The 75th
Scripps National Spelling Bee
The Scripps National Spelling Bee (formerly the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee and commonly called the National Spelling Bee) is an annual spelling bee held in the United States. The bee is run on a not-for-profit basis by The E. W. Scri ...
was held in
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
on May 29–30, 2002, sponsored by the
E.W. Scripps Company
The E. W. Scripps Company is an American broadcasting company founded in 1878 as a chain of daily newspapers by Edward Willis "E. W." Scripps and his sister, Ellen Browning Scripps. It was also formerly a media conglomerate. The company is he ...
.
250 contestants participated in the competition. Thirteen-year-old
Pratyush Buddiga
Pratyush Buddiga (born May 11, 1989) is a former American professional poker player and spelling bee champion originally from New Zealand.
Early life
Buddiga was born in New Zealand and moved to the United States when he was five years old. Two ...
, from
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a home rule municipality in, and the county seat of, El Paso County, Colorado, United States. It is the largest city in El Paso County, with a population of 478,961 at the 2020 United States Census, a 15.02% increase since ...
won the competition in the 11th round by correctly spelling the word "prospicience".
[(30 May 2002)]
13-year-old speller from Colorado Springs wins Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee
Scripps press release, via archive.org Steven Matthew Nalley of
Starkville, Mississippi
Starkville is a city in, and the county seat of, Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States. Mississippi State University is a land-grant institution and is located partially in Starkville but primarily in an adjacent unincorporated area desig ...
placed second.
This was the first year that a written test was used as a part of the competition, in order to keep the competition to two days. A three-day format was used for the first time
the prior year. After making it through a first round of oral spelling on day one (where 75 spellers fell out), spellers had to take a 25-word written test which was considered round two.
[Phinney, David (20 May 2002)]
Maine girl heads for spelling bee finals
''Bangor Daily News'' Ninety spellers made it to the second and final day of the bee.
[Toppo, Greg (31 May 2002)]
How do you spell winner? P-r-o-s-p-i-c-i-e-n-c-e
''Free Lance Star'' (Associated Press
The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspa ...
)[MacPherson, Karen (31 May 2002)]
'Pisiform' puts local girl out of U.S. spelling bee
''Toledo Blade''
The first place prize was $12,000 (and additional non-cash prizes), and $6,000 for second place.
This was the last year in which
Alex Cameron served as pronouncer, a role he had for over 20 years, since the
1981 bee. After Cameron's death in 2003,
Jacques Bailly became chief pronouncer.
[(25 May 2003)]
Spelling bee pronouncer gets 1st word
''The Columbian''
References
Scripps National Spelling Bee competitions
2002 in Washington, D.C.
2002 in education
May 2002 events in the United States
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