73rd Scripps National Spelling Bee

The 73rd Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Grand Hyatt Washington on May 31 – June 1, 2000, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

73rd Scripps National Spelling Bee
DateMay 31 – June 1, 2000
LocationGrand Hyatt Washington in Washington, D.C.
WinnerGeorge Abraham Thampy
Age12
ResidenceMaryland Heights, Missouri
SponsorSt. Louis Post-Dispatch
Sponsor locationSt. Louis, Missouri
Winning worddemarche
No. of contestants248[1]
PronouncerAlex Cameron
Preceded by72nd Scripps National Spelling Bee
Followed by74th Scripps National Spelling Bee

Twelve-year-old George Abraham Thampy, from Saint Louis, Missouri won the competition by correctly spelling the word "demarche".[2][3][4] Thampy had taken third place in the prior year's bee, and fourth place in the 1998 bee.[4] He also took second place in the National Geography Bee a week before winning the Spelling Bee. Thampy was the second home-schooled student to ever win the Bee.[5] The first was Rebecca Sealfon at the 1997 bee.[6]

Second place went to 12-year old Sean Conley of Newark, California who missed "apotropaic". He went on to win the next year's Bee. Third place went to 14-year old Allison Miller of Niskayuna, New York, who missed "venire".[5]

There were 248 spellers this year. 138 spellers were eliminated in the first day of competition. The first place prize was $10,000, followed by $5000 for second, and $3000 for third place.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Holland, Jesse J. (31 May 2000). Spellers survive first rounds to make it finals, Shawano Leader (Associated Press)
  2. ^ "Champions and Their Winning Words". Archived from the original on 2012-11-17. Retrieved 2015-02-25.
  3. ^ "'Laodicean' and Other Spelling Bee Winning Words - TIME". Time. 29 May 2009.
  4. ^ a b (2 June 2000). George Thampy claims spelling bee crown, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
  5. ^ a b Johnson, Sharon (2 June 2000). 'Xanadu' stops Utahn in national spelling bee - Home-schooled boy from Missouri wins, Desert News
  6. ^ (2 June 2000). H-O-M-E schooling spells a winner, The Washington Times