58th Scripps National Spelling Bee
{
The Capital Hilton, site of the 58th National Spelling Bee
DateJune 5–6, 1985
LocationThe Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C.[1]
WinnerBalu Natarajan
Age13
ResidenceBolingbrook, Illinois
SponsorChicago Tribune
Sponsor locationChicago, Illinois
Winning wordmilieu
No. of contestants168[2]
PronouncerAlex Cameron
Preceded by57th Scripps National Spelling Bee
Followed by59th Scripps National Spelling Bee

The 58th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Hilton on June 5–6, 1985, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

The winner was 13-year-old eighth-grader Balu Natarajan of Bolingbrook, Illinois, in his third appearance at the Bee (he finished 45th in 1983 and 63rd in 1984), the first winner from the Chicago area.[2] He spelled "milieu" for the win. Second place went to 13-year-old Kate Lingley of Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, who missed "farrago". Another 13-year-old, Tanya Solomon of Kansas City, Missouri, took third, missing "syllepsis".[3]

168 spellers competed in the Bee, 17 more than competed the previous year. There were 67 boys and 101 girls, including 19 repeat contestants,[3] one 9-year-old, two 10-year-olds, 19 at age 11, 26 at age 12, 65 at age 13, and 55 at age 14. A total of 719 words were used.[4][5]

Natarajan was the first Indian-American to win the Bee, and has been credited for inspiring the later dominance of Indian-Americans in the bee.[6][7][8][9]

In addition to non-cash gifts, the first-place winner received $1,000. Total prize money to all finalists was $10,500.[2][3][10]

References

  1. ↑ Procopio, Sam (13 April 1985). Confidence spells title for Kim, Reading Eagle
  2. 1 2 3 Papajohn, George (7 June 1985). Study, `Luck` Spell Success For 8th Grader, Chicago Tribune
  3. 1 2 3 (7 June 1985). M-i-l-i-e-u wins, The Telegraph (Associated Press)
  4. ↑ (7 June 1985). And the winner is ... 'milieu', UPI
  5. ↑ A total of 14 young spellers were eliminated in..., UPI
  6. ↑ Fieldman, CHuck (25 May 2015). Hinsdale man recalls winning national spelling bee 30 years ago, Chicago Tribune
  7. ↑ Berger, Joseph (5 June 2005). Striving in America, and in the Spelling Bee, The New York Times
  8. ↑ (6 June 1985). National Spelling Bee reached 'killer round', Evening Independent (Associated Press)
  9. ↑ Anderson, Davide E. (6 June 1985). More Good Spellers Surviving Contest Rounds, Schenectady Gazette
  10. ↑ Tuttle, Roberta (7 June 1985). Speller visiting D.C. sights, The Day
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