Minn. students ace 2nd round of National Spelling Bee
by Madeleine Baran, Minnesota Public RadioST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota's top five spellers aced the second round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee today, with correct spellings of temerity, contrariant, habitus, Buddha, and gazette.
The competition continues this afternoon. Spellers with the most points in the preliminary rounds will advance to the semi-finals tomorrow.
Five Minnesotans have progressed to the preliminary round 2:
• Emma Greenlee, of Fergus Falls (temerity)
• Elise Stahl, of Minneapolis (Buddha)
• Antony Joseph, of North Mankato (contrariant)
• Roshini Asirvatham, of Rochester (gazette)
• Matthew Majerle, of Staples (habitus)
Only one Minnesotan has won the 87-year-old contest. Sean Conley, of Aitkin, won the top prize in 2001 with a correct spelling of the word succedaneum.
This year's competition features the youngest contestant in the history of the spelling bee — six-year-old Lori Anne Madison, of Virginia, who "often studies while swinging upside down or jumping on her trampoline," according to the National Spelling Bee website. Madison correctly spelled dirigible this morning and remains in the running for the top prize.
The final round of the spelling bee will be held on Friday.
UPDATE: All of the Minnesota spellers also passed the 3rd round.
