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Scripps National Spelling Bee begins

Scripps National Spelling Bee

Many of the nation’s best spellers are in the Washington, D.C. area this week. They are the 281 students taking part in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, including Ted Tobias who won the Lafayette regional competition.

The 8th grader from Kankakee Valley Middle School in Wheatfield says some of his favorite words to spell are Japanese.

“Because they’re usually short and follow rules,” he says. “The English language – we don’t follow any rules. We always have exceptions.”

Competing in spelling bees is something new for him. The first one he entered was last year during 7th grade.

“I really had no intention of doing it at all. It just sort of happened. I decided – what the heck! Why not?”

He came in second place during that first attempt. Ted says that made him determined to win it this year. He won the regional spelling bee sponsored by the Journal & Courier newspaper in February.

Prizes range from a $100 gift card for every speller in the preliminary round to more than $34,000 in cash and prizes for the winner.

Ted says he’s memorized the Round Two and Three word lists – some 1,500 words – but this year spellers also must know the definitions of the Round Two words. He’s not sure how far he’ll get in the national competition, but says he wants to win.

The national bee runs through Thursday, May 30.