28th Scripps National Spelling Bee

The 28th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, District of Columbia on May 19, 1955, with the final rounds at the Department of Commerce auditorium, and was sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.[1]

28th Scripps National Spelling Bee
Department of Commerce auditorium
Date	May 19, 1955
Location	Department of Commerce auditorium, Washington, D.C.
Winner	Sandra Sloss
Age	13
Residence	Granite City, Illinois
Sponsor	St. Louis Globe-Democrat
Sponsor location	St. Louis, Missouri
Winning word	crustaceology
No. of contestants	62
Pronouncer	Benson S. Alleman
Preceded by	27th Scripps National Spelling Bee
Followed by	29th Scripps National Spelling Bee

The winner was 13-year-old Sandra Sloss of Granite City, Illinois, correctly spelling the word crustaceology.[2] Jean Copeland of Prescott, Arizona placed second.[3][4] Naomi Klein, 12, of Brooklyn, New York, placed third after missing "quincunx". Last year's runnerup, William Kelley of Kennett, Missouri, placed fourth.[5]

There were 62 contestants in the 1955 bee, 37 girls and 25 boys, ages 11–14.[6] Three contestants were black, noted to be a new record at the time.[7][5]

The first place prize was $500, the last year before the grand prize was doubled to $1000. Second place received $300, and third $100.[8][5] The next 20 received $50 each, and the remaining 39 received $40.[6]