2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee

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2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee

2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee

Sam Lowery, of Charlestown, Mass., spells his word in the air during round two.

Alex Howe, 9, of Victorville, Calif, , right, yawns next to Sam T.E. Nitz, 13, of Costa Mesa, Calif., as they compete in the National Spelling Bee.

Pranav Sivakumar, 12, of Tower Lakes, Ill., spells his word.

Naomi Li, 14, of Center Valley, Pa. thinks hard about how to spell her word.

Dylan Bird, 13, of Pebble Beach, Calif., listens to fellow spellers during the National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in Oxon Hill, Md.

Kitty Shortt of Clinton, Connecticut, competes. Contestants range in age from 6 to 15 years old.

Emily McGraw of Lafayette, La., reacts as her word is read.

Nejat Alkadir og High Point, North Carolina, competes at the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor, Maryland, Wednesday, May 30, 2012.

Nick Lambert of Concord, Calif. spells his word in the air during the second round.

Lena Greenberg, of Philadelphia thinks about her word during the second round. 84 percent of the spellers are ages 12 to 14.

Michael Reiner of Wellsville, Ohio, flashes a big grin after correctly spelling "fete" at the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor, Maryland, Wednesday, May 30, 2012.

Parents take photographs of their children before the start of the second round.

Eboseremhen Eigbe, of Galloway, N.J., yawns during the second round. 278 American and international spellers are competing from May 29 to May 31.

Lori Anne Madison, 6, of Woodbridge, Va., takes her seat as the youngest speller in the National Spelling Bee, before competing in the Bee in Oxon Hill, Md., Wednesday, May 30, 2012.

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Sam Lowery, of Charlestown, Mass., spells his word in the air during round two.

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