Arizona sixth-grader competing in Scripps National Spelling Bee

PHOENIX — Could you spell “nuciform” correctly with a $50,000 cash prize on the line in the Scripps National Spelling Bee? Arizona sixth-grader Aliyah Alpert can.

Alpert, who is homeschooled in Prescott, is one of 234 participants competing this week in the annual spelling bee in Washington, D.C., after winning the statewide competition in March.

Her run at the $50,000 grand prize started Tuesday in the preliminary round, where she spelled “nuciform” and “dyspathy” right and successfully completed the multiple choice prompt to continue on to the quarterfinal round of the competition.

#Speller87 Aliyah Alpert from Arizona has spelled the word nuciform correctly! https://t.co/1HnC4GBueL #spellingbee

— Scripps National Spelling Bee (@ScrippsBee) May 31, 2022

Alpert will next participate Wednesday, where she will be required to successfully complete a spelling and multiple choice round before more spelling rounds until the officials deem it over.

The semifinals will take place later in the day Wednesday before the finals on Thursday. The final two rounds will be broadcast on ION beginning at 5 p.m. on each day.

Alpert qualified for the national bee after outlasting 26 other students in the March 19 competition in Phoenix.

Her winning word in the 29th round was “foudroyant.”

The 2021 national champion was eighth-grader Zaila Avant-garde of Florida.

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