Scripps National Spelling Bee: A Century-Old Tradition Returns

The Scripps National Spelling Bee is underway, showcasing the talents of young spellers from across the globe. This event has been a cornerstone of educational competitions since its inception in 1925 when the Louisville Courier-Journal encouraged newspapers to host spelling bees and send their winners to Washington.

After many years at a convention center in Maryland, the bee now returns to its roots in the nation’s capital at Constitution Hall, located close to the White House. The event marks its 98th occurrence, having been canceled during World War II and due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The champion of this year’s event will be the 111th, as multiple ties in past years produced champions. One significant tie occurred in 2019 with eight winners.

Adding a fresh face to this year’s event is ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes, now serving as the television host of the bee. This adds a new dimension to its broadcast, which spans numerous Scripps-owned channels and platforms. The preliminary rounds began streaming on Tuesday and proceeded to Wednesday’s quarterfinals and semifinals. The semifinals are also broadcast on ION from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., leading to Thursday’s finals.

Semifinals and finals will be available on Scripps channels such as ION Plus, Bounce, Grit, and others.

The competition rules involve spellers qualifying via regional bees and sponsors across the nation. Competitors must be under 15 and not have surpassed the eighth grade. The event kicks off with preliminary rounds, featuring a spelling and multiple-choice vocabulary test. Successful spellers advance to quarterfinals and semifinals. Around a dozen reach the finals, where a lightning-round tiebreaker, known as a “spell-off,” might be invoked to determine the champion.

This year, a total of 247 spellers are participating from all U.S. states, territories, and countries including the Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Nigeria, and the UAE. Notable competitors include Sarv Dharavane from Georgia, Shrey Parikh from California, Oliver Halkett from Los Angeles, and Esha Marupudi from Arizona, each having shown remarkable spelling prowess.

The prize allocations are substantial, with the champion winning over $50,000 in cash and prizes. Prizes include:

• First place: $52,500 plus reference works, a trophy, and flight credits.
• Second place: $25,000.
• Third place: $15,000.
• Fourth place: $10,000.
• Fifth place: $5,000.
• Sixth place: $2,500.
• All other finalists receive $2,000.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee continues to be a celebration of linguistic skill, bringing together young talent to compete on a prestigious stage.