ShareThisFun facts about the Scripps National Spelling Bee:
MYTHBUSTER
Five of the six most recent national champions were public school students.
HOME SCHOOL SUCCESS
Two champions -- Rebecca Sealfon (1997) and George Thampy (2000) -- were home-schoolers at the time of their championships. Sean Conley (2001) attended private school during the year of his championship, but in previous years had received his education at home. Evan O'Dorney (2007) was a charter school student who received much of his education at home.
INFO BOX
2010 Scripps National Spelling Bee
Where: Washington, D.C.
Who: 273 of the nation's top spellers, winners of local competitions.
Broadcast times:
-- Thursday, June 3, 1:15 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., ESPN3.com
-- Friday, June 4, semifinals, 10 a.m., ESPN; finals, 8 p.m., ABC
Top prize: Trophy and $30,000 in cash from Scripps; $2,500 U.S. savings bond and reference library from Merriam-Webster; a $5,000 scholarship from Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation, and $2,700 in reference works and software from Encyclopaedia Brittanica.
On the web: www.spellingbee.com
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
Daily feature until start of Scripps National Spelling Bee June 2
