Heading to national bee … again

STEUBENVILLE -- He has been in this situation before. He participated in this event just last year. And yet, the experience will be as if it is his first time.

Eighth-grader Andrew Macdonald, son of Paul and Suzanne Macdonald of Steubenville, will be representing his hometown of Steubenville when competition in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., begins Tuesday.

Following his win at Bishop John King Mussio Junior High School, Andrew advanced to the 39th-annual Jefferson-Harrison County Regional Spelling Bee in March. That bee took place at Buckeye North Elementary School. According to Ross Gallabrese, executive editor of the Herald-Star, Andrew competed for one hour and 45 minutes alongside his 49 competitors.

And he came away the winner. Again.

Andrew earned first place in last year's regional bee, earning him his first trip to the nation's capital.

Macdonald and his family area headed to Bee Week, which opens Sunday.

"My goal this year was to go to the national competition again," he said.

So, what, if anything, is different this year than last year? He said he was studying the vocabulary portion more this time around.

"I'm looking over the vocabulary more this year," he said, adding it is very beneficial to have previously gone to nationals. "Once you're experienced, you know better what the words will be that they ask."

In addition to the official Word Club app, Andrew uses an unofficial app consisting of words, photos and definitions. This helps him better than the other app as he is more of a visual learner so the photos give him a mental picture which can help with the meaning and ultimately, the correct spelling.

But even extremely intelligent participants went out early, Andrew and his mother stated.

When you get to nationals, spellers are given a list of words to spell in the first round. In the second round, spellers are given a word meaning question. Then the third round goes back to being a word to spell correctly. Spellers are given 90 seconds to correctly spell a word once it has been pronounced. They cannot ask questions during the final 15 seconds of their turn. They are permitted to ask the pronouncer for definition, part of speech, to use that word in a sentence, the language of origin, alternate pronunciations, root of the word and to repeat the word.

During the word meaning round, spellers are given 30 seconds to answer a multiple-choice question about the definition of the word. Word meaning rounds were introduced as an on-stage element to challenge a speller's understanding of the words, putting less emphasis on the rote memorization of spelling, according to the Scripp's media guide.

Suzanne Macdonald stated there is a 4,000-word list competitors receive as a study guide. The words also have their definition included for those rounds where the definition is what decides if qualifiers will advance or go home.

"Even if you memorize the spelling and the definition of all 4,000 words, it will only get you through Rounds 1 and 2," she added. "Half of the contestants go out in the first two rounds."

"This published list is doable but it is a task," Suzanne commented. That is why the family began studying last summer. The Macdonalds noted they started working with and quizzing Andrew during COVID, when there was more time for review. School and life had slowed down and there wasn't as much homework. However, things have pretty much gotten back to normal and homework takes up a great deal of his time. As a result, there aren't very many hours he has daily to study for the bee. He manages to squeeze in approximately two to four hours every week.

In addition to homework, Andrew plays baseball and enjoys participating in plays, including being in a performance of "Anne of Green Gables." He was also cast in the school's fall musical, "Newsies."

He is active in Trail Life -- an outdoor adventure club, and the Connect Youth Group through Holy Family Catholic Church.

Andrew said he is looking forward to returning to Washington, D.C, because his experience last year was both fun and educational.

"I'm looking forward to going to see the other kids and watch them show off their skills," Andrew stated. "I like watching the competition live. I enjoy being able to experience the bee instead of watching it on a screen from home."

There are a lot of activities to do when not on stage, the family explained. Those activities include playing games, going on a bike tour around the city, attending classes to learn painting or sewing or virtual reality. Andrew's favorite? Legos.

The family noted this year there will be 231 kids participating. They are excited to be taking this trip again because, as they explained, when students are told they are all winners following the regional win, it is true. Going to the national bee is the actual prize, Suzanne said.

Besides the excitement of being able to watch other spellers and the many activities visitors can participate in, seeing the nation's capital as their backdrop is an exciting feeling.

"We've actually already won," because of this amazing opportunity, Suzanne concluded.

Macdonald received a six-night stay at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center during the national bee, courtesy of the regional bee's sponsors and the Jefferson County Educational Service Center; a $250 gift from the JCESC, a one-year subscription to Britannica Online Premium from Encyclopedia Britannica, and a one-year subscription to Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary Online.

He will receive the Samuel Louis Sugarman Award, which is a 2023 U.S. Mint proof set donated by Jay Sugarman, chairman and chief executive officer of iStar Financial, in honor of his father, who supported academic achievement.

The winner of the national bee will receive a prize package that includes $50,000 in cash.

Competition opens Tuesday with the preliminary rounds, and will continue on Wednesday, with the quarterfinals and semifinals. Those rounds will be streamed on Ion Plus, Bounce XL and at spellingbee.com. The finals will air Thursday beginning at 8 p.m. on Ion and Bounce.