Long Island Regional Spelling Bee Sunday

Hofstra University will host the Long Island Regional Spelling Bee Sunday, with the winner representing Long Island at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May.

Students in grades 4-8 from 103 schools across Long Island will compete.

Hofstra University’s Carole Clark Papper, a professor of writing studies and composition, will serve as head judge and moderator. The Bee will begin about 11 a.m. at Hofstra’s John Cranford Adams Playhouse on South Campus.

Last year, Dean Creedon, then a fifth-grader from Oak School No. 3 in Oceanside, won after spelling the word “mordacious,” which means biting or given to biting. He did not advance to the semifinals, where only 50 spellers compete. Last year’s national champ was Snigdha Nandipati, a 14-year-old speller from San Diego, Calif.

Nandipati was named the Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion in the 13th round after correctly spelling the word “guetapens,” which is defined as “an ambush, snare or trap.”

The 2013 Scripps National Spelling Bee will take place May 28-30 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Md.