Sossaman sponsor is the Ector County Independent Learning. His at St. Augustine’s College. Middle School. His sponsor His sponsor is Indiana Middle School. Her sponsor Independent School sponsor is South Tampa His sponsor is The is the Southeast Education University-Purdue is the Arizona Educational District, Odessa. Independent School. Nassau Guardian. Service Center, Price. University Indianapolis. Foundation, Scottsdale. 256 Rishi Padmanabhan 264 Ananya Vinay of 272 Nabil Arshad 280 Srikar Varma 288 Aisha Randhawa 248 Torah Smith of of Tampa, Florida, is a Fresno, California, is a Zaman of Saginaw, Chamarthi of Odessa, of Corona, California, is Fitchburg, Massachusetts, 14-year-old 8th grader at 12-year-old 6th grader Michigan, is a 14-year-old Texas, is a 12-year-old 7th an 11-year-old 6th grader is a home-schooled Corbett Preparatory School at Fugman Elementary 8th grader at Saginaw Arts grader at Abell Junior High at Garretson Elementary 12-year-old 6th grader at of IDS. His sponsor is School. Her sponsor is and Sciences Academy. School. His sponsor is the School. Her sponsor is The C.H.E.C Homeschoolers. Corbett Preparatory School The Fresno Bee. His sponsor is the Saginaw Midland Reporter-Telegram. Press-Enterprise, Riverside. Her sponsor is the of IDS, Tampa. County Spelling Bee. Sentinel 265 Catherine Chung of 281 Thomas York of 289 Lucinda Maybelle & Enterprise, Fitchburg. 257 Ryan P. Sejong-si, South Korea, is a 273 Caleb R. Roberts Rochester, Minnesota, is Storz of Lyndonville, 249 Rishubh Kaushal Himmelsbach of East 14-year-old 7th grader at of Muncie, Indiana, is a a 14-year-old 8th grader Vermont, is a 14-year-old of Sterling, Virginia, is a Setauket, New York, Yangji Middle School. Her 12-year-old 6th grader at St. Francis of Assisi 8th grader at Thaddeus 14-year-old 8th grader is a 13-year-old 7th sponsor is Yoon’s English at Heritage Hall Christian School. His sponsor is Stevens School. Her at Seneca Ridge Middle grader at Paul J. Gelinas School, Seoul. School. His sponsor is Ball the Southeast Service sponsor is the Rutland School. His sponsor is Junior High School. 266 Magnus A. Keswani State University - Cooperative, Rochester. Herald/Barre Times-Argus. Loudoun County Public His sponsor is Hofstra WIPB-TV, Muncie. of Sycamore, Illinois, is a 282 Elizabeth DaLynn 290 Edith Fuller of Schools, Leesburg. University, Hempstead. 13-year-old 7th grader at 274 Connor A. Lawrence Tittrington of Kansas City, Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a 250 Ishreet K. Lehal of 258 Tyler Berndt of St. Mary’s Catholic School. of Keedysville, Maryland, is Missouri, is a 14-year-old home-schooled 6-year- Terre Haute, Indiana, is Jupiter, Florida, is a His sponsor is the Daily a 14-year-old 8th grader at 8th grader at Congress old kindergartner at a 14-year-old 8th grader 14-year-old 8th grader at Chronicle, DeKalb. Boonsboro Middle School. Middle School. Her sponsor T.B.C. Home Educators at Honey Creek Middle All Saints Catholic School. His sponsor is is Congress Middle School, Fellowship. Her sponsor is 267 Jessie Shaw of The Herald- School. Her sponsor is His sponsor is the Kiwanis Kansas City. KJRH-TV, Tulsa. The Burley, Idaho, is a 12-year- Mail, Hagerstown. Club of West Palm Beach. Tribune-Star, Terre Haute. old 6th grader at White 275 Samuel T. Paul 283 Christopher James 291 Marlene M. Schaff 251 Naomi I. Castellanos 259 Alex Iyer of San Pine Elementary School. of Collierville, Tennessee, Kiekhaefer of Barbeau, of Lake Forest, Illinois, is a of North Bergen, New Antonio, Texas, is a Her sponsor is the Times- is a 14-year-old 8th Michigan, is a 10-year-old home-schooled 14-year- Jersey, is an 11-year-old 6th 14-year-old 8th grader at News, Twin Falls. grader at Memphis 5th grader at St. Mary’s old 8th grader at Schaff grader at Franklin Elementary Geneva School of Boerne. University School. His Elementary School. His Family Homeschool. School. Her sponsor is the His sponsor is the San sponsor is The Commercial sponsor is the Upper Her sponsor is Schaff Hudson County Office of Antonio Express-News. Appeal, Memphis. Peninsula Spelling Bee Family Homeschool, Cultural and Heritage Affairs, Collaborative, Iron Mountain. Lake Forest. Jersey City. 34 35 Leadership and Year-Round Staff Officials and College Crew Officials Dr. Jacques A. Bailly Mary Brooks Dr. Ed Low Paige Kimble Pronouncer Head Judge Judge Executive Director Laurie Morris Dr. Bailly is the 1980 Mrs. Brooks is a retired West Dr. Low is a Professor Paige is the 1981 national champion and the Editorial Specialist national