Eighth-grader Michelle Yakubek practiced 1,000 words a day to get ready for the regional spelling bee Wednesday at TCU. Among them was noblesse — meaning “noble birth or condition” — which ...

Faizan Zaki, age 13, spelled the word “eclaircissement” and collapsed on the floor in victory as confetti showered him at the 100th Scripps National Spelling Bee last week.