Bee Live: 38 boys, 32 girls open bee

All 70 school champions are in the audience and ready to begin as the 75th annual Vindicator Regional Spelling Bee is about to begin at Youngstown State University. There are 38 boys and 32 girls in this year's competition, and, for about 50 of them, this is their first participation in the event.
Behind the spellers are several hundred of their families and friends, here to root on their champions.
Dr. Fred Owens, Youngstown State University professor and coordinator of the Homework Express television program, is on hand to serve again as the official pronouncer of each word in the Bee. He said it is his fifth or sixth year in that capacity.