NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm still really interested in this because my son competed directly against this champion earlier this year in the NJ finals. He was eliminated in the final round, but it was his first time, after being the champion in his school and coming so close.
This is Catherine Close's fifth time going to the National Bee and her first time winning it. It was also her last chance to compete.

This is a truly sweet victory for her & her family.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13078754/?gt1=8211


She's is from Spring Lake,NJ and I think its great someone from NJ won this year's contest.

It's so sad when they peak so young.

They should have spelling contests in the uk. The only one i ever saw was a bbc televised one, which sucked.

Looks like taking a semester of elementary German would have been helpful for the final round.. neither word would have been difficult then.. good for her though.

Looks like taking a semester of elementary German would have been helpful for the final round.. neither word would have been difficult then.. good for her though.

When I helped my son prepare for the Tri State competition last spring, we got the book they draw the words from and began going over many a day-both the ones he knew and ones he had never heard before.
Sitting and watching the competition, between the pressure of being on stage,speaking into a microphone to an absolutely silent audience-you seem to overthink every word and second guess yourself.
Every word seems to become a trick word.

Its so much more difficult than it seems. I like to see an event like this attract attention and gain interest-as opposed some of the athletic events.
I would rather see more about this and less about lacrosse teams,etc...

"Spellers made it to the finals by winning contests in the 50 states, as well as in American Samoa, the Bahamas, Canada, Europe, Guam, Jamaica, New Zealand, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands."

That's odd, not to mention it's referred to as a "national" spelling bee.

Then again, spelling bees are oddities in and of themselves.

"Weltschmerz" - she failed on that? Hahahah! That's so hilarious for some reason.

Has anyone ever seen the Broadway play "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"?

It's so sad when they peak so young.

Apparently, this girl is consistant in all her studies-I think its safe to assume she will continue her high-achieving scholastics.


The money prize in this is nice, as well as the expenses-paid trip to the capitol, but being able to have National Spelling Bee Champion on your record has got to be great.

Apparently, this girl is consistant in all her studies-I think its safe to assume she will continue her high-achieving scholastics.

Never underestimate puberty.

The money prize in this is nice, as well as the expenses-paid trip to the capitol, but being able to have National Spelling Bee Champion on your record has got to be great.

Yeah, being literate must be quite the impressive merit.

Apparently, this girl is consistant in all her studies-I think its safe to assume she will continue her high-achieving scholastics.


The money prize in this is nice, as well as the expenses-paid trip to the capitol, but being able to have National Spelling Bee Champion on your record has got to be great.

The only problem is you're not expected to make spelling mistakes at school anymore ... :p

"Spellers made it to the finals by winning contests in the 50 states, as well as in American Samoa, the Bahamas, Canada, Europe, Guam, Jamaica, New Zealand, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands."

That's odd, not to mention it's referred to as a "national" spelling bee.

Then again, spelling bees are oddities in and of themselves.

"Weltschmerz" - she failed on that? Hahahah! That's so hilarious for some reason.


I havent seen anything on how contestants from outside the US were selected or what they competed in. I know my son's qualification was that he beat his entire regional school in a Scripps Howard approved competition, then went to the state finals. There wasnt anyone from outside the US at any of these.

Seems like they should be calling it "International", but I for one, would rather see the National contest remain intact and I'm not looking foward to hearing someone from outside the US win the US National Bee.
Just being honest.

When I helped my son prepare for the Tri State competition last spring, we got the book they draw the words from and began going over many a day-both the ones he knew and ones he had never heard before.
Sitting and watching the competition, between the pressure of being on stage,speaking into a microphone to an absolutely silent audience-you seem to overthink every word and second guess yourself.
Every word seems to become a trick word.

Its so much more difficult than it seems. I like to see an event like this attract attention and gain interest-as opposed some of the athletic events.
I would rather see more about this and less about lacrosse teams,etc...

Getting the list ahead of time ruins it for me, though. When I was in school, we were given an unannounced geography test which we later learned placed us for the national geography bee. Long story short, one of my friends and I tied for first place among the finalists and had the option of attending regional finals in Santa Ana.. we both walked when they handed us the question packet. "Here, memorize this over Christmas break." :rolleyes: Not a very appealing idea..

Never underestimate puberty.



Yeah, being literate must be quite the impressive merit.


Any reason you're breaking my balls, or am I just missing a joke?

Getting the list ahead of time ruins it for me, though. When I was in school, we were given an unannounced geography test which we later learned placed us for the national geography bee. Long story short, one of my friends and I tied for first place among the finalists and had the option of attending regional finals in Santa Ana.. we both walked when they handed us the question packet. "He're, memorize this over Christmas break." :rolleyes: Not a very appealing idea..


Its a little more than a list, though. The "Paedia" guide is several thousand words, with origins, pronunciation,etc... The contest isnt strictly limited to this guide's words, but many are from it.

A big part of studying this guide is learning how to sound out and solve spelling on words you may have never heard, by asking their definitions, origins, use in a sentence.

Its not just memorizing a list.

I would love to see more scholastic contests like this in other subjects get the same support and guidance-And attention and interest.

Any reason you're breaking my balls, or am I just missing a joke?

Breaking your balls? I'd never dream nightmares about such a thing. I just find this "spelling bee" phenomenon so perplexing. Especially now that it seems they're given the words in advance.

Breaking your balls? I'd never dream nightmares about such a thing. I just find this "spelling bee" phenomenon so perplexing. Especially now that it seems they're given the words in advance.

I would have guessed that you, for one, would have been somewhat interested in it and not so freaking snyde.

There are many "phenomenon" out there now, I just personally felt this one was worthwhile.

Maybe people are more caught up in the much more important Idol and You Think You Can Dance stupidity.