Capital calling for new winner

A year ago, Samantha Stewart attended the Scripps National Spelling Bee as a spectator when her brother, Ben, 14, participated in the contest.

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Jim Blaylock/Staff

Samantha Stewart, 11, a homeschooled pupil, won the local qualifying bee in March and is heading off to the nationals in Washington later this week.

But this year, the 11-year-old Evans resident will follow in her brother's footsteps and compete.

"It's going to be so much fun," said Samantha, a home-schooled fifth-grader.

The national spelling bee will take place in Washington on Thursday and Friday.

Samantha will be one of two Georgia representatives in the contest, which has 288 contestants overall.

Samantha earned her spot in the national competition in March when she won the 2008 Local Qualifying Bee, which was sponsored by The Augusta Chronicle and Busby's Heating and Air.

She said German and French words give her the most trouble.

"The pronunciations are much different from how they're spelled," Samantha said.

Nevertheless, she won the local qualifying bee by correctly spelling the German word "wedel," which means to ski on snow with high-speed turns made in succession.

Samantha said she gets nervous before spelling competitions, but she calms down after she prays and correctly spells her first word.

She said she already knew how she would react if she wins the national bee.

"I'd faint," she said.

Reach Betsy Gilliland at (706) 868-1222, ext. 113, or betsy.gilliland@augustachronicle.com.