07-03-2025
100 students to face off in North Dakota Spelling Bee
Mar. 6—BISMARCK — Accomplished spellers will soon gather in Bismarck for the 2025 North Dakota State Spelling Bee.
One hundred students representing 50 of the state's 53 counties will take part in the event Monday, March 17, at the Bismarck Event Center, with a chance at qualifying for the national competition in the nation's capital.
Spellers begin the day with a written test of 50 spelling words and 20 vocabulary questions, according to a news release from the North Dakota Newspaper Association, an event sponsor.
Once tests are scored, 25 finalists advance to the oral spelldown session in the afternoon, which continues until a champion is declared.
The state champion travels to Washington, D.C., for the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee, held May 27-29. It will be the 100th anniversary of the competition.
Hotel, airfare and other travel expenses for the champion and a guest are the grand prize of the North Dakota State Spelling Bee.
The program administrator and host of the state competition is the North Dakota Association of County Superintendents.
"This year's competitors range from fourth through eighth grade, with 24 of them returning for at least their second appearance at the State Bee, said Miranda Streifel, NDACS Spelling Bee director.
