Eva Vega, an eighth-grader at Marvin Ridge Middle School in Charlotte, North Carolina, credits her reading for helping her to be a great speller. After a one-year hiatus, she is returning to the national finals with her winning word — “stramineous.” She tracks the Bee's "word of the week" on Instagram to help with preparation too.

Photo credit: John D. Simmons, The Charlotte Observer

Caleb Xiao raisesd his arms in triumph after spelling "Alhambra" to win the 14th annual USC Upstate Regional Spelling Bee in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Spartanburg Day School seventh-grader was one of 18 students who competed for three hours to determine a winner.

Photo credit: Tim Kimzey, Spartanburg Herald-Journal 

Michael Volkov was eliminated from the Virginian-Pilot spelling bee until another speller's misspelling gave him a second chance. He didn't waste it. He correctly spelled "loculus" to win the Virginia Beach area spelling bee. The 12-year-old from Princess Anne Middle School competed against 58 others in the competition covered by local TV station, WHRO.

Photo credit: Steve Early, Virginian-Pilot

Patrick McCarthy dedicated himself to studying in the past year after finishing third last year in the Washington County spelling bee in Hagerstown, Maryland. The Western Heights Middle School eighth-grader was thrilled when he heard the familiar "vamplate" as his champion word. This was the 39th year for the competition sponsored by Herald-Mail Media. 

Photo credit: Joe Crocetta, Herald-Mail Media

In quick fashion Trinity Catholic School eighth-grader Christopher Hays won the Tallahassee Democrat Big Bend regional spelling bee in just seven rounds against other students from the area. His championship word was "huckster." He will be busy this spring as he prepares for the national finals along with his work for the school musical, Latin club and Brain Bowl. 

Photo credit: Ashley White, Tallahassee Democrat

Preparation paid off for Harini Logan, a fourth-grader at the Montessori School of San Antonio, Texas, when she spelled "vicontiel" and "potto" to win the 65th edition of the San Antonio Express-News Spelling Bee. She had previously studied both words, but was still a bit shocked when she realized she was advancing to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. 

Photo credit: Tom Reel, San Antonio Express-News

Kendal Win, an eighth-grader at Pine Forest Middle School in Fayetteville, North Carolina, endured a marathon battle of 53 rounds to earn a repeat trip to the national finals. Kendal, for whom English is a second language, won with "scherzo." The Fayetteville Observer and the Cumberland County Public Library sponsored the event.

The teachers were able to gather students to participat in the spelling bee and volunteers to help out. It has brought the teachers and the students closer together. We had the best time watching our students compete. They were nervous, but many pushed through the anxiety. It has also created a new love for this event by our staff and students. We are so appreciative of this experience.