This week, UVM professor of classics Dr. Jacques Bailly assumes his post as official pronouncer of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Bailly, who was bee champion in 1980, is in his 15th year as pronouncer after having served 12 years as associate pronouncer.

You can catch Bailly and the bee live on national television Wednesday, May 31 and Thursday, June 1.

• Preliminary Rounds: Wednesday, 8 a.m. –  6 p.m. (ESPN3 and WatchESPN)
• Finals, Part 1: Thursday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
• Finals, Part 2: Thursday 8:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. (ESPN) 

Among the 291 spellers competing for the coveted title of bee champion is Vermont native Lucinda Maybelle Storz, an eighth-grade student at Thaddeus Stevens School in Lyndonville, who's making her third appearance at the competition. Another notable speller: kindergartener Edith Fuller, a six-year-old from Tulsa, Oklahoma, the youngest-ever bee contestant. 

Follow UVM on Twitter for live updates from the bee.