May 31, 2012
National Spelling Bee finalist Nicholas B. Rushlow is surprised at getting a word.
Mark Gail / THE WASHINGTON POST
May 31, 2012
Lena Greenberg, 14, of Philadelphia reacts after spelling a word correctly in the finals of the National Spelling Bee.
Jacquelyn Martin / AP
May 31, 2012
Speller Lena Greenberg, left, of Philadelphia celebrates with fellow spellers Nicholas Rushlow, right, of Pickerington, Ohio, and Arvind Mahankali, 12, of Bayside Hills, N.Y., after she correctly spelled her word during round 7 of the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee competition.
Alex Wong / GETTY IMAGES
May 31, 2012
Gifton Wright, 14, of Spanish Town, Jamaica, reacts after spelling a word incorrectly and being eliminated during the finals of the National Spelling Bee.
Alex Brandon / AP
May 31, 2012
Arvind Mahankali, 12, of Bayside Hills, N.Y., reacts after spelling a word incorrectly and being eliminated during the finals of the National Spelling Bee.
Alex Brandon / AP
Gifton Wright, 14, of Spanish Town, Jamaica, right,, is congratulated by his fellow contestants after correctly spelling a word in the finals of the National Spelling Bee. Front from left are Snigdha Nandipati, 14, of San Diego, Frank Cahill, 14, of Parker, Colo., and Stuti Mishra, 14, of West Melbourne, Fla.
Jacquelyn Martin / AP
May 31, 2012
National Spelling Bee finalist Emma Ciereszynski reacts as she hears the bell after misspelling her word.
Mark Gail / THE WASHINGTON POST
May 31, 2012
National Spelling Bee finalist Lena Greenberg reacts after missing a word.
Mark Gail / THE WASHINGTON POST
May 31, 2012
National Spelling Bee finalist Frank Cahill high-fives fellow contestants as he enters the stage.
Mark Gail / THE WASHINGTON POST
May 31, 2012
National Spelling Bee finalist Stuti Mishra types out the word in the air as she spells it.
Mark Gail / THE WASHINGTON POST
May 31, 2012
Snigdha Nandipati, 14, of San Diego, center right, is embraced by her brother Sujan Nandipati, 10, after winning the National Spelling Bee with the word "guetapens." At far right is second place winner Stuti Mishra, 14, of West Melbourne, Fla.
Jacquelyn Martin / AP
May 31, 2012
Snigdha Nadipati of San Diego is kissed by her father, Krishna Rao, as her mother, Madhavi, looks on after winning the 2012 National Spelling Bee.
Mark Gail / THE WASHINGTON POST
May 31, 2012
Snigdha Nadipati of San Diego, winner of the 2012 National Spelling Bee, celebrates with her grandfather, Mallikarjuna Rao.
Mark Gail / THE WASHINGTON POST
