2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee

GOOd ADVICE Bee Week tips from spellers here last year

around the world Meet competitors from Ghana, Germany and Saipan

ZACH SHERWIN Comedian/rapper shares his own bee experience

BEE KEEPER THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE

Bee Week 2024 May 26–May 31

put in a good word Spellers aspire to be letter perfect

SPECIAL Companion Guide: Read about all 245 national competitors

table of contents

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21 • THE BEE IN POP CULTURE 6SHOOLQJ EHHV DUH D IRUFH LQ ¿ OP WKHDWHU DQG ERRNV

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40 • HISTORY LESSON

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44 • CHAMPIONS BY STATE

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46 • 2023 CHAMPION

32 Amy Blakely D QDWLRQDO FRPSHWLWRU ZDV PRWLYDWHG WR ¿ QG KHU VSHOOLQJ EHH FODVVPDWHV DIWHU VHHLQJ D SLFWXUH SRVWHG RQ D )DFHERRN SDJH LQ ZKLFK VKH ZDV UHIHUUHG WR DV ³D JLUO ZKRVH QDPH , FDQ¶W UHPHPEHU ´ +HU MRXUQH\ KDV XQFRYHUHG VRPH PHPRUDEOH PRPHQWV

48 • WHERE ARE THEY NOW

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52 • THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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2024 2022 • BEE KEEPER

1

from the executive director Welcome

calling all bee ambassadors Spellers and families: Welcome to the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee! Bee Week represents the culmination of a lot of hard work and perseverance, as well as the promise of new friendships and memories made over a shared love of words.

And while it is just one week, the connections you will make don’t necessarily stop here. In fact, after I “retired” from Bee competition, I started volunteering for local spelling bees in California, and then later, back at Bee Week as part of what is now called the “College Crew.” I found community among others who shared my love of language. I was able to deepen the curiosity and learning I had discovered through spelling. And now, I can help shape a program that new generations of spellers can be just as thrilled by as I was.

My story isn’t unique; the Bee continues to soar, in part thanks to many alums who stay involved after their time as competitive spellers ends. Just this year, we’ve seen appearances by several throughout the regional bee season and even here at Bee Week: Simone Kaplan (2017–2019) and Juan Rondeau (2021–2023) both went back to the 84th annual Miami Herald Spelling Bee to help—Simone as the pronouncer and Juan as a judge.

Tony Joseph (2010–2011) served as head judge at The Minnesota Service Cooperatives’ Twin Cities Regional Spelling Bee in Minneapolis.

Shijay Sivakumar (2022) pronounced at the Ector County ISD Regional Bee. 2023 national competitors Steven Jiang and Daphne Gil hosted a series of spelling workshops at their local library in Chicago this February, culminating in a community bee.

Seven members of our College Crew and eight of our Word Panelists are former spellers.

6FULSSV 1DWLRQDO 6SHOOLQJ %HH ṘFLDOV Dr. Kevin Moch (2001–2002) and George Thampy (2000 champion) helped pronounce at the San Ramon Valley Rotary Regional Spelling Bee in the Bay Area.

Vanya Shivashankar (2015 co-champion) is lending her voice once again as Bee Week emcee.

All this to say, I hope I can put a little bug … or bee … in your ear now, regardless of where you are on your path: your Bee story can continue beyond your time as a speller. From helping out at school and regional bees and providing feedback during the Bee’s annual speller summits, to volunteering during Bee Week and ways not even imagined yet, I hope you will consider becoming a Bee ambassador, too.

And as we head into the Scripps National Spelling Bee’s 100th anniversary in 2025, stay tuned for all the ways we’ll be engaging Bee alumni to help us celebrate this Beeloved American tradition. )RU QRZ ZHOFRPH WR %HH :HHN ZH KRSH \RX¶OO ¿QG \RXU RZQ VSHFLDO WKLQJ WKDW PDNHV \RX ZDQW WR champion the Bee for years to come.

Have a wonderful week!

Corrie Loeffler

Executive Director Scripps National Spelling Bee

2 BEE KEEPER • 2024

P H O T O G R A P H B Y H A R T O N G D I G I TA L M E D I A

And perhaps one of the most familiar faces of all: Dr. Jacques Bailly (1980 champion) takes his place at the mic as head pronouncer.

published & produced by Scripps National Spelling Bee (Corrie Loeffler, Executive Director) Cincinnati Magazine (Ivy Bayer, Publisher)

co-editors Tyler Hyde (Scripps National Spelling Bee) Michael Perry (The E.W. Scripps Company)

contributing editors Corrie Loeffler (Scripps National Spelling Bee) Becca McCarter (The E.W. Scripps Company) Molly Miossi (The E.W. Scripps Company) Tammy Riddle (Scripps National Spelling Bee) Amanda Boyd Walters (Cincinnati Magazine)

art director Emi Villavicencio (Cincinnati Magazine)

reporters Amy Blakely, Tyler Hyde, Becca McCarter, Molly Miossi, Michael Perry

photographers Mark Bowen, Hartong Digital Media, Craig Hudson, E.M. Pio Roda

production director Vu Luong (Cincinnati Magazine)

operations director Missy Beiting (Cincinnati Magazine)

business coordinator Erica Birkle (Cincinnati Magazine)

SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE 312 Walnut St., 28th floor, Cincinnati, OH 45202 www.spellingbee.com

2024 • BEE KEEPER

3

the buzz Just Getting Started

DREAM COME TRUE

buzz the

4 BEE KEEPER • 2024

P H O T O G R A P H SB C Y OTU K RLTOERSEYMR A I SCPHUEM L VA N H I L L

When she was 3, Amiah Van Hill was watching the Scripps National Spelling Bee in her home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. “I want to go there someday,” she told her mom, Rachel. Well, Amiah is going there. The 13-year-old eighth grader from Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy advanced to the national competition by winning the regional sponsored by the Idaho Character Foundation at North Idaho College in February. “Amiah was just a 3-year-old when she wanted to eat dinner in front of the TV so she wouldn’t miss watching the Scripps National Spelling Bee,” Rachel says.

“It was at that moment when she stated that her dream was to someday make it to that national stage. Ten years later, her dream came true. Amiah never took her eye off her goal.”

the buzz Statistics

Gender

spellers by the numbers We’re usually all about the letters, but here’s a little math about the 245 spellers competing in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Age

103 Female spellers 141 Male spellers 1 Prefer not to answer

Grade

Spelling in Their Blood 24 spellers have relatives who have participated in a combined 40 Scripps National Spelling Bees.

1 8 Year Old 5 9 Year Olds 8 10 Year Olds 26 11 Year Olds 46 12 Year Olds 89 13 Year Olds 69 14 Year Olds 1 15 Year Old

3 3rd Graders 6 4th Graders 18 5th Graders 38 6th Graders 72 7th Graders 108 8th Graders

Spell-peaters Coming into this year, 65 spellers have previously competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

School type

32

7

Private Schools

Home Schools

12 Charter Schools

173

Public Schools

21 Parochial Schools

2024 • BEE KEEPER

5

the buzz Schedule

2024 bee week schedule speller registration Hall of Champions – Maryland Foyer 2 to 5 p.m.

rule the word challenge Hall of Champions – Maryland Foyer 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

rounds one and two by speller number: Spellers 1 through 68 8 to 9:50 a.m.

Spellers 69 through 128 10 to 11:40 a.m.

Spellers 129 through 166 11:50 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Spellers 167 through 245

MONDAY, MAY 27

2 to 4:10 p.m.

Bus transfer from the Gaylord to Audi Field and back

(round three)

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

4:20 to 7:40 p.m.

memorial day picnic

This is a ticketed event.

opening ceremony Maryland Ballroom 7 to 8:15 p.m.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

preliminaries Maryland Ballroom Streamed live on ION Plus and spellingbee.com

Wednesday, May 29 quarterfinals

Maryland Ballroom

TUESDAY, MAY 28

8 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

(rounds one and two)

semifinals

preliminaries

Maryland Ballroom 8 a.m. to 4:10 p.m.

Streamed live on ION Plus and spellingbee.com

old town trolley tour

Trolley ride from the Gaylord into Washington, D.C., and back This is a ticketed event. Check your ticket for times.

finals

Maryland Ballroom 8 to 10 p.m.

Onstage remarks begin at 7 p.m.

Broadcast live on ION

Friday, May 31

old town trolley tour

Trolley ride from the Gaylord into Washington, D.C., and back This is a ticketed event. Check your ticket for times.

bee week bash Maryland Ballroom 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.

This is a ticketed event.

Maryland Ballroom

Streamed live on ION Plus and spellingbee.com

2:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Each speller will compete in up to two URXQGV LQ RQH WXUQ GXULQJ WKH ¿UVW SDUW of the preliminaries. See the Contest Rules of the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee for detailed format information: spellingbee.com/rules

Streamed live on ION Plus and spellingbee.com

Onstage remarks begin at 2:15 p.m.

$ VSHFLDO WZR KRXU VHPL¿QDOV EURDGFDVW will air from 8 to 10 p.m. on ION.

Englishing the World: How the Renaissance Shaped the First English Dictionary

Peter Sokolowski, editor-at-large, Merriam-Webster Maryland Ballroom 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

6 BEE KEEPER • 2024

Thursday, May 30

P H OTO G R A P H BY T K LO R E M I S P U M

SUNDAY, MAY 26

the buzz Schedule

help desk hours

media desk hours

media contacts

Providing information and assistance to spellers and Bee Week attendees

Providing information and assistance to media members

Becca McCarter

Hall of Champions – Maryland Foyer

Michael Perry

Hall of Champions – Maryland Foyer Sunday, May 26 2 to 7 p.m.

Monday, May 27

Tuesday, May 28 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

8 to 11 a.m.

4 to 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 29

Tuesday, May 28

Thursday, May 30

7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Rebecca.mccarter@scripps.com (513) 410-2425 Michael.perry@scripps.com (513) 259-4718 You can reach the Media Desk at (513) 713-9151. Questions and requests can also be sent to media@spellingbee.com.

5:30 to 10 p.m.

P H OTO G R A P H BY T K LO R E M I S P U M

Wednesday, May 29 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Thursday, May 30 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Friday, May 31

9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Questions?

