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| Jacob Hubbard. Photo courtesy Scripps National Spelling Bee |
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According to Dictionary.com, Padishah is defined as: Used formerly as a title for the monarch of Iran.
Wednesday's competition began with 273 spellers and widdled to 51 by the end of the day. Today's spellers are duking it out on ESPN as I am typing this.
Jacob was the first Vermonter to advance to the Washington DC contest in several years (the Free Press says in "at least a generation").
It's worth noting that the "Pronouncer" at the national spelling bee (the person who gives the kids the words) is also a Vermonter.
Dr. Jacques A. Bailly of Burlington is in his third year as the bee's pronouncer. How do you get this gig? In Dr. Bailly's case, he has been involved with the competition for a number of years (Dr. Bailly was an associate pronouncer for 12 years), and he is a classics professor at UVM.
Oh yes, he won the national spelling championship in 1980. That probably helps too.