CINCINNATI — Six Tri-State area students are preparing to “bee” in the national s-p-o-t-l-i-g-h-t.
Four students from southwest Ohio and two from northern Kentucky are among the 565 spellers competing for a $50,000 cash prize, the largest cash prize in Bee history. The champion will also take home a newly-designed trophy, the Scripps Cup, created by Cincinnati’s Rookwood Pottery Company.
RELATED: Record number of spellers, how to watch and more
The trophy will be unveiled during Bee Week which begins Sunday in National Harbor, Maryland.
Meet the local participants
Henry Campbell, 13
- Speller No. 380
- From: Fort Thomas, Kentucky
- Sponsor: WCPO 9 On Your Side
- School: Highlands Middle School
Sebastian Castilla, 13
- Speller No. 389
- From: Cincinnati
- Sponsor: WCPO 9 On Your Side
- School: The Schilling School for Gifted Children
Sheridan Hennessy, 13
- Speller No. 449
- From: Cincinnati
- School: Walnut Hills High School
Kolton Manuel, 10
- Speller No. 360
- From: Morrow, Ohio
- School: Salem Township Elementary School
Noah Paticoff, 10
- Speller No. 357
- From: Loveland, Ohio
- School: Symmes Elementary School
Tyler Turnpaugh, 12
- Speller No. 224
- From: Edgewood, Kentucky
- School: St. Pius X School
More about the spellers
This year’s spelling competition is the 92nd Scripps National Spelling Bee. There are 270 girls and 295 boys spelling this year. The spellers range in age from 7 to 15. Thirteen-year-olds make up nearly 30% of the spellers, 14-year-olds make up about 23% and 12-year-olds make up about 22%.
There is one 7-year-old speller competing.
There are nine sets of siblings competing including two sets of twins. Out of the 565 spellers, 163 have experience competing in the national finals.
Click here to meet all the spellers
Locally sponsored programs, including the 2019 WCPO 9 On Your Side/Scripps Regional Spelling Bee, held regional competitions in February and March. RSVBee applicants accepted invitations to join the regional winners at the national finals in early April.
READ MORE: Scripps National Spelling Bee announces changes, new opportunities through RSVBee
Students eligible for RSVBee must attend a school that is enrolled in the Scripps National Spelling Bee program and be a school or community spelling champion. Students who previously competed in the national finals are eligible to apply as well.
When to watch
The competition begins Monday, May 27, with the Preliminaries Test.
The onstage competition begins Tuesday, May 28, with coverage provided by ESPN and its family channels. See the full coverage plan below:
Tuesday, May 28
- Round Two and the beginning of Round Three
- 9:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- ESPN3 and the ESPN App
Wednesday, May 29
- Round Three continues
- 8 a.m. to about 4:30 p.m.
- ESPN3 and the ESPN App
- The announcement of Finalists is at about 4:45 p.m.
Thursday, May 30
- Finals begin at 10 a.m. and run until about 2 p.m.
- Live on ESPN2, livestream on the ESPN App and play along on ESPNU
After a break Thursday, May 30:
- Primetime Finals continue
- 8:30 p.m. 10:30 p.m.
- Live on ESPN, livestream on the ESPN App and play along on ESPNU