Call (513) 713-9156.

2024 • BEE KEEPER

7

the buzz Fun Facts

take note Here’s a look at some of the competitors in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

RETURNING FINALISTS

)RXU ¿ QDOLVWV DGYDQFHG WR WKH QDWLRQDO FRPSHWLWLRQ Sarah Fernandes VSHOOHU WLHG IRU WK SODFH Aryan Khedkar VSHOOHU WLHG IRU ¿ IWK Tarini Nandakumar VSHOOHU ¿ QLVKHG QLQWK DQG Shradha Rachamreddy VSHOOHU WLHG IRU WKLUG Aliyah Alpert VSHOOHU DQG Kirsten Santos VSHOOHU ZHUH ¿ QDOLVWV LQ

THE FIELD

2QO\ VSHOOHUV DUH UHWXUQLQJ IURP WKH ¿ HOG DQG VSHOOHUV DUH FRPSHWLQJ LQ WKHLU ¿ UVW 6FULSSV 1DWLRQDO 6SHOOLQJ %HH PRUH WKDQ SHUFHQW

THE VETERANS

Logan Edwards VSHOOHU Tarini Nandakumar VSHOOHU DQG Shradha Rachamreddy VSHOOHU ZLOO EH FRPSHWLQJ LQ WKHLU IRXUWK 6FULSSV 1DWLRQDO 6SHOOLQJ %HHV (GZDUGV DQG 1DQGDNXPDU KDYH EHHQ WR IRXU LQ D URZ 6L[WHHQ VSHOOHUV DUH LQ WKHLU WKLUG %HH DQG DUH PDNLQJ WKHLU WKLUG FRQVHFXWLYH DSSHDUDQFH

Tarini Nandakumar

8 BEE KEEPER • 2024

Shradha Rachamreddy

PH OTO G R A PH S BY S CR I PP S N E T WO R K S

Logan Edwards

the buzz Fun Facts

THE yOUNGEST

Sanil Thorat VSHOOHU D WKLUG JUDGHU IURP )DLU¿HOG (OHPHQWDU\ 0DJQHW 6FKRRO LQ 6KUHYHSRUW /RXLVLDQD LV WKH RQO\ \HDU ROG LQ WKH QDWLRQDO FRPSHWLWLRQ 7KHUH DUH ¿YH \HDU ROGV

THE OLDEST

Ryan Frazee (speller 165) is the lone 15-year-old. He is an eighth grader from Wheelersburg (Ohio) Middle School. There are 69 spellers who are 14. The biggest age group this year is the 13-yearROGV WKHUH DUH RI WKHP SHUFHQW RI WKH ¿HOG

LONG DISTANCE

Alleena Villaluz (speller 55) representing Hagåtña, Guam, is traveling the farthest for this week’s competition (7,900+ miles). Other spellers are coming from Canada, the Bahamas, Germany, Ghana, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, not to mention Alaska and Hawaii. There are 12 national competitors from outside the 50 United States.

U.S. COVERAGE

Again, there are spellers from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Texas has the largest representation with 20 national competitors. California and Ohio are next with 17 each, followed by Florida, Illinois and New York with 13 each.

THE TRIPLET

Alejandro Martinez (speller 214), a 13-year-old from Laredo, Texas, is a triplet with one brother and one sister. We have six spellers who are twins: Aliyah Alpert (speller 4) from Phoenix; Avi Randhawa (speller 19) from Riverside, California; Achyut Ethiraj (speller 73) from Fort Wayne, Indiana; Connor Norton (speller 196) from Florence, South Carolina; Andy Lau (speller 198) from Spartanburg, South Carolina; and Faizan Zaki (speller 207) from Dallas.

MILITARY CHILDREN

David Heyman (speller 122) is from Columbus, Mississippi. His father LV LQ WKH 8 6 $LU )RUFH +H KDV DWWHQGHG HLJKW VFKRROV LQ ¿YH VWDWHV 7KH IDPLO\ ZLOO EH PRYLQJ WR &DOLIRUQLD DIWHU the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Elden Wier (speller 3) is from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. His dad joined the U.S. Air Force when he was 4. Canadian-born Benjamin Grice (speller 36) lives on a military base in Germany. For more on Grice, see page 34. Ryan Ferguson VSHOOHU LV WKH VRQ RI D UHWLUHG 1DY\ ṘFHU 7KH IDWKHU RI Enzo Astorga (speller 174) from Marietta, Ohio, is on active duty in the U.S. Navy.

2024 • BEE KEEPER

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the buzz About the Competitors

get to know the spellers Because they answered our questions, you will learn a lot about them.

Do you have any superstitions?

