Two hundred spellers from around the United States and foreign countries packed their bags Saturday with souvenirs and lots of memories as this year's Bee Week came to an end.
The 102 girls and 98 boys represented their sponsoring newspapers at the 61st annual National Spelling Bee.Among the spellers ending a grueling, but fun-filled, week in the nation's capital was Tara Huber, 11, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Victor Huber, Vernal. The sixth-grade student at Vernal Middle School won the Deseret News Spelling Bee April 8 and represented Utah in the national contest.
Tara, who survived five rounds and the first day of national competition Wednesday, finished 38th after misspelling orchestrelle during the sixth round Thursday afternoon.
Bee Week activities continued Friday with sightseeing tours and a visit to the White House.
Climaxing the activities Friday evening was an awards banquet in the Capital Hilton. Cash awards totaling $15,250 were distributed among the winners with the winner receiving $1,500. Tara, among the 108 finishers, received $50.
The national contest is sponsored by Scripps Howard Newspapers. In Utah the program is conducted by the Deseret News in cooperation with the State Office of Education, Utah Education Association and State PTA.