USF to host Scripps Spelling Bee

By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing

As announcer of the upcoming Regional Scripps Spelling Bee at the University of South Florida, Lindsay Persohn’s official duties include delivering the definition of each word, its origin and how the word is used.

But the assistant professor of literacy at USF’s Sarasota-Manatee campus has given herself one additional, self‑imposed goal: She doesn’t want to stand out during the competition that will determine who from the Tampa Bay area will advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., held during the week of Memorial Day.

“This isn’t about me,” Persohn said. “So not standing out even includes what I will be wearing. I won’t dress in anything flashy or distracting. I don’t want any eyes on me.”

Bad news for Persohn: If competitors follow the advice of a recent Scripps National Spelling Bee champion, lots of eyes will be fixed on her.

“The best way for a competitor to calm their nerves is by focusing on the announcer,” said Bruhat Soma, a Tampa resident who won the 2024 national championship at age 12. “Don’t focus on the crowd or the cameras. Focus on the pronouncer, ask for the information you need and keep the word in your head.”

Putting the focus on the students

But Persohn is still correct: This is all about the kids — approximately 60 Tampa Bay area students in kindergarten through eighth grade competing in the regionals, held for the first time at USF.

“The College of Education is thrilled to host the Regional Scripps Spelling Bee at USF for the first time, marking a proud moment for both our college and the university,” said Jenifer Jasinski Schneider, interim dean of the College of Education. “We’re excited to welcome students and families to campus and be part of an experience that opens doors and inspires lifelong learning.”

For these students, spelling is not just a hobby. It’s their passion. And progressing to the nationals is akin to a child baseball player advancing to the Little League World Series.

“The first time I went up on a stage and was able to show my knowledge, it was a great experience for me,” said Soma, who began competing in other online and in-person spelling bees in second grade. “That was when I decided that I was interested in competitive spelling and would do whatever it took to succeed.”

These spellers have spent countless hours honing their craft, memorizing words, learning the structure of the English language and competing in other spelling bees — all in preparation for the chance to be crowned the best in the nation.

“This is a big deal, and I am proud to be a part of it,” said Persohn, who was selected by the College of Education largely because of her public speaking skills showcased on her Classroom Caffeine podcast, which connects researchers and educators to explore how literacy and education research can inform practice. “For many kids, competition can be motivating, and this is a fun way for students to work on their spelling skills.”

And history suggests the next national champion could emerge from the USF region.

Besides Soma, Tampa’s Dev Shah won the national title in 2023 as a 14‑year‑old.

“We’re excited that USF is on board,” said Bryan Witt, a regional partner relations specialist for Scripps. “The Tampa region has produced multiple champions in the past five years, which is a huge achievement.”

How it works

The Scripps National Spelling Bee is a nationwide academic competition designed to identify the nation’s top speller while giving millions of students exposure to high‑level language learning. The competition is open to students in kindergarten through eighth grade, with all ages competing together.

Each year, roughly 23,000 schools across the United States enroll in the program, allowing students to test their spelling skills through a structured progression. Students advance through several levels — classroom, grade, school and regional — before a champion is crowned.

USF serves as a regional partner for nine counties across the Tampa Bay area, including Charlotte, Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota.

During each round, a participating speller is given a word. The speller may ask for definition, language of origin, part of speech or how to use it in a sentence before spelling it aloud letter by letter. A misspelled word results in elimination, while a correct response allows the speller to advance to the next round or win when no other speller is remaining.

How many spellers advance to the nationals is up to the regional partner. In some years, the partner has agreed to as many as three out of Tampa Bay. This year at USF, there will be one.

“Just believe that you have prepared enough for the moment,” Soma said. “It’s one shot, one opportunity to get it right.”

Advice from champions

To prepare, students receive a list of roughly 4,000 words.

Yes, they can try to memorize them all, but that shouldn’t be their only strategy.

Past winners Soma and Shah focused on absorbing the rules of English — the roots, patterns and structures that help them reason through unfamiliar words.

“He did not memorize words — he learned how the language is put together, every nuance,” said Shah’s father, Deval Shah. “This was not a one‑year thing. It was a super marathon.”

His son, who also began competing in spelling bees in second grade, poured years into preparation, often studying six to 12 hours a day.

“He worked so hard for so long that winning became less about the moment and more about the countless hours no one ever saw,” the father said.

Have fun

But the most important piece of advice, he added, is to enjoy the moment. At some point, every child ages out of the Scripps Spelling Bee, and champions cannot compete again.

“I was always reminding my son that, at the end of the day, if you’re not enjoying yourself up there, you’re missing the best part of the experience,” Deval Shah said. “Dev believed in enjoying and living in the moment no matter what happened.”

And making sure that happens — even during the heat of competition — is the announcing duty that Persohn plans to take most seriously.

“I get to be a cheerleader for the kids — to smile, lighten the mood and shift the energy if things get a little too heavy — because at the end of the day, I hope we can have fun together and enjoy the moment,” Persohn said. “It’s not a bull ring. It’s a spelling bee.”

The Scripps Spelling Bee takes place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14, inside USF’s Oval Theater in the Marshall Student Center.