“The day of my school spelling bee in third JUDGH , KDG P\ ¿QJHUV FURVVHG DOO GD\ After the spelling bee was over, I decided not to uncross them so that nothing bad ZRXOG KDSSHQ (YHU VLQFH WKHQ , KDYH DOZD\V KDG P\ ¿QJHUV DQG WRHV FURVVHG ´ Juliette Anderson (speller 140), Santa Fe, New Mexico

“My favorite number is seven, and my OHDVW IDYRULWH QXPEHU LV WKUHH ,Q WKH district bee, I was the third speller, which PDGH PH QHUYRXV ´ Cate Angle (speller

“My superstition is wearing my two lucky pins to every spelling FRPSHWLWLRQ ´ Camila Sanchez Izquierdo (speller 40), Miami

194), Daniel Island, South Carolina

“Not a superstition, but I do a small prayer EHIRUH JHWWLQJ XS WR VSHOO P\ ZRUG ´ Anna Korneeva (speller 147), Brooklyn, New York

³, EHOLHYH EUHDNLQJ D PLUURU FDXVHV EDG OXFN ´ Scott Tingle (speller 126), Senath, Missouri

What famous person would you like to have dinner with? ³0\ IDYRULWH DXWKRU &KULVWRSKHU 3DROLQL I would love to hear about his writing SURFHVV ´ Chase Camuti (speller 97), Walkersville, Maryland

“Gordon Ramsey, so he can cook an LQFUHGLEOH PHDO IRU PH ´ Nyarah Garver (speller 150), Windham, New York

“There are so many amazing people that I would love to have dinner with, but I’d say the Met brothers (AJR) or Alan :DONHU 7KH\¶UH VRPH RI WKH FRROHVW PRVW relatable, most genuine guys I’d ever seen, and it would be such an honor to meet VRPH RI P\ PRGHUQ GD\ KHURHV DQG MXVW talk about life and music and other things ZLWK WKHP ´ Victoria McFetridge (speller 35), Upper Marlboro, Maryland

³, ZRXOG ORYH WR KDYH GLQQHU ZLWK -H̆ Bezos because then, if I want to start any big SURMHFWV , FDQ FRQYLQFH KLP DQG KLV FRPSDQ\ WR IXQG PH ´ Jay Nayak (speller 148), New York

What is your favorite word? ³0\RJORELQ , MXVW OLNH WR VSHOO LW ´ Elijah Elledge (speller 116), North Mankato, Minnesota ³+RLW\ WRLW\ EHFDXVH LW¶V IXQQ\ ´ Hendrix Feld (speller 64), Freeport, Illinois

³&ORZGHU ,W LV D IXQQ\ ZRUG WR GHVFULEH D JURXS RI FDWV RQH RI P\ IDYRULWH DQLPDOV ´ Sanil Thorat (speller 91), Shreveport, Louisiana

“Incandescent is my favorite word because it was my winning spelling bee word in fourth JUDGH ,W ZDV WKH ZRUG Elijah Elledge that got me interested in continuing my VSHOOLQJ EHH FDUHHU ´ Katelyn Nguyen (speller 16), Huntington Beach, California

“I would want to have dinner with Taylor Swift because she still does what she loves despite receiving EDFNODVK 6KH LV DOVR YHU\ FKDULWDEOH DQG KDUGZRUNLQJ ´ Shradha Rachamreddy (speller 13), San Jose, California

What’s your hidden talent?

“I can explain philosophical concepts in an understandable ZD\ , FDQ DOVR ZULWH VKRUW VWRULHV DQG VLQJ YHU\ ZHOO ´ Aishwarya Kallakuri (speller 154), Concord, North Carolina

“Cubing—solving Rubik’s Cube puzzles and other twisty SX]]OHV ´ Sean Gibbons (speller 71), Elmhurst, Illinois ³, FDQ VSLQ D EDVNHWEDOO RQ P\ ¿QJHU IRU D UHDOO\ ORQJ WLPH )RU VRPH UHDVRQ , JRW REVHVVHG ZLWK WKLV IRU D ZKLOH ´ Benjamin Grice (speller 36), Selfkant, Germany

“Juggling, baking cookies, speedreading and Mario .DUW ´ Emory Jobe (speller 79), Olathe, Kansas

Shradha Rachamreddy

“My hidden talents are rolling my tongue into a taco and being able WR GLYH DV D JRDONHHSHU ´ Alejandro Martinez (speller 214), Laredo, Texas

10 BEE KEEPER • 2024

P H O T O G R A P H S B Y C R A I G H U D S O N , E . M P I O R O D A A N D P R O V I D E D B Y T H E FA M I LY O F C A M I L A S A N C H E Z I ZQ U I E R D O

Do you have any superstitions?

the buzz About the Competitors

Aren Lee

What’s your favorite food?

“Homemade dumplings because you get to share with family and it brings relatives and friends to have a good time. They go great with chili sauce!”

Yupeng Chen (speller 112), Duluth, Minnesota

Rohith Konduri

“Cheesecake because I like the texture and taste.”

Antony Elgohary (speller 233), Harrisonburg, Virginia

“Meatloaf because it brings back memories of my Pop (grandpa), and it is very good.” David Heyman (speller 122), Columbus, Mississippi

“Pearl meatballs, a Chinese dish that my grandmother makes for me nearly weekly.” Aren Lee (speller 12), Belmont, California

What is your favorite movie?

