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In this June 14, 1973, file photo, Barrie Trinkle, 13, of Ft. Worth, Texas, reacts as she wins the 46th Annual National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. She spelled "onomastica" to eliminate her last competitor and spelled "vouchsafe" to clinch the title. Bob Daugherty, File, Associated Press
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In this June 1, 2000, file photo, George Abraham Thampy, 12, right, of Maryland Heights, Mo. is presented with the National Spelling Bee trophy by Scripps-Howard President and Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Lowe. Thampy correctly spelled "demarche" to Hillery Smith Garrison, File, Associated Press
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In this June 8, 1972, file photo, Robin Kral, 14, of Lubbock, Texas, left, holds his trophy after winning the 1972 National Spelling Bee in Washington. He out-spelled Lauren Pringle, 13, right, of Buffalo, N.Y., to win the title. File, Associated Press
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In this Thursday, May 30, 2013, file photo, Arvind Mahankali, 13, of Bayside Hills, N.Y., watches as confetti falls after he won the National Spelling Bee by spelling the word "knaidel" correctly in Oxon Hill, Md. Evan Vucci, File, Associated Press
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In this May 28, 1992, file photo, Amanda Goad, 13, of Richmond, Va., winner of the 65th Annual Scripps-Howard Spelling Bee, holds up her trophy after winning by correctly spelling "lyceum" to beat 226 other competitors in Washington. Doug Mills, File, Associated Press
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In this May 2, 1980, file photo, Jacques Bailly of Denver Colo., poses for a photo after winning the National Spelling Bee competition in Washington. He correctly spelling the word "elucubrate". File, Associated Press
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In this June 3, 1999 file photo Nupur Lala, 14, from Tampa, Fla. reacts upon winning the 72nd annual National Spelling Bee in Washington after correctly spelling "logorrhea." Ron Edmonds, File, Associated Press
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In this June 1, 2006, file photo, Katharine Close, of Spring Lake, N.J., reacts to winning the 2006 National Spelling Bee in Washington. On Thursday, May 29, 2014, Sriram Hathwar of Painted Post, N.Y, and Ansun Sujoe of Fort Worth, Texas, were declared th Lawrence Jackson, File, Associated Press
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In this June 10, 1971, file photo Jonathan P. Knisely,12, of Mullica Hills, N.J., holds his winner's trophy high after winning the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. On May 29, 2014, Sriram Hathwar of Painted Post, N.Y., and Ansun Sujoe of Fort Wo Bob Daugherty, File, Associated Press
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In this Thursday, May 29, 1997, file photo, Rebecca Sealfon, 13, of Brooklyn, N.Y., reacts after winning the 70th annual National Spelling Bee in Washington. Sealfon won by correctly spelling the word "euonym". Ron Edmonds, File, Associated Press
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In this June 1, 1989, file photo, Scott Isaaca from Littleton, Colo., reacts when he is declared the winner of the National Spelling Bee in Washington. The 14-year-old outlasted 220 other contestants to win the contest. Rick Bowmer, File, Associated Press
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In this Thursday, May 31, 2012, file photo, Snigdha Nandipati, right, 14, of San Diego, reacts with her grandfather, Mallikarjanrao Chalavadi, from India, after winning the National Spelling Bee with the word "guetapens" in Oxon Hill, Md. Alex Brandon, File, Associated Press
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In this June 3, 1993 file photo, Geoff Hooper or Arlington, Tenn., holds his trophy after correctly spelling "kamikaze" and winning the 66th annual National Spelling Bee in Washington. Sriram Hathwar of Painted Post, New York, and Ansun Sujoe of Fort Wort J. Scott Applewhite, File, Associated Press
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In this June 3, 2004, file photo, Scripps-Howard President and Chief Executive Kenneth Lowe, left, presents David Tidmarsh, 14, of South Bend, Ind. with the winner's trophy after Tidmarsh won the National Spelling Bee, in Washington. Tidmarsh's mother Jan Linda Spillers, File, Associated Press
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In this Thursday, May 28, 1998, file photo, Jody-Anne Maxwell, 12, of Ardenne High School in Kingston, Jamaica, flanked by her mother Shirley, left, and coach Rev. Glen O.J. Archer, holds her trophy after winning the 71st annual National Spelling Bee in W Ron Edmonds, File, Associated Press
By Associated Press

Unbridled jubilation. That's the emotion most displayed when champions are crowned for the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Some will raise their trophies high in the air. Others will cover their mouths in shock. Still more will bow their heads in disbelief. One literally leaped for joy.

Here are four decades worth of images chronicling reactions to being the best speller in the land.

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