Spelling “mushroom” isn’t all that hard—-but spelling a Japanese mushroom’s name might be kind of difficult. Not for Shelbina 8th grader Elizabeth Platz, who has made it to the finals of the National Spelling Bee.
Elizabeth spells her third word of the day. :44 mp3
She’s one of the ten remaining spellers in the contest. The final spell-off will be tonight on ABC. The champion will get $30,000 cash, a $2500 savings bond, a $5,000 scholarship, and $2700 in Encyclopaedia Britannica reference works and software.
By making it to the finals, she is guaranteed $1,000.
Elizabeth finished tied for 42nd last year. If she wins, she’ll the the third home-schooled student in the history of the event to win. She is trying to become the first Missouri winner since home-school George Thampy of St. Louis wont he Bee in 2000.