“Ferris Bueller’s 'D\ 2̆ ´ Cooper

“Bratwurst with spätzle because I have grown up with it and have loved it ever since.” Karissa Measel (speller 109),

Edwards (speller 30), Niwot, Colorado

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

“I love Soul because it is centered around music, and music is my spark.” Azariah Green (speller 121),

Stevensville, Michigan

“Lord Garmadon from Lego Ninjago because of his character development throughout the story; he was introduced as an evil villain and now he’s funny and cool.” Ethan Dunlap (speller 160), Spring Lake, North Carolina

“The Roadrunner because he is always one step ahead.”

Hernando, Mississippi

“Sonic The Hedgehog 2. Though I like both, the second one is funnier, and it added characters from the original Sonic franchise. I also like how Tails, Sonic and Knuckles team up together in the end to beat Eggman.” Arshan Shahriar (speller

Rohith Konduri (speller 237), Virginia Beach, Virginia

28), Toronto, Ontario, Canada

“Mickey Mouse. He is part of our childhood, and he has a clubhouse that appears when he says the magical words Meeska Mooska Mickey Mouse.” Jaynard

Florida

“Little Rascals.” Jordin Oremosu (speller 48), Land O’ Lakes,

P H O T O G R A P H S B Y C R A I G H U D S O N A N D P R O V I D E D B Y T H E FA M I LY O F A R E N L E E

Quiray (speller 218), Odessa, Texas

“Scooby-Doo. I like that he is a dog and he solves mysteries.” Kai Riedner (speller 113), Excelsior, Minnesota

Who is your role model?

“Albert Einstein because he was really smart.” Vihaan Jagadeesh (speller 33), Lewes, Delaware

“Chef Garima Arora, a true trailblazer.

6KH LV WKH ¿ UVW ,QGLDQ ZRPDQ WR HDUQ D Michelin Star, not only once, but twice!”

Ananya Joshi (speller 66), Roscoe, Illinois

“My parents because they are kind, optimistic, perseverant and have a good sense of humor.” Adi Jagan Mohan

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

“Gary the snail from SpongeBob SquarePants because he is very chill, and I respect that.”

(speller 135), Somerset, New Jersey

“Napoleon Bonaparte because throughout his lifetime he lived a life of determination and never gave up despite the severity of his situations.” Aiden Pham (speller 88), Lafayette,

Louisiana

“Roger Federer. He’s cool.” YY Liang (speller 145), Hartsdale, New York

Sariah Titus

(speller 203), Abilene, Texas

“The Minion and Despicable Me movies.

Because they make me laugh.” Jacob Warner (speller 114), Fergus Falls, Minnesota

Who is your favorite athlete?

“Facundo Torres of Orlando City Soccer Club because when I play FIFA, he’s the one that gets the goals. He’s fun to watch in real life, too.” Jake Bailey (speller 69), Clinton, Iowa

“Carlos Alcaraz. He is an amazing athlete and ballerina on the tennis court.” Amara Chepuri (speller 46), Lakewood Ranch, Florida

“Yuzuru Hanyu because I’ve loved to ZDWFK KLV ¿ JXUH VNDWLQJ SHUIRUPDQFHV since I was a kid.” Bella Nguyen (speller 133), Las Vegas, Nevada

“LeBron James.” Bruhat Soma (speller 47), Tampa, Florida

“Patrick Mahomes because he is the center of his team, and he’s the quarterback of my favorite team.” Ara Swiatlowski

(speller 108), Scottville, Michigan

2024 • BEE KEEPER

11

the buzz About the Competitors

Who is your favorite musician?

“I like to visit Queensland Beach in Nova Scotia because it’s calm and relaxing but also chaotic when the waves are big.”

What is your favorite book?

“Lord of the Rings series. I like it because they’re stories that detail coming back from pain and war and how change isn’t always bad.”

“JJ Lin. I grew up with his songs. They are literally my childhood. After I started listening to music, Billie Eilish, OneRepublic, Pentatonix and Halsey became favorites, too.” Mina Chen

(speller 202), Mt. Juliet, Tennessee

“Ludwig van Beethoven because I am his seventh-generation student.” Ryan Fan (speller 7), Fayetteville, Arkansas

“One hundred percent Taylor Swift because her songs capture a variety of emotions: heartbreak, jealousy, revenge, joy, etc. She is a musical genius, and her songs are insanely well written.”

Tanya Kadaru (speller 210), Keller, Texas

“Lin-Manuel Miranda. I know every word to the song 'Guns and Ships' from Hamilton. It was the greatest thing ever to see him on the Percy Jackson series as Hermes.” Sasha Kenlon (speller 224),

Duncan Grant (speller 27), Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada

“Boston because it is where I was born, and it has a lot of history. It is a very special place to my family.” Nayara de Silva-Ahmed (speller 90), Metairie, Louisiana

What is your favorite book?

“Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters because I love monsters, and there are a lot of them in it.” Joey Constantine (speller 179), Cortland, Ohio

“Harry Potter because of the Hogwarts Express.” Drake Finnicum (speller 175), Bellaire, Ohio

“The Heroes of Olympus: House of Hades.” Michael Tesfaye (speller 215),

Kavya Jakasania

Lubbock, Texas

(speller 137), Jersey City, New Jersey

“Emma by Jane Austen. This is my favorite because, overall, the storyline is very captivating and interesting to follow with it having several plot twists and interesting characters.” Alleena Villaluz

Park City, Utah

“Olivia Rodrigo, since she writes relatable angsty songs.” Shreeya Sivakumar (speller 217), Odessa, Texas

“Dubai. It holds lots of fond memories from our family vacation spent there.” Giovanni Adjei

Who is your favorite historical figure?

