Spelling Bee: 9:00PM edit

Bit of a slow afternoon here in the newsroom… got word that a local kid from South Texas is participating today in the 2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

I think he's currently still alive in the competition…
The Rio Grande Valley Kid has made it to the Finals tonight
Ok... as of this moment The RGV Kid is out....

They're all winners in my book.

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ESPN has ranked him #4 this year to take it all this year.

Happy to report that Texas has 2 of the top 5 ranked competitors in today's final rounds. Much to my surprise Texas has had 9 spelling champs in history. This puts us one a head of Ohio in the State with the most Spelling Bee Champs clubhouse…

The favorite to win this year is a kid by the name of Samir Sudhir Patel. Just read his bio and he finished 3rd two years ago and tied for second last year….

He along with seeds 2 & 3 are currently out... putting the RGV Kid as the ESPN favorite.

My interest in this was pretty low until I heard a kid from my zip code had a chance to win it all.

I'm a little bummed about the prizes for this thing.

From Scripps, a $20,000 cash prize and an engraved loving cup.

From Merriam-Webster, a $2,500 U.S. Savings Bond and a reference library.

From LeapFrog, a $5,000 cash prize.

From Franklin Electronic Publishers, the Spelling Ace Award—a $5,000 cash prize.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, over $5,000 in reference works.

* From Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation, a $5,000 college scholarship.

$ 42,500 isn't chump change by any means… but you'd think a school would offer up a free ride or some-one (like ABC the network that will host the finale tonight at 7:00PM CST.) would throw in a scholarship for all expenses paid @ for an undergraduate degree at the school of choice for the winner.

.resaca city rollie.

*Happy to see my Fraternity throw down 5k.