Each year, the state’s best spellers in K-8 come together for the Arizona Spelling Bee to determine who will represent Arizona in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.  Hosted by Eight/KAET-TV, the annual event is taped at the Eight studios on the campus of Arizona State University. The winner and an escort receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete with spellers from across the nation. 

Judges are W. Gary Hull, SRP and Arizona Educational Foundation; Danielle Yuhasz, Community Relations Manager, U.S. Airways; and Jeannine Berg, Community Partnerships, Eight/KAET.

The Spelling Bee challenges children to utilize their spelling and phonetic skills in a competitive environment. The  finalists must first win a series of competitions at local, district and regional or county levels.