WASHINGTON, D.C.— More than 500 spellers will have a chance to compete for the title of Champion at the 2018 Scripps National Spelling Bee that will take place at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor in Oxon Hill Maryland, near Washington, D.C. May 29-31.
This record number of spellers, 516, is a result of the introduction of RSVBee, an invitational program that has created more opportunities for champion spellers to compete in the national finals. The Bee invited 238 qualified spellers through RSVBee.
Sponsors of regional bees wrapped up their local events in April, with 278 local champions qualifying for the national finals.
The Bahamas is being represented by its champion, Johnathan Randall, a 12-year-old Central Eleuthera High School student, who emerged as the winner of The Bahamas National Spelling Bee Championships held at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, Sunday, March 18.
Sponsored by the Nassau Guardian, Johnathan is Speller No 455. On the Scripps National Spelling Bee website featuring all the contestants, he says his favourite subject is math, his favourite food is lobster fettuccine and his favourite sport is fishing.
“Bee Week is a special experience that challenges the mind and warms the heart,” said Paige Kimble, executive director of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, in a press release earlier today (May 22). “To welcome more spellers than ever to compete exemplifies the evolution of our program and the vast interest from families across the country. With RSVBee, we are leveling the playing field for national finals qualification and providing more opportunities for students to experience all the thrills, friendships and memories that come from the event.”
To qualify for RSVBee, spellers had to win their school spelling bee or be a former national finalist and attend a school enrolled in the Bee program. Parents applied on behalf of their child and paid a $750 participation fee to accept an invitation.
(Video courtesy of ZNS Bahamas)
ABOUT THE 2018 SPELLERS
The 516 spellers registered for the 2018 Bee come from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Department of Defense Schools in Europe and eight other countries: The Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
The spellers range in age from 8 to 15. For the first time, there are two sets of identical twins competing.
A total of 113 spellers have previous experience competing in the national finals. Forty-five spellers have relatives who previously participated in a combined 99 Scripps National Spelling Bees, including Atman Balakrishnan, a sixth-grader from Chicago, whose father, Balu Natarajan, is the 1985 Champion.
BEE WEEK SCHEDULE
After registering on Sunday, May 27, all spellers and their families will enjoy a Memorial Day picnic and Opening Ceremony on Monday, May 28. The Preliminaries Test will take place the morning of Tuesday, May 29, followed immediately by onstage spelling for Round Two.
Students who spell correctly in Round Two will advance to Round Three on Wednesday, May 30.
Scores tabulated from the Preliminaries will determine the no-more-than 50 spellers who advance to the Finals on Thursday, May 31. The Bee will crown the Champion(s) from the dozen or so spellers who advance to the Thursday night Finals, broadcast live, on ESPN
