National Spelling Bee Semifinals

Kids participate in the semifinals of the 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Md., Thursday, June 2, 2011.

Section:Gallery

Thu., June 2, 2011

Surjo Bandyopadhyay, 14, from Prince Frederick, Md., concentrates before spelling 'lysozyme' correctly during the semifinals of the 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, June 2, 2011.

Pablo Monsivais Associated Press
Dakota Jones, 14, from Las Vegas, Nevada during the semifinals of the 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, June 2, 2011.

Pablo Monsivais Associated Press
Sam Osheroff, 12, from Columbia, Md., reacts on misspelling his word during the semifinals of the National Spelling Bee, in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, June 2, 2011.

Jacquelyn Martin Associated Press
Anna-Marie Mitroi Sprenger, 13, from Provo, Utah, pauses before spelling 'limacine' correct during the semifinals of the 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, June 2, 2011.

Pablo Monsivais Associated Press
Surabhi Lakshmanan Iyer, 12, from Taunton, Mass., laughs while at the microphone during the semifinals of the National Spelling Bee, in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, June 2, 2011.

Jacquelyn Martin Associated Press
Arvind V. Mahankali, 11, from New York City, center, salutes before heading to the microphone during the semifinals of the National Spelling Bee, in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, June 2, 2011.

Jacquelyn Martin Associated Press
Dhivya Senthil Murugan, 10, from Denver, Colo., laughs out loud at the beginning of the semifinals of the National Spelling Bee, in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, June 2, 2011.

Jacquelyn Martin Associated Press
Ray Wang, 13, from Neptune, N.J., pauses while spelling his word during the semifinals of the National Spelling Bee, in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, June 2, 2011.

Jacquelyn Martin Associated Press
Narahari Bharadwaj, 13, from Forth Worth, Texas pauses before spelling 'boccaro' correctly during the semifinals of the 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, June 2, 2011.

Pablo Monsivais Associated Press
Katie Fo, 13, from Portland, Ore. reacts after learning she spelled 'linguipotence' incorrect during the semifinals of the 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, June 2, 2011.

Pablo Monsivais Associated Press
Tony Incorvati, 13, from Canton, Ohio reacts after spelling 'syringadenous' incorrectly during the semifinals of the 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, June 2, 2011.

Pablo Monsivais Associated Press
David Phan, 14, from Boulder, Colo., celebrates after spelling his word correctly during the semifinals of the National Spelling Bee, in Oxon Hill, Md., Thursday, June 2, 2011.

Jacquelyn Martin Associated Press