Erin Howard, Speller 98 and an Alabama seventh grader, is out on "funest," meaning portending death or evil : fatal, dire, doleful.
Dr. Bailly read, "As the speller saw the funest movement of the judge’s hand toward the bell, she decided to use the opportunity to thank all the little people who got her where she is today."
"I feel this may be a piece of advice," Erin said before she spelled."
Two years ago, she tied for 22nd place. Last year, she tied for seventh.
When she's not spelling, Erin likes to write electronic music. She also enjoys Broadway shows like Newsies and Dear Evan Hansen.
She'll be taking travel writing classes this summer at Vanderbilt University and hopes to travel somewhere cold.
Erin got serious about spelling after she misspelled “tassel” in her fourth grade spelling bee. The next year, she made it to the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Now, she said, it's almost old hat – almost.
“I'm a lot less nervous,” Erin said. “Quite a bit less nervous.”
Erin also convinced her Huntsville, Ala. school board to make sure there were sponsors for every school in the district, so more people would have an opportunity to spell like she did.
