This year’s victor will take home $40,000 in cash, a trophy and other prizes.
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However, the 13-year-old Alexandria Central School District student said she was already thinking about returning next year.
In the past, 25 words were used for the final round, forcing officials to declare a tie when two competitors correctly spelled all 25 words. He easily spelled “recreant”, which means cowardly, to remain in the competition. Three local spellers survived a grueling written exam and two rounds of on-stage spelling Wednesday to advance to Thursday’s finals.
Lucas was among 284 spelling champs from around the world competing in the 89th annual spelling bee, which has turned into a prime-time event broadcast by ESPN.
“I want to put it on my college application, ” she said.
Charity qualified for the national bee in a 42-round duel with La Venture Middle School’s Grace Cole in the regional spelling bee that ended on the word “fantoccini”.
“I’m feeling a little sad that I didn’t make it, but for the most part I’m happy”, Ariel said in a phone interview after the finalists were announced. She spelled “ungetatable” correctly before moving on to “coulibiac”.
His trip to the bee is sponsored by the Omaha World-Herald.
Out of 285 contestants in the bee, 45 were chosen for the finals based on how well they did on a written spelling and vocabulary test on Tuesday and two preliminary spelling rounds Wednesday.
Still, Naysa has learned a lot from her journey at the bee, said her father, Nayan. The family also plans a stop by some museums later in the week.
Keck, along with students from all 50 states as well as several countries around the world, worked for months and years to become the Bee champion.
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Blackwood told The Gleaner that she was proud that she has made it to the finals of what has been a long and gruelling competition.
