Don’t Drink and Spell

Don’t Drink and Spell

DAYTON, Ohio (Wireless Flash) – One of the officials at the upcoming Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee has learned a helpful lesson in his 22 years at the event: Don’t drink and spell. Every year, Alex Cameron spends hours onstage at the spelling bee pronouncing the words to be spelled and then reading off the correct spellings when students flub. Although Cameron sometimes needs a little water to wet his whistle, he says he’s learned to take “very, very tiny mouthfuls” so he won’t have to go to the bathroom during a critical moment. In his words, “You don’t want to be up on stage filled with a gallon of water.” Since Cameron’s been doing the bee for quite a spell, the University of Dayton English professor has become somewhat of a celebrity, with strangers coming up to him recognizing his face from TV broadcasts of the spelling bee. This year’s bee takes place May 29th and 30th in Washington, D.C.

Tue 05-14-02