During a break due to technical difficulties, contestants Nickan Fayyazi,12, of Woodland Hills, Calif., (left) and Justin K. Chuang,13, of Diamond Bar, Calif., (right) play rock-paper-scissors during the third round of the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., Wednesday, May 30, 2012. This year, 278 spellers from around the United States and all walks of life will compete for the title of 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)
Nejat Alkadir, 13, of High Point, N.C., reacts in her seat after spelling her word, fenestrated, correctly during the preliminary rounds of the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., Wednesday, May 30, 2012. This year, 278 spellers from around the United States and all walks of life will compete for the title of 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)
Family and friends take photos as the contestants take their seats on stage prior to the third round of the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., Wednesday, May 30, 2012. This year, 278 spellers from around the United States and all walks of life will compete for the title of 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)
Six year-old Lori Anne C. Madison of Woodbridge, Va., is joined on stage as ESPN's Samantha Steele appears as a guest speller during the preliminary rounds of the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., Wednesday, May 30, 2012. This year, 278 spellers from around the United States and all walks of life will compete for the title of 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)
Six year-old Lori Anne C. Madison of Woodbridge, Va., is congratulated by her fellow contestants after correctly spelling her word, dirigible, during the preliminary rounds of the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., Wednesday, May 30, 2012. This year, 278 spellers from around the United States and all walks of life will compete for the title of 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)
Six year-old Lori Anne C. Madison of Woodbridge, Va., works on spelling her word during the preliminary rounds of the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., Wednesday, May 30, 2012. This year, 278 spellers from around the United States and all walks of life will compete for the title of 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion. Lori Anne spelled her word, dirigible, correctly. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)
Six year-old Lori Anne C. Madison of Woodbridge, Va., arrives at the mic for her chance to spell her word during the preliminary rounds of the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., Wednesday, May 30, 2012. This year, 278 spellers from around the United States and all walks of life will compete for the title of 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion. Lori Anne spelled her word, dirigible, correctly. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)
Six year-old Lori Anne C. Madison of Woodbridge, Va., works on adjusting the height of the tall microphone during round two of the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., Wednesday, May 30, 2012. This year, 278 spellers from around the United States and all walks of life will compete for the title of 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion. Lori Anne spelled her word, dirigible, correctly. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)
Six year-old Lori Anne C. Madison of Woodbridge, Va., waits on stage for her chance to spell her word during the preliminary rounds of the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., Wednesday, May 30, 2012. This year, 278 spellers from around the United States and all walks of life will compete for the title of 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion. Lori Anne spelled her word, dirigible, correctly. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)
