Alaska Spelling Bee: High Stakes for Young Spellers

0:00It's March 20th in Anchorage, let's get into the news. 75 students from 2nd through 8th grade took part in the Alaska State Spelling Bee in Anchorage on Friday, March 20th. They battled it out for a spot at the Scripps National Competition in Washington, D.C. The event kicked off at 10 a.m. and wrapped up as late as 5 p.m. with rounds testing their spelling skills under pressure. Parents felt the tension too, like one mom watching her 8th grader and adopted Chao from Korea. She hoped the experience would show him strong family support and help him feel fully involved. The top speller earns a $2,000 scholarship placed in an Alaska 529 account, plus that trip to the nation's capital. With such high stakes, it's a big moment for these young spellers, paving the way for their next challenge on the national stage.