Saturday morning, more than 70 of the best spellers from Nebraska and western Iowa will compete for a trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May in Washington, D.C.
The 89th Omaha World-Herald Midwest Spelling Bee got under way at 9 a.m. Saturday in the Omaha Public Schools’ Teachers Administration Center auditorium, located at 3230 Burt St.
Oral rounds began at 11:30 a.m. Saturday with seven spellers remaining. Stephanie Lewis, an eighth grader from Omaha, claimed the title.
WATCH: Catch the livestream right here
All students competing Saturday are fifth- through eighth-graders who have won their respective county and school district spelling bees. In addition to advancing to the national spelling bee competition May 27-June 1, Lewis receives:
- an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the national bee
- a cash prize
- Webster’s Third New International Dictionary
- a 2018 U.S. proof mint set
- a one-year subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica Online Premium
RELATED: Omaha World-Herald photo gallery of previous winners
Dr. Charles Johanningsmeier from the University of Nebraska at Omaha was the enunciator at Saturday's competition.