champion, Des Moines, Iowa, educator. Emeritus of English at the 1980 runner-up, representing the El Paso Laurie works full-time for the program representing the Rocky She has served the program Metropolitan State University Herald-Post. She has served the program from The E.W. Scripps Company’s Mountain News. He is in various capacities for the of Denver. This is Dr. Low’s an associate professor of classics at the past 46 years, including 30 years as a judge 25th year as a judge. He has also served as the in various capacities for the past 34 years, corporate office. This is her fifth year on University of Vermont. This is his 15th year and five years as co-director. Head Judge for the Colorado State Spelling including 20 years as executive director. the Bee team. as pronouncer after having served 12 years Bee for 27 years. Corrie Loeffler as associate pronouncer. Blake Giddens Director, Editorial Judge George Thampy Dr. Brian M. Sietsema Judge Corrie is serving her 11th year on the Tyler Hyde Mr. Giddens is the 1983 Associate Pronouncer Bee’s full-time staff after having served five Communications Specialist national champion, Mr. Thampy is the 2000 Dr. Sietsema is an ordained representing the El Paso national champion, years on crew and one year on staff. She Tyler works full-time for the program priest of the Greek Orthodox Herald-Post. He is a representing the St. Louis represented the Merced Sun-Star in from The E.W. Scripps Company’s Archdiocese of America and professional engineer for a civil engineering Post-Dispatch. He is a the 1994, 1995 and 1996 national finals, corporate office. This is her third year serves parishes in Lansing firm in Fairfax, Virginia. This is his 17th year second-year MBA student at the Stanford tying for sixth place in 1995. on the Bee team. and Marquette, Michigan. After receiving a as a judge after having served five years as Graduate School of Business in Palo Alto, doctorate in linguistics in 1989, he was the auxiliary judge and four years on staff. California. This is Mr. Thampy’s sixth year as pronunciation editor for Merriam-Webster judge after having served six years on staff. from 1990 to 1998. This is Dr. Sietsema’s Cybelle Weeks Maggie Nobes Sears 15th year as associate pronouncer. Program Manager, Operations Editorial Coordinator Cybelle works full-time for the program Maggie works full-time for the program from The E.W. Scripps Company’s from The E.W. Scripps Company’s College Crew corporate office. This is her 20th year corporate office. This is her third year Liza Buck Gabe DeFreitas Maggie Murphy on the Bee team. on the Bee team. College Crew College Crew College Crew Liza is an undergraduate Gabe is an undergraduate Maggie is an undergraduate student at Husson University student at Columbia University student at SUNY Purchase in Bangor, Maine. in New York City, New York. College in Westchester, Beth Hecquet Molly Duerré He represented The Blade in New York. Program Manager, Events Editorial Coordinator Clay Campbell the 2011 national finals. Beth works full-time for the program Molly works full-time for the program College Crew Rob Palmisano from The E.W. Scripps Company’s from The E.W. Scripps Company’s Clay is an undergraduate Jacob Elser College Crew corporate office. This is her third year corporate office. This is her second year student at Vanderbilt College Crew Rob is an undergraduate student on the Bee team. on the Bee team. University in Nashville, Jacob is an undergraduate at Duke University in Durham, Tennessee. He represented student at the University of North Carolina. He represented WCPO 9 On Your Side in the Notre Dame in South Bend, Learn It Systems in the 2010 2011 national finals. Indiana. He represented the and 2011 national finals. Nicole Dittoe Brittney Santiago Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Local Sponsorship Manager Administrative Assistant Matthew Cecil in the 2011 national finals. Sukanya Roy College Crew College Crew Nicole works full-time for the program Brittney works full-time for the program Matthew is an undergraduate Samuel Haynes Sukanya is an undergraduate from The E.W. Scripps Company’s from The E.W. Scripps Company’s student at the University College Crew student at Brown University in corporate office. This is her seventh year corporate office. This is her second year of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Samuel is an undergraduate Providence, Rhode Island. She on the Bee team. on the Bee team. Ohio. He represented the student at Harper College in is the 2011 national champion, Educational