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54th Scripps National Spelling Bee

54th Scripps National Spelling Bee
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The Capital Hilton, site of the 54th National Spelling Bee
Date June 3-4, 1981
Location The Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C.
Winner Paige Pipkin
Age 13
Residence Denver, Colorado
Sponsor El Paso Herald-Post
Sponsor location El Paso, Texas
Winning word sarcophagus
No. of contestants 120
Pronouncer Alex Cameron (first time as chief pronouncer)
Preceded by 53rd Scripps National Spelling Bee
Followed by 55th Scripps National Spelling Bee

The 54th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Hilton on June 3-4, 1981, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.

The winner was 13-year old Paige Pipkin of El Paso, Texas, who had placed second in the prior year's bee. 12-year-old Jason Johnson Jr. of St. Joseph, Michigan placed second, missing "Phillipic." Pipkin spelled that word correctly followed by "sarcophagus" for the win. Pipkin had earlier missed "vitrine" but Johnson also missed it. Third-place went to 13 year old Danielle Marie Spinelli of Staunton, Virginia, who missed "polyonymous."

There were 120 spellers this year, and a total of 571 words were used. 46 spellers made it to the second day. Round 4 on day one was especially harsh on the contestants, knocking out 44 spellers on 90 words. The final rounds were completed shortly before noon on June 4. Alex Cameron was the official pronouncer for the first time, replacing Richard R. Baker, who had retired. The top prize was $1,000, followeed by $500 for second and $250 for third. The next five spellers reach received $100.

Pipkin later joined the staff of the Bee, and was named its executive director (under her married name Paige Kimble) in 2013.


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