While Mississippi’s two representatives in the Scripps National Spelling Bee gave it their all, the spellers came up short before the final round.
David Heyman, who just completed his seventh grade year at Caledonia Middle School, misspelled the word “oppidan” during the first round of the bee. Heyman spelled it “a-p-p-i-d-u-n.”
Azariah Green, a rising eighth-grader at Hernando Middle School in Desoto County, cruised through the first two rounds but was eliminated in round three by the word “gressorial,” spelling it “g-r-e-s-o-r-i-a-l.”
Lois Kappler, executive director for the C Spire Foundation Mississippi Spelling Bee, said both spellers went into the week well-prepared.
“Unfortunately, the words are often new to the spellers, and nerves play a part of being on a big televised stage,” she said in a press release to The Dispatch. “I’m very proud of them for their determination, word knowledge and great attitudes. They are champions; very few people make it to the Scripps stage to compete!”
Heyman and Green tied for the title of Mississippi’s spelling champion at the statewide spelling bee in Columbus at the beginning of March.
Green had competed at the state level once before in 2022, but both he and Heyman were competing on the national stage for the first time.
Heyman said it was an honor to make it as far as he did.
“It’s important to set realistic study goals and stick to them for this level of competition,” he said. “Thank you to the C Spire Foundation for sponsoring me!”
Green said he enjoyed the Bee Week festivities in Maryland, which included special events, educational workshops and excursions into Washington, D.C.
“I’ve won 11 previous bees over the last few years that have helped me get here,” he said. “It’s been a fun week to enjoy with my family, and I appreciate all who supported the Bee!”
Out of the 245 spellers, Kappler said more than 60 had previously competed at the national level.
“The experience and knowledge a speller gains from repeated appearances is phenomenal, and it prepares them further for the next competition,” she said. “Both Azariah and Davis have one more year of Bee eligibility, and I look forward to watching them return to Bee Week next year if they choose to continue in spelling bees.”
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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