Service Center Palatine, Illinois. representing the Times Leader of Lorain County in the 2011 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The E.W. Scripps Company national finals. Jordan Hoffman Darryl Porter College Crew Madisyn Steinberg Lead Business Analyst Jerry Cortez Jordan is an undergraduate College Crew Darryl works full-time for the program Rich Boehne College Crew student at Belmont Madisyn is an undergraduate from The E.W. Scripps Company’s Rich is president, chairman Jerry is an undergraduate University in Nashville, student at the University of corporate office. This is his fourth year and chief executive officer student at the University Tennessee. She represented Delaware in Newark, Delaware. on the Bee team. of The E.W. Scripps Company. of California, Berkeley, in The Examiner in the 2010 Berkeley, California. He and 2011 national finals, and Joanna Ye represented Los Angeles in the Jackson County Spelling College Crew the 2010 national finals. Bee Collaborative in 2012. Joanna is an undergraduate Justin Nethers student at Johns Hopkins Lead Business Analyst Julia Koltas University in Baltimore, Justin works full-time for the program Lisa Knutson College Crew Maryland. She represented from The E.W. Scripps Company’s Lisa is senior vice president and Julia is an undergraduate WITF: Public Media for Central corporate office. This is his second year chief administrative office of student at Carnegie Pennsylvania in the 2010 and Mellon University in 2011 national finals. on the Bee team. The E.W. Scripps Company. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 36 37 Bee Week Staff

Jamal Andress Paul Gilman Vagelis “V” Kontopos Kevin Moch Paul Riccobene Barrie Trinkle Photographer Stage Manager Production Staff Production Staff Production Staff Production Staff Jamal is a reporter and Paul is director of V is a senior director of Kevin is a Ph.D. candidate Paul is a network architect Barrie is a free-lance producer for Newsy in application development for compensation and health in Classics at the University for The E.W. Scripps editor in Chapel Hill, Chicago, Illinois. The E.W. Scripps Company and welfare benefits for of California, Berkeley. He Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. North Carolina. She is the in Cincinnati, Ohio. The E.W. Scripps Company represented North Dakota 1973 national champion, Mark Bowen in Cincinnati, Ohio. in the 2001 and 2002 Rebecca Riegelsberger representing the Fort Photographer Kristin Hawkins national finals, tying for Production Staff Worth Press in Fort Mark is a professional Production Staff Sathya Kothandram third place in 2002. Rebecca is vice president Worth, Texas. free-lance photographer Kristin graduated from the Production Staff of tax for The E.W. Scripps and visual content provider University of Virginia in Sathya is a director of Linda Morgan Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Jeremy Wejroch with Mark Bowen Media in 2009 and now works software engineering for Production Staff Production Staff Cincinnati, Ohio. in Pakistan. Kristin The E.W. Scripps Company Linda is a program manager Brian Schermerhorn Jeremy is a lead database represented the Loudoun in Cincinnati, Ohio. for The E.W. Scripps Production Staff administrator for The Bryan Brandeberry Times-Mirror in the 1999, Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Brian is an IT program E.W. Scripps Company in Production Staff 2000 and 2001 national Randy Leach manager for The E.W. Cincinnati, Ohio. Bryan is a network security finals, placing Production Staff Bret G. Nealis Scripps Company in analyst for The E.W. Scripps second in 2001. Randy is a lead network Production Staff Cincinnati, Ohio. Kari Wethington Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. engineer for The E.W. Bret is a software engineer Production Staff Clinton Hess Scripps Company in for CinApps, Inc., in Mario Sevilla Kari is director of external Amanda Daniels Production Staff Cincinnati, Ohio. Mason, Ohio. Production Staff communications for The Production Staff Clinton is director of IT Mario is digital E.W. Scripps Company in Amanda is a creative planning and analysis for Chip Mahaney Bridget Nealis director for KGTV in Cincinnati, Ohio. Production Staff Production Staff coordinator for The E.W. The E.W. Scripps Company San Diego, California. Scripps Company in in Cincinnati, Ohio. Chip is news director Bridget is an associate Kim Wildenmann Production Staff Portland, Oregon. at WCPO-TV, The E.W. wealth management Kavya Shivashankar Robyn Hildal Scripps