1987

The 60th Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee took place on May 28th, 1987. It was held at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C., and 185 spellers participated.

Up until 1987, there had been a practice round at the beginning of the Bee, but it had to be eliminated because the growing number of spellers didn’t allow time for it anymore.

Learn more

About the 60th Bee

Champion

Stephanie Petit

Bethel Park, Pennsylvania

Stephanie Petit, age 13, sponsored by The Pittsburgh Press, won the $1,500 prize by correctly spelling the word “staphylococci.”

Stephanie went to Princeton University and the UC Berkeley School of Law. She then landed a job clerking for a U.S. Circuit Court judge in Montana before becoming a principal at a San Francisco law firm.

Location

Capital Hilton

at the Presidential Ballroom

Winning Word

staphylococci

staf-uh-loh-KAH-kee

a genus of nonmotile spherical eubacteria that occur singly, in pairs or tetrads and comprise a few parasites of skin and mucous membranes.

This word is made up of originally Greek parts.

OFFICIALS

Directors

Susan Miller and Mary Brooks

Judges

  • Dr. Robert E. Baker
  • Leroy C. Dillard
  • Mary Brooks
  • Katie Kerwin

Pronouncers

  • Dr. Alex J. Cameron
  • Dr. Caesar A. Carrino

SPELLER ROSTER

  • Wendy Albert
  • Kimberly D. Andrews
  • Lisa N. Bellanfonte
  • Patrick E. Brady, Jr
  • Barun Brahma
  • Barbara L. Burd
  • Christopher J. Cappuccio
  • Winston W. Chang
  • Steve C.T. Cook
  • Raul M. Covian
  • Christie R. Crocker
  • Laura J. Cullumbine
  • Denise L. De Camp
  • Millicent L. Fitzgerald
  • Jennifer A. Flora
  • Joanne J. Guanlao
  • Scott Isaacs
  • Meta D. Jones
  • James F. Kane III
  • Anurag Kaplish
  • Tanya J. Kemp
  • Kenneth A. Larson
  • Rachel R. Macek
  • Richard E. Maupin
  • Fredrick J. McConnell
  • Sandra J. Mun
  • Carvell Nguyen
  • Melissa K. Osborn
  • Stephanie Petit
  • Giselle Rambarran
  • Marla C. Regazzi
  • Rosa J. Rodriguez
  • Dawn M. Sawicki
  • Theresa I. Smallridge
  • Jennifer E. Smith
  • Clint W. Taylor
  • Jude E. Theriot
  • Jason S. Wallace
  • Dona T. Wu

* Winner
** Runner-Up