“Hogwarts. Wouldn’t you want to learn magic?”

³6WHSKHQ +DZNLQJ LV DQ LQVSLUDWLRQDO ¿ JXUH for me because of the contribution he made to science.” Charan Garimella (speller 183), Spring

(speller 53), Accra, Ghana

Hillel Ziskind (speller 186), Cherry Hill, New Jersey

“I love visiting theme parks like Disney because it feels like stepping into a real-life movie. The attention to detail and the immersive environments all make me feel like I’m part of a magical story unfolding before my eyes.” Elvis Avetis (speller 43), Orlando, Florida

Joey Constantine

City, Pennsylvania

“Lise Meitner. Although she did not get credit for her GLVFRYHULHV LQ KHU OLIHWLPH D QRWDEOH RQH LV QXFOHDU ¿ VVLRQ and was overlooked by the Nobel Prize committee many times, she was posthumously honored with an element QDPHG IRU KHU PHLWQHULXP QXPEHU ´ Leah Rini

(speller 151), Plattsburgh, New York

“Napoleon because he was an interesting person.”

Andy Lau (speller 198), Gaffney, South Carolina

“Benjamin Franklin. Because he invented so many things, and I think that is cool.” Calvin Pratt (speller 107), Attica, Michigan

“Benjamin Franklin because he was the best of both worlds—adept politician and genius scientist and inventor.” Roberto Villasboas (speller 117), Rochester, Minnesota

Elvis Avetis

12 BEE KEEPER • 2024

P H O T O G R A P H S B Y C R A I G H U D S O N A N D P R O V I D E D B Y T H E FA M I LY O F E LV I S AV E T I S

(speller 55), Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

What is your favorite place to visit?

the buzz About the Competitors

What’s your favorite candy?

“Skittles because of how it tastes.” Partha Katreddy (speller 78), Bettendorf, Iowa “I love Heath because of its sweet chocolate and FUXQFK\ WR̆ HH ELWV ´ Kendall Mehl (speller 178), Bowling Green, Ohio

Elden Wier

“Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. They’re the perfect combination of sweet and salty.” Daphne Reno (speller 232), Fredericksburg, Virginia

P H O T O G R A P H S B Y E . M . P I O R O A D A N D P R O V I D E D B Y T H E FA M I LY O F E L D E N W I E R A N D P R O V I D E D B Y T H E FA M I LY O F Q U I N T K A R L S S O N

“I have liked the Milky Way chocolate bar from a young age because it was the best tasting to me of the limited varieties of Halloween candy available to me.” Indigo Satko (speller 185), Blue Bell, Pennsylvania

“M&M’s because they are chocolate, tiny and they crunch. My sisters and I have a jar of M&Ms that we use to count down the days until our dad returns from deployment.” Elden Wier (speller 3), Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska

“Science and math.” Orrin Lam (speller 161), Benson, ³6FLHQFH , MXVW ¿ QG VFLHQFH D PRUH LQWHUHVWLQJ VXEMHFW compared to the rest. It’s a diverse subject, and it has a wide range of concepts that I think are fun to learn about.

0\ IDYRULWH ¿ HOG RI VFLHQFH LV GH¿ QLWHO\ biology.” Hi-Tai Lu (speller 87), Baton

Vogel (speller 119), Lake Wilson, Minnesota

“History because I enjoy learning about all the interesting things that have occurred across history.” Jayden Zheng (speller 204), Amarillo, Texas

What career do you want to pursue?

“I’d like to be in business.” N’Adom Darko-Asare (speller 54), Accra, Ghana

“Film.” Ryan Frazee (speller 165), Portsmouth, Ohio

“Marine biologist.” Ian Gibson (speller 83), Bowling Green, Kentucky

“Building robots and coding them.”

Adarsh Venkannagari (speller 101), Acton, Massachusetts

“A game developer or a chemist.” Aanya Shetty (speller 123), Columbia, Missouri

Quint Karlsson

“Tennis because it’s a lifelong sport.” Nathan Crabbendam (speller 44), Ocoee, Florida

North Carolina

Rouge, Louisiana

“Soccer because I have been playing my entire life, and my dad has always been my team’s coach.”

Quint Karlsson (speller 93), Gambrills, Maryland

What’s your favorite school subject?

“English because I get to read.” Holland

What is your favorite sport?

“Basketball and football because basketball is my favorite to play but football’s my favorite to watch.” Adyson Gifford (speller 103), Clinton Township, Michigan

“Dance because most people do not consider it a sport, but I believe it is a sport. It requires hard work, dedication and teamwork!”

What’s your favorite school subject?

Leyla Jacobson (speller 120), St. Cloud, Minnesota

“History is interesting to learn about and can tell us a lot about how our lives should function.”

Garrett Fry

“Badminton.” Tarini Nandakumar (speller 205), Round Rock, Texas

What’s your favorite TV show?

