Two middle school students will represent Orange County in national spelling bee today

Two Orange County students are spellers in the 2019 Scripps National Spelling Bee. The on-stage competition begins today from Washington D.C.

Thirteen-year-olds Nicholas D’Sa of St. Cecilia Catholic School, from Tustin, and Dean Alkhairy of Fairmont Private School, from Newport Beach, will represent the OC at the national bee.

D’Sa has studied French, Latin and Greek roots hoping it will help him figure out spellings of words he doesn’t know.

Alkhairy competed in last year’s national bee and tied for 42nd-place with Ayle Guevarra, 12, from Winnetka.

The two will compete with 563 other spellers at the national bee from Monday, May 27 to Thursday, May 30. ESPN will stream the three-day competition.

D’Sa is speller no. 101. Alkhairy is no. 13.

This story will be updated as the competition progresses.