Finals under way at National Spelling Bee

June 2, 2011 at 9:36p.m.

OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — The finals are under way at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Thirteen youngsters aged 10 to 14 were vying for the title of top speller this evening. They survived the semifinals rounds earlier in the day.

The winner receives more than $40,000 in cash and prizes.

Joanna Ye of Carlisle, Pa., and Laura Newcombe of Toronto were the top returning finishers from last year. Laura and another finalist, Veronica Penny of Rockland, Ontario, were each hoping to become the first Canadian to win the bee.

This is the sixth consecutive year that the bee finals have been broadcast in prime time.