Spelling Champion Prepares for Next Year

From an article in the Bloomington Pantagraph Newspaper:
Off For a Spell, He's Back
By Mike Frazier
SPRINGFIELD - Max Nelson isn't wasting any time preparing for next year's Scripps National Spelling Bee."I took a break for a week or so," said the 12-year-old Bloomington Junior High School student, who recently returned from competing in Washington, D.C. "But it's about time to start studying again. I want to do well next year."
Max joined top young spellers from across the state last week during a ceremony hosted by Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield. Lincoln taught himself to spell by candlelight, and he no doubt would be proud of the young spellers' accomplishments, Quinn said."Proficiency in spelling lays the foundation for a strong education," Quinn said. "We believe that readers are leaders in Illinois. If you're going to be a good reader, you have to be a good speller. "Spelling bees require diligence, determination and grace under pressure, Quinn said.
Max was able to spell uncommon words such as "upas," a poisonous Asian tree, before being eliminated in Washington, D.C.He had no problem spelling "minimum" for Quinn on Tuesday. Max was sponsored by the Pantagraph as he faced 274 top spellers from across the nation and beyond. He won the Pantagraph/Busey Bank grand final spelling bee in March to advance to the national bee.In the nation's capital, Max spelled rarely used words, including "lycanthropy," "Erewhonian," "basmati" and "oeillade." Words became increasingly tough with terms such as "sprachgefuhl," a German word meaning the character or feel of a language, ending the written test.Max's combined score from his written and oral performance was not high enough to advance to the bee's third round.
Max thanked the Pantagraph, his family, friends and school for their support. A supportive family and community are important for a child's education, Quinn said. Quinn said the spellers displayed an attitude of gratitude."They understand that their tremendous achievements are based on help from their parents, from their brothers and sisters, from their teachers, from their principals, from the entire community," Quinn said.
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