“The Amazing World of Gumball, Gravity Falls and Adventure Time.” Joshua Bullen (speller 84), Hopkinsville, Kentucky

“The Great North because Beef reminds me of myself.” Conor Keightley-Reinhardt (speller 99), Crisfield, Maryland

(speller 124), Lee’s Summit, Missouri

“Shark Tank. I learn about how people PDNH R̆ HUV DQG GL̆ HUHQW EXVLQHVVHV ´ Lucas Lee (speller 221), Port Lavaca, Texas

“SportsCenter. I watch it whenever I wake up in the morning and follow all of my favorite teams and how they are doing. I also love to watch the Not Top Ten!” Micah Sterling (speller 153), Watertown, New York

“Lego Ninjago has been, and probably always will be, my favorite TV series. I’ve been watching it for nine years, and it has some of the best characters I’ve seen in any TV show!”

Ibrahim Zaki (speller 25), Ventura, California

2024 • BEE KEEPER

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the buzz Speller to Speller

bee week wisdom What should spellers know as they bask in this unique experience? Here are some tips from the Scripps National Spelling Bee class of 2023.

We were thinking about you last June. After the 2023 Bee ended, we immediately surveyed the 230 spellers who participated and asked them to share their advice for future spellers. Themes emerged. Many were similar.

the Bee KeepeR Team Chose 25 tips fun

• The Bee is not about winning or losing, it is about learning and having fun.

• Soak in the experience of Bee Week, make lots of friends and have fun.

• Have fun and don’t get too worked up about it. Win or lose, you tried.

• Concentrate on your word, listen carefully to all the information you are given, and have fun with it!

enjoy

• Do your best to prepare, but don’t let it run your life; take time to be a kid and do other things you enjoy!

• Enjoy the journey and focus on learning. Winning will be nice and an added bonus. However, it is the learning journey that matters more.

• Just enjoy your week there, no matter what place you get!

• Do your best to prepare and then once you’re at the Bee, take your time and enjoy all of the experiences and opportunities.

• Enjoy every moment. Be proud of just making it to the QDWLRQDO FRPSHWLWLRQ 9LHZ \RXU ¿ UVW H[SHULHQFH DV D learning experience and absorb everything you can.

16 BEE KEEPER • 2024

PH OTO G R A PH S BY E. M . P I O RO DA A N D CR A I G H U D S O N / C H A L K B O A R D I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y S T O C K . A D O B E . C O M /O M E R I S

• Take it one round at a time, focus on the word and nothing else, but above all, have fun.

the buzz Speller to Speller

study • Study WKH ZRUG OLVW DQG NQRZ GH¿ QLWLRQV 2XU VFKRRO DQG ORFDO EHHV LQFOXGHG WKH YRFDEXODU\ URXQGV DQG WKDW ZDV KHOSIXO SUHSDUDWLRQ IRU WKH 6FULSSV 1DWLRQDO 6SHOOLQJ %HH • %H GHGLFDWHG study KDUG DQG HQMR\ WKRVH PHPRUDEOH PRPHQWV DORQJ WKH ZD\ • Study ZRUG URRWV DQG XQNQRZQ RULJLQ ZRUGV ,I \RX NQRZ URRWV WKHQ \RX NQRZ D ORW RI ZRUGV DQG WKH XQNQRZQ RULJLQ ZRUGV WDNH FDUH RI WKH UHVW • Study WKH HW\PRORJ\ RI ZRUGV 5HDG • &RQVLVWHQF\ JRHV D ORQJ ZD\ $ OLWWOH ELW RI SUDFWLFH HYHU\ VLQJOH GD\ ZLOO GR VR PXFK IRU \RX 8VH D YDULHW\ RI study PHWKRGV²WKH :RUG &OXE DSS :RUGV RI WKH &KDPSLRQV WKH GLFWLRQDU\ <RX7XEH YLGHRV VSHOOLQJ EHH PRYLHV WR LQVSLUH \RX HWF • 0DNH VXUH \RX study DQG SUHSDUH VR \RX ZLOO IHHO PRUH FRQ¿ GHQW

parting thoughts • :RUNLQJ KDUG GRLQJ \RXU EHVW DQG OHDUQLQJ IURP \RXU PLVWDNHV LV ZKDW PDWWHUV WKH PRVW • 7KH SUHSDUDWLRQ KDV DOUHDG\ EHHQ GRQH VR VRDN LQ DOO WKDW %HH :HHN KDV WR R̆ HU • , ZRXOG VD\ WKDW QR PDWWHU KRZ IDU \RX JHW LQ WKH PLQGV RI HYHU\RQH HOVH \RX DUH DOUHDG\ D FKDPSLRQ VR GRQ¶W JHW GLVFRXUDJHG LI \RX JHW RXW • 'R \RXU EHVW DQG YDOXH HYHU\ PRPHQW • 'R DV PDQ\ JURXS DFWLYLWLHV DV SRVVLEOH WDNH WKLQJV VORZO\ PDNH IULHQGV GRQ¶W SXW SUHVVXUH RQ \RXUVHOI • ,I \RX DUH QHUYRXV WKHUH DUH SOHQW\ RI RWKHU SHRSOH WKDW DUH DOVR DV QHUYRXV DV \RX • 0HHW DV PDQ\ QHZ SHRSOH DV \RX FDQ • -XVW VWD\ FDOP 7KH OLJKWV DQG FDPHUDV DUH D ORW VR \RX KDYH WR EH DEOH WR JURXQG \RXUVHOI WR GR ZHOO • <RX NQRZ ZRUGV \RX NQRZ GH¿ QLWLRQV *R RXW WKHUH DQG VSHOO OLNH QRERG\ LV ZDWFKLQJ

2024 • BEE KEEPER

17

the buzz Who You'll See

spellebrity sightings You may recognize some of these people. Keep your eyes peeled throughout Bee Week, and you are likely to see them around the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Who knows? They may even sign your Bee Keeper.

