WASHINGTON -- The Scripps National Spelling Bee is underway, with more than 500 students from across the country hoping to come out on top.

The stage is set-up at National Harbor, right outside Washington D.C. in Maryland, for the 91st annual competition. However, this year is harder than bees in the past. This year will see a record number of competitors in comparison to previous bees and the championship lasts longer.

Qualifying for the Scripps National Spelling Bee takes discipline and hours of studying.

Akash Vukoti of San Angelo, Texas practices as much as possible and became the youngest speller at the bee when he competed at the age of 6.

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"I’m not nervous at all. I’m excited. Which is what I love to do. Competition is one of my favorite parts of bee week,"said Vukoti.

He is starting this year’s bee with his ninth birthday, proving he’s a seasoned speller.

"You learn how to handle defeat and loss which themselves are real life situations," said Vukoti.

More than 500 students from across the country compete, with multiple rounds before the final night. And only one will take home the gold trophy, with the first-prize purse worth more than $40,000.

 

--Local competitors:--

• Wolfgang Schaff 
  Speller No. 176 
  Kerrville, Texas 

• Harini Logan
  Speller No. 434  
  San Antonio, Texas 

• Pranav Nandakumar  
  Speller No. 436
  Austin, Texas 

• Pranathi Jammula
  Speller No. 516  
  Austin, Texas