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Scripps National Spelling Bee welcomes 243 spellers for historic 100th anniversary

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CINCINNATI, May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A field of 243 top young spellers will converge on National Harbor, Maryland, from May 27-29 to compete in a historic Scripps National Spelling Bee. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the iconic American competition, which was first held on June 17, 1925, with just nine participants.

“Reaching 100 years is more than a milestone – it’s a testament to the enduring power of words, learning and the human spirit,” said Corrie Loeffler, executive director of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. “For a century, this competition has brought people together through eras of profound change – from world wars to the digital age – and still, the Bee continues to inspire excellence, curiosity and connection. It’s a living piece of American history, and we’re honored to celebrate its legacy.”

This year’s 243 national qualifiers advanced through local and regional bees that took place through the end of March. All rounds of this year’s national competition – preliminaries, quarterfinals, semifinals and finals – will take place at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center.

Highlights of the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee field:

The spellers range in age from 8 to 14.Only 53 spellers return from the 2024 field and 178 spellers – 73% – are competing in their first Scripps National Spelling Bee.Only one 2024 finalist advanced to the 2025 national competition: Faizan Zaki, who finished second last year behind Bruhat Soma following his record-breaking spell-off.Tarini Nandakumar is competing in her fifth consecutive Scripps National Spelling Bee. She was a finalist and finished ninth in 2023. Navtaj Singh, Micah Sterling and Avinav Prem Anand are competing in their fourth straight national competition. Harini Murali is in her fourth Bee overall, as is Zaki.There are spellers from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Texas has the largest representation with 22 national competitors. California is next with 20, followed by Ohio with 15 and Illinois with 13. Florida and New York have 12 each.There are 13 competitors from outside the 50 United States, representing the Bahamas, Canada, Germany, Ghana, Guam, Kuwait, Nigeria, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Here is the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee Media Guide.
Find more information on the national competitors at spellingbee.com.

Celebrating a 100-year tradition
The Bee has launched several 100th anniversary initiatives for both spellers and the public:

A historical microsite, capturing news, names and fun facts of the first 100 years of the Bee will launch in the coming weeks at history.spellingbee.com. Content will be added to the site, which will remain live after 2025.A special limited-edition coffee-table book capturing 100 years of the Bee’s history will be published in August and is available for preorder at Bee100Book.com.A museum-quality exhibit will be on display at the Gaylord during Bee Week, showcasing the Bee’s wealth of historical memorabilia, highlighting key milestones in the competition’s history and examining the Bee’s place in popular culture and the American experience.

The Bee on Scripps Networks (All times Eastern)
The 2025 broadcast/livestream of onstage competition follows this schedule (all times Eastern and end times approximate):

The preliminaries will be streamed on Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, Laff More and spellingbee.com from 8 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27.The quarterfinals will be streamed on Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, Laff More and spellingbee.com from 8 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28.

Two-night ION special event:The semifinals broadcast will air 8-10 p.m. on ION on Wednesday, May 28. (The live semifinals will be streamed on Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, Laff More and spellingbee.com from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. earlier that day.)The finals will air live in primetime on ION from 8-10 p.m. on Thursday, May 29.

In addition to ION, the semifinals and finals will also air on Scripps’ other popular national entertainment networks, Bounce, Grit, ION Mystery and Laff, as well as its free, ad-supported streaming channels ION Plus, Scripps News, Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, Laff More and spellingbee.com. Scripps News will stream an encore of the semifinals on Thursday, May 29, from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. and the finals on May 29 from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Scripps Networks can be found free over-the-air as well as on cable, satellite and streaming platforms.

If you are watching the Bee over the air with an antenna,
check out Tablo, which allows you to record over-the-air programs.