Dr. Jacques Bailly Dr. Bailly

has been the official pronouncer of the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2003, and he is also the 1980 national champion.

He is an associate professor of classics at the University of Vermont and lives in Burlington, Vermont.

Corrie Loeffler

The executive director of the Scripps National Spelling Bee is a former participant in the national competition. Loeffler has been on the Bee staff for 18 years.

She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more, go to page 52.

Mary Brooks

JACQUES

CORRIE

18 BEE KEEPER • 2024

MARY

P H OTO G R A P H BY T K LO R E M I S P U M

Yes, she rings the dreaded bell. Brooks has been a part of the Bee for more than 50 years, joining the panel of judges in 1979 and becoming head judge in 2005. She lives in Des Moines, Iowa, where she is a member of the West Des Moines Public Library board of trustees.

PH OTO G R APH S BY E. M . PI O RO DA AND CR AI G HUDSO N

the buzz Who You'll See

Paul Loeffler

Loeffler has been a TV analyst for the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2006. He is also a former Bee national competitor and the older brother of executive director Corrie Loeffler. Loeffler is a radio announcer for Fresno State sports broadcasts.

Dev Shah

PAUL

The 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion from Largo, Florida, won with the word “psammophile.” He will be going into 10th grade in the fall. For more on his year as champion and all the activity that followed, go to pages 46–47.

VANYA

P H OTO G R A P H BY T K LO R E M I S P U M

Vanya Shivashankar

The 2015 co-champion of the Scripps National Spelling Bee graduated in May 2023 from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science. She is from Olathe, Kansas, and will start medical school in the fall.

Shivashankar will serve as Bee Week emcee.

DEV

2024 • BEE KEEPER

19

the buzz P H OTO G R A P H S B Y C R A I G H U D S O N A N D H A R TO N G D I G I TA L M E D I A

Who You'll See

Dr. Brian Sietsema

Dr. Sietsema has been the associate pronouncer of the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2003 after serving as pronunciation editor for Merriam-Webster from 1990 to 1998. He is a priest of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

ZACH

Zach Sherwin

BRIAN

The Los Angeles-based comedian/rapper will be performing for the live audience at Thursday night’s finals and also at the party on Friday night. You can read more about him on page 57.

Peter Sokolowski

P H OTO G R A P H BY T K LO R E M I S P U M

The MerriamWebster editor-at-large and national spelling bee judge will talk to spellers Wednesday night in the Maryland Ballroom. He will also be present during select times at MerriamWebster’s booth in the Hall of Champions.

ADAM

Adam Symson The president and CEO of The E.W. Scripps Company will again hand the Scripps Cup to the champion. You can read more about Symson and what reading and words mean to him on page 53.

20 BEE KEEPER • 2024

PETER

the buzz Pop Culture

spelling bees in film, theater, books “How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee” ( 2023 ): Picture book,

written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Frank Morrison, for ages 7–10. It recounts the story of MacNolia Cox, WKH ¿UVW $IULFDQ $PHULFDQ WR ZLQ WKH $NURQ 2KLR VSHOOLQJ EHH DQG DGYDQFH WR WKH QDWLRQDO FRPSHWLWLRQ DQG KHU JURXQGEUHDNLQJ DFKLHYHPHQW GHVSLWH SUHMXGLFH DQG GLVFULPLQDWLRQ

“It’s Not Bragging If It’s True: How to Be Awesome at Life” (2023 ): %RRN IRU DJHV ± =DLOD $YDQW JDUGH¶V QRQ¿FWLRQ DFFRXQW RI KHU OLIH LQFOXGLQJ KHU UHVSRQVH WR LQVWDQW IDPH VKH H[SHULHQFHG DIWHU ZLQQLQJ WKH 6FULSSV 1DWLRQDO 6SHOOLQJ %HH DQG KHU DGYLFH IRU RWKHU NLGV

“Spelling the Dream” (2020 ): 1HWÀL[ RULJLQDO GRFXPHQWDU\ DERXW IRXU ,QGLDQ $PHULFDQ VWXGHQWV Y\LQJ WR ZLQ WKH 6FULSSV 1DWLRQDO 6SHOOLQJ %HH

“Bad Words” (2013): 5 UDWHG GDUN FRPHG\ DERXW \HDU ROG PDQ ZKR DGYDQFHV WR WKH QDWLRQDO FRPSHWLWLRQ DIWHU ¿QGLQJ D ORRSