The 75th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C., on May 29–30, 2002, sponsored by the E.W.
Thirteen-year-old Pratyush Buddiga, from Colorado Springs, Colorado, won the competition in the 11th round by correctly spelling the word "prospicience".
[1][2] Steven Matthew Nalley of Starkville, Mississippi placed second.
[3] Ninety spellers made it to the second and final day of the bee.
After Cameron's death in 2003, Jacques Bailly became chief pronouncer.