The 2025 Bee also will celebrate three special recognitions:

2025 Educator of the Year, presented by Teach For America: Nikki Montana, teacher leader at Edwin Forrest Elementary School in Philadelphia. Montana, who serves as the school’s bee coordinator, grew the school’s bee program from a sixth grade-level bee to a school-wide event that today includes students from grades 1-5.2025 Regional Partner of the Year: Akron Beacon Journal, which has remained a steadfast regional partner of the National Spelling Bee since its inception in 1925.2025 Regional Volunteer of the Year: Tom Wadsworth, pronouncer for the Regional Office of Education No. 47’s Spelling Bee in Sterling, Illinois, has helped prepare and inspire spellers for 43 years.

Introducing the “Beelieve” program 
In partnership with the Scripps Howard Fund, the Scripps National Spelling Bee has created a new fund to help increase access to the Bee at every level. The first year of the Beelieve program will focus on funding the participation of Teach For America schools interested in enrolling in the 2025-26 Bee program. The Bee and Fund received a $100,000 per year donation from the Adam R. Scripps Foundation for the next five years to support the Beelieve program and the Fund’s “If You Give a Child a Book …” campaign, which provides books to children at low-income schools across the U.S. This year, the Adam R. Scripps Foundation is also matching donations to both programs up to $500,000. Visit spellingbee.com/give to learn more about the program or to donate. 

For media covering the Bee:

Media can submit a request for credentials to cover the national competition in person at the Gaylord here.Media interested in following the action remotely should contact media@spellingbee.com to receive updates during the competition.

Media contact: Becca McCarter, 513-410-2425, Rebecca.mccarter@scripps.com

About the Scripps National Spelling Bee:  
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation’s largest and longest-running educational program, having launched in 1925. By inspiring the exploration of words, the Scripps National Spelling Bee illuminates pathways to lifelong curiosity, celebrates academic achievement and enriches communities.
Visit spellingbee.com for more information about the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is administered on a not-for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP).

About Scripps
The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is a diversified media company focused on creating connection. As one of the nation’s largest local TV broadcasters, Scripps serves communities with quality, objective local journalism and operates a portfolio of more than 60 stations in 40+ markets. Scripps reaches households across the U.S. with national news outlets Scripps News and Court TV and popular entertainment brands ION, Bounce, Grit, ION Mystery, ION Plus and Laff. Scripps is the nation’s largest holder of broadcast spectrum. Its Scripps Sports division serves professional and college sports leagues, conferences and teams with local market depth and national broadcast reach of up to 100% of TV households. Founded in 1878, Scripps is the steward of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, and its longtime motto is: “Give light and the people will find their own way.”

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SOURCE The E.W. Scripps Company

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Nexteer’s Global First Steer-by-Wire Goes into Production

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BEIJING, April 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Nexteer Automotive helped a leading Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer bring the world’s first production passenger vehicle with a full drive‑by‑wire chassis to market. The vehicle features Nexteer’s steer‑by‑wire (SbW) system as a key enabler.

The SbW featured in this vehicle marks Nexteer’s first SbW system in mass production, representing a major step forward for the technology — moving from development and validation to full-scale production. Certified in late 2025, this system achieved the world’s first ASIL D functional safety approval from DAkkS (German Accreditation Body) through close collaboration with the OEM. This certification reflects global top-tier performance in fault diagnosis, redundancy, and safety monitoring. Key features include:

Multi-layered redundancy design: Dual controllers, dual power supplies, multiple communication links, and dual actuation paths — achieving redundancy at system, hardware, and software levels. This ensures that in the event of a single fault, the backup path takes over within milliseconds with no loss of steering function.Full‑scenario functional safety mechanism: Multi‑level monitoring and fault handling strategies covering sensors, controllers, actuators, and communication links.Variable steering ratio: Automatically adjusts steering angle and effort based on vehicle speed and driving mode, balancing agility and comfort.Intuitive road‑feel simulation technology: Software‑defined steering feedback delivers a more responsive and precise driving experience, adaptable to a wide range of driving scenarios.Open interface for autonomous driving: As a key actuation layer for ADAS and autonomous driving systems, it provides real‑time, precise control capabilities, supporting the development of intelligent transportation systems.

