150 Young Word Wizards Vie for $10,000 Prize at 2012 National School SCRABBLE® Championship April 13-14 in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla., March 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- At first glance they seem like any other students.  And they are—with one amazing difference.  At just 9-14 years-old, they are some of North America's youngest and best SCRABBLE® players.  These students will put their SCRABBLE skills to the test as they compete against some of their most skillful peers for the $10,000 top prize at the annual National School SCRABBLE® Championship (NSSC).  This year's event takes place at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort in Orlando, FL April 13-14.

Many of these 4th-8th graders will go on to play—and often defeat—adults in rated SCRABBLE® tournaments and the annual National SCRABBLE® Championship.  At this year's NSSC there will be 29 students with official North American SCRABBLE® Players Association (NASPA) ratings.  The field also includes NSSC champs, 12 sets of siblings and numerous School SCRABBLE® tournament newbies. 

"These competitors represent the cream of the crop from our National School SCRABBLE® Program," says National SCRABBLE® Association Executive Director, John D. Williams Jr.  Praised by parents and educators alike, the School SCRABBLE® Program is an innovative teaching tool that has helped over a million kids in over 20,000 schools nationwide with spelling, vocabulary, math, dictionary use and more.  "Kids are learning, and they don't even know it!" Williams adds.

Play begins at 2:00 PM with 3 rounds on Friday, April 13th and all day Saturday, April 14th.  Finals will be approximately 3:00 PM on Saturday, followed by the awards ceremony.

To learn more and watch a fun 4-minute video about the National School SCRABBLE® Championship, go to www.schoolscrabble.com.

Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company providing children and families around the world with a wide-range of immersive entertainment offerings based on the Company's world class brand portfolio.  From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, video games and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its customers through the strategic leveraging of well-known and beloved brands such as TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF, PLAYSKOOL, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY.  The Hub, Hasbro's multi-platform joint venture with Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) launched on October 10, 2010. The online home of The Hub is www.hubworld.com. The Hub logo and name are trademarks of Hub Television Networks, LLC. All rights reserved.  Come see how we inspire play through our brands at http://www.hasbro.com.  Hasbro is the owner of the registered SCRABBLE® trademark in the United States and Canada. © 2012 Hasbro, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.

SOURCE National SCRABBLE Association