Among 281 spellers at the Scripps National Spelling Bee was Devina Singh, winner of the 59th annual Regional Spelling Bee presented by The Republican-Herald.
Singh, 13, of Frackville, advanced to round three on Wednesday at the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, outside Washington, D.C., but was eliminated.
She misspelled the word Jacobin, a political extremist or radical, with an "e" rather than "i."
Round three began at 1:15 on Wednesday with 257 spellers, but only 179 spellers remained.
Singh, speller No. 213, competed against 281 spellers ages 8 to 15 from around the world, according to the Scripps National Spelling Bee website, www.spellingbee.com.
Twenty-four spellers were eliminated in round two on Wednesday, leaving 257 spellers left to compete in round three.
Spellers took a preliminary computer-based test for round one on Tuesday. The test required competitors to spell 24 words and answer 24 multiple-choice vocabulary questions. Singh said she didn't think it was that rough.
The results of the test are used after a speller successfully completes round three, which Singh did not. If the speller successfully completes round three of preliminaries, this score is used to decide if they will make it to the semifinals.
Spellers were given tips at an assembly on Tuesday evening by Jacques Bailly, the official pronouncer and former winner of the National Spelling Bee. He encouraged spellers to ask to have the words used in a sentence.
At the end of the assembly, Chris Kemper, communications and public relations manager for E.W. Scripps, announced that all 281 spellers would receive a Microsoft Surface Tablet from one of the new spelling bee sponsors, Microsoft. This is the first time prizes have been given out at the assembly. Singh said she was thrilled to receive her new tablet.
The 59th annual Regional Spelling Bee was held March 1 at Blue Mountain High School. A send-off parade was thrown for Singh on Sunday before she left for Washington, D.C.
Singh said she was excited to meet new people and see new places at nationals.
