LA 8th Grader Reaches National Spelling Bee Finals

LOS ANGELES, CA — An eighth-grader from Silver Lake was among nine spellers advancing to Thursday's finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee by correctly spelling two words and answering a vocabulary question in Wednesday's semifinals in Washington.

Oliver Halkett, who tied for seventh in last year's bee, began Wednesday's semifinals by correctly spelling Nectria, a genus of ascomycetous fungi that have bright-colored superficial perithecia, according to the Merriam- Webster Collegiate Dictionary.

The student at the Mirman School in Brentwood then correctly answered the eighth-round multiple-choice vocabulary question, "Patina refers to," selecting "a surface made beautiful by age or use."

A vocabulary question is asked in the second round in each of the bee's four segments.

In the ninth round at Constitution Hall, he correctly spelled gallinae, a group of wild birds that is lawful for hunting.

Oliver began Wednesday's quarterfinals by correctly spelling lalopathy, a disorder of speech. He then correctly answered the vocabulary question, "Something described as precarious is characterized by" selecting, lack of security or stability.

Oliver was among 54 spellers advancing to the semifinals with a correct spelling in the sixth round. His word was pseudepigraphy, the ascription of false names of authors to works. The round began with 66 spellers.

Oliver began the bee Tuesday by correctly spelling astilbe. Astilbe is a noun meaning any of a genus of chiefly Asian perennials of the saxifrage family that have simple or usually compound leaves and are widely cultivated for their panicles of usually white, pink, or red flowers.

Oliver then provided the correct response to the second-round vocabulary question, "What is the main ingredient in ganache?" selecting chocolate. He then joined the 166 other spellers who advanced to the third round in taking a 30-question spelling and vocabulary test, with each correct answer worth one point.

Under bee rules, spellers are grouped by their number of correct answers. The number of spellers to advance are determined by identifying the group whose minimum score results in as close to 100 quarterfinalists as possible.

Spellers with a least 13 points were assured of advancing to the quarterfinals, officials announced. The test reduced the field to 95. Individual scores were not disclosed.

Oliver qualified for the bee by winning the Los Angeles County Regional Spelling Bee for the third consecutive year. No speller from Los Angeles County has won the national bee.

Thursday's finals will air live on ION from 5 to 7 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.

City News Service