The 31st Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, District of Columbia on June 11–12, 1958, by the E.W. Scripps Company.(5 January 1958). Plans made for 1985 SENC Spelling Bee, Star-News
The winner was 14-year-old eighth-grader Jolitta Schlehuber of McPherson, Kansas, sponsored by the Topeka Daily Capital. She correctly spelled the word syllepsis. She placed fourth the prior year, and was the first winner from Kansas. Second place went to Terry Madeira of Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, who misspelled propylaeum.(12 June 1958). Kansas Girl Top Speller, Times-News (Hendersonville, North Carolina)Watson, J.L. (29 March 1998). Bee spelled victory for local resident, Lawrence Journal-World A talent scout for The $64,000 Question game show in the audience invited Schlehuber to appear on that show, where she won $8,000, which she used to pay college tuition.(19 June 1958). New National Spelling Champ Studies in Small Rural School, Nunda News (Nunda, New York), p. 7.(29 March 1988). Bee Spelled Victory for Local Resident, Lawrence Journal-World
After the 1957 Bee took almost 10 hours, this was the first time the Bee was put on a two-day program. There were 68 contestants, 27 boys and 41 girls.Robinson, Linda (9 January 1969). City Math Teacher Here Today, But Where Tomorrow, Lawrence Journal-World Forty-eight spellers were eliminated in eleven rounds on the first day of competition on Wednesday, June 11, leaving 12 girls and 8 boys for the second and final day of competition.Twenty Remain Undefeated in Bee, Gettysburg Times (Associated Press) Benson S. Alleman was pronouncer.(12 June 1958). 20 Spelling Experts Now In Final Stretch, Sarasota Journal (UPI)
The top prize was $1,000, with $500 for second, $250 for third, $100 for the next five, $50 for the next ten, and $25 each for the rest.
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