Company’s flagship advisor for Northwestern Production Staff Kim is digital promotions Mike Epstein Media Desk Manager station in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mutual in West Kavya recently graduated and contesting manager for Production Staff Robyn is vice president of Chester, Ohio. from Columbia University. The E.W. Scripps Company Vince Marciano Mike is senior director talent and diversity for The She is the 2009 national in Cincinnati, Ohio. Production Staff Malorie Nealis of risk management and E.W. Scripps Company in champion, representing Production Staff Kirsty Winner business continuity for The Cincinnati, Ohio. Vince is general manager of the Olathe News in Production Staff E.W. Scripps Company in United Feature Syndicate, Malorie Nealis works on the Olathe, Kansas. Cincinnati, Ohio. Arielle Kass part of The E.W. Scripps campus field staff for Cru at Kirsty is internal Production Staff Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Ohio State University Alyssa Smith communications manager for Rich Estok Arielle is a reporter for in Columbus, Ohio. Production Staff The E.W. Scripps Company Production Staff the Atlanta Journal- Valerie Miller Alyssa is senior director in Cincinnati, Ohio. Production Staff Brett Pappas Rich is a senior manager of Constitution in Atlanta, of digital UI/UX for The Production Staff Pam Wise desktop support for The Georgia. Valerie is manager of E.W. Scripps Company in Production Staff E.W. Scripps Company in external communications for Brett is an application Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati, Ohio. Andrea Kilgore The E.W. Scripps Company architect for The E.W. Pam is a program manager Production Staff in Cincinnati, Ohio. Scripps Company in Ryan Smyth for The E.W. Scripps Tom Fox Andrea is a partner at Cincinnati, Ohio. Production Staff Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Production Staff ColorNine, a marketing Sameer Mishra Ryan is a senior manager of consultancy with offices Production Staff Jon Reischel digital sales strategy for The Danyelle Wright Tom is a lead database Production Staff Production Staff administrator for The in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Sameer is an investment E.W. Scripps Company in banking analyst at Morgan Jon is a partner at Cincinnati, Ohio. Danyelle is the employment E.W. Scripps Company in Charlotte, North Carolina. Stanley. He is the 2008 ColorNine, a marketing attorney for The E.W. Cincinnati, Ohio. Mike Klawitter national champion, consultancy with offices David Taylor Scripps Company in Dave Giles Production Staff representing the Journal and in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Production Staff Cincinnati, Ohio. Production Staff Mike is director of Courier in Lafayette, Indiana. Charlotte, North Carolina. David is a desktop support architect for The E.W. Alison Young Dave is vice president, business applications Scripps Company in Production Staff deputy general counsel and for The E.W. Scripps Cincinnati, Ohio. Alison is a senior director chief ethics officer for The Company in in accounting for The E.W. Scripps Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. E.W. Scripps Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati, Ohio. About Scripps The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP) serves audiences and businesses through a growing portfolio of television, radio and digital media brands. Scripps is one of the nation’s largest independent TV station owners, with 33 television stations in 24 markets and a reach of nearly one in five U.S. households. It also owns 34 radio stations in eight markets. Scripps also runs an expanding collection of local and national digital journalism and information businesses, including multi-platform satire and humor brand Cracked, podcast industry leader Midroll Media and over-the-top video news service Newsy. Scripps also produces television shows including “The List” and “The Now,” 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. Founded in 1878, Scripps has held for decades to the motto, “Give light and the people will find their own way.”

The Bee’s Purpose Our purpose is to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, CELEBRATING 90 YEARS learn concepts and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives.

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: 301-965-5571 Speller & Sponsor Desk during Bee Week: 301-965-5570 90 2017 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE

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