Steer-by-Wire: Electronic Signals Replace Mechanical Links, Flexible Configurations for Diverse Needs

By decoupling the mechanical link between the hand wheel and the road wheels, steer-by-wire replaces conventional mechanical connections with electronic signals and actuators — and is quickly becoming a foundational technology for next-generation intelligent chassis and autonomous driving platforms. As a motion control technology company with 120 years of engineering heritage, Nexteer offers a flexible, off-the-shelf portfolio of steering feel simulators and road wheel actuators. This modular approach allows us to meet the diverse needs of different vehicle models and driving scenarios efficiently and cost-effectively.

From Steering to Braking: Expanding Full-Stack Motion Control Capabilities

Building on its deep expertise in steering systems, Nexteer has expanded into braking with its Brake-by-Wire solution, the Electro-Mechanical Brake (EMB). EMB has completed full development and rigorous validation and is ready for mass production. Together with SbW, Brake-by-Wire (EMB), Rear-Wheel Steering, and the MotionIQ™ Software Suite make up Nexteer’s broader Motion-by-Wire™ portfolio.

With Nexteer, OEMs get more than steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire components: they get a complete, proven, production-ready and cost-effective drive-by-wire chassis motion control solution that’s shaping the future of the software-defined chassis and enabling faster development, lower costs and safter, smarter and more exciting driving experiences.

During Auto China 2026, we cordially invite you to visit Nexteer at Booth W1B03, Hall W1, China International Exhibition Center (Shunyi) in Beijing, to experience firsthand the breakthrough innovations of steer-by-wire and Motion-by-Wire™ technologies.

ABOUT NEXTEER AUTOMOTIVE

Nexteer Automotive (HK 1316) is a global leading motion control technology company accelerating mobility to be safe, green and exciting. Our innovative portfolio supports Motion-by-Wire™ chassis control, including electric and hydraulic power steering systems, steer-by-wire and rear-wheel steering systems, steering columns and intermediate shafts, driveline systems, software solutions and brake-by-wire. Celebrating 120 years of automotive innovation in 2026, Nexteer builds on a strong legacy of engineering excellence while continuing to shape the future of mobility. The company solves motion control challenges across all megatrends – including electrification, software/connectivity, ADAS/automated driving and shared mobility – for global and domestic OEMs around the world including BMW, Ford, GM, RNM, Stellantis, Toyota and VW, as well as automakers in India and China including BYD, Xiaomi, ChangAn, Li Auto, Chery, Great Wall, Geely, Xpeng and others. www.nexteer.com  

Links to Nexteer Media Center

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2368187/5937537/nexteer_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/nexteers-global-first-steer-by-wire-goes-into-production-302753641.html

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World IP Day 2026: PitchMark launches Ideas.Exchange to help creators safeguard and license ideas in the age of AI

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SINGAPORE, April 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — To mark World IP Day 2026, PitchMark® today launched Ideas.Exchange, a first‑of‑its‑kind platform designed to help creators assert intellectual property rights, license ideas, and formalise creative conversations in an increasingly AI‑driven economy.

Unveiled at Safeguard Your IP in the Age of AI, a media briefing hosted by CNBC’s Sri Jegarajah, the platform responds to growing concern that ideas are routinely used, reused or absorbed without attribution, consent or compensation—often with limited legal or commercial recourse.

“AI has amplified both the reach and the risk for creators,” said Mark Laudi, Managing Partner of PitchMark LLP. “Ideas.Exchange gives creators a way to protect themselves while still participating confidently in the market for ideas.”

At its core, the platform focuses on three interventions for creators:

Asserting IP rights by establishing proof of authorship and precedenceLicensing ideas without giving them away for freeFormalising conversations so pitches and evaluations are governed rather than informal

Ideas.Exchange is powered by three proprietary resources developed by PitchMark. These include a blockchain‑driven clearing house where ideas and creative works can be listed and licensed; smart contracts that automate usage terms and reduce disputes; and an IP Governance Certification Program designed to signal responsible handling of ideas, particularly in enterprise and AI contexts.

The result, PitchMark says, is three concrete outcomes: deterrence of idea theft, new ways to monetise ideas through structured licensing and price discovery, and a more level playing field that allows creators to pitch to clients and platforms on equal terms.

The launch comes amid renewed scrutiny of how intellectual property is treated in the AI era. While idea theft is rarely reported, its impact is significant. Beyond visible financial losses, organisations and creators often absorb hidden costs through talent attrition, innovation suppression and abandoned market opportunities.

“Most idea theft occurs informally and never reaches the courts,” said Prof David Llewelyn, Professor Emeritus of Law at Singapore Management University. “Introducing governance, traceability and standards is a meaningful step toward addressing that gap.”

Spokespeople including Prof Llewelyn, technology lawyer Bryan Ghows, and Mark Laudi are available for interview.

About PitchMark

PitchMark® deters idea theft and enables creatives to get paid by providing a trusted way to share and license ideas with prospects and clients.

 

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SOURCE PitchMark

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SK hynix receives 2026 IEEE Corporate Innovation Award for Driving AI Computing Expansion with HBM

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SK hynix honored at the 2026 IEEE Awards for leading AI technology innovation with HBM Contributed to the global AI computing ecosystem via stable mass production across all HBM generationsCompany committed to becoming a premier leader in AI innovation through collaboration with global customers and partners

SEOUL, South Korea, April 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SK hynix Inc. (or “the company”, www.skhynix.com) announced today that it received the Corporate Innovation Award at the ‘2026 IEEE1 Honors Ceremony’ held in New York on the 24th (local time).

IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Established more than a century ago, the IEEE Awards Program recognizes individuals and teams whose innovations have advanced technology and improved the human condition.

The IEEE Corporation Innovation Award, part of the Recognitions category, has been presented since 1986 to companies that have significantly contributed to the advancement of industry and society through innovative technology. This marks the first time SK hynix has received this honor.

SK hynix attributed the honor to its contribution to the global AI computing ecosystem by ensuring the stable mass production of all High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) generations. Looking ahead, the company aims to solidify its position as a trusted partner in the global AI market by providing memory solutions that are critical to overcoming the performance limitations of AI platforms.

The recognition highlights SK hynix’s achievements in driving the expansion of AI computing through HBM innovation and application. Central to this success was the company’s ability to preemptively offer innovative HBM solutions and respond timely to customer demands in the global AI market.

Industry observers also credit this achievement to the strategic direction of SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who has long emphasized securing long-term technological competitiveness. Under his leadership, the company has consistently expanded its AI infrastructure partnerships with global Big Tech firms in the United States.

Ahn Hyun, President and Chief Development Officer (CDO), attended the ceremony as the company representative to accept the award.

“It is an honor to receive this award on behalf of our employees, who have tirelessly challenged the limits of technology,” said Ahn. “By collaborating closely with our global customers and partners, we will stay ahead in creating the value the market demands and continue to be a premier company leading AI innovation.”

About SK hynix Inc.
SK hynix Inc., headquartered in Korea, is the world’s top-tier semiconductor supplier offering Dynamic Random Access Memory chips (“DRAM”) and flash memory chips (“NAND flash”) for a wide range of distinguished customers globally. The Company’s shares are traded on the Korea Exchange, and the Global Depository shares are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Further information about SK hynix is available at www.skhynix.com, news.skhynix.com.

About IEEE
IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization and a public charity dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice in a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers, and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power, and consumer electronics. Learn more at https://www.ieee.org.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sk-hynix-receives-2026-ieee-corporate-innovation-award-for-driving-ai-computing-expansion-with-hbm-302753615.html

SOURCE SK hynix Inc.

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