The 52nd Scripps National Spelling Bee was held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., on June 6–7, 1979, sponsored by the E.W.

Katie Kerwin McCrimmon, 13, of Colorado won the competition, spelling "maculature".

[1][2][3][4][5][6] She would later go on to become a TV commentator of the Bee once it began being broadcast on television.

The competition saw Julie Won of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania run second, losing on the word "virescence".

[6] The competition had 109 contestants, a new record at the time, 63 girls and 46 boys, ranging from age 10 to 14.