The buzz in Washington, D.C. this week is the 82nd National Spelling Bee.

Nearly 300 students - the most in the competition's history - are vying for the title of top speller. The last person left spelling will take home $30,000.

The competition started Tuesday with a written test. Wednesday is the first day students spell on stage. ESPN is broadcasting the semifinals and the championship round airs live on ABC Thursday night.

North and South Carolina have 17 students in the competition. Three are from the Charlotte area:

• Vaubhav Shirshail, from Charlotte, NC is an eighth-grade student at Community House Middle School

• Andrew Lay, from Stanley, NC is an eighth-grade student at Stanley Middle School

• Bryson McKee, from Shelby, NC is a fifth-grade student at Washington Elementary School.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Bryson McKee's spelling bee technique

The final championship rounds of "The 2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee" will air live on ABC Television and Channel 9 Thursday May 28 starting at 8p.m.

Click here to keep up with how our students are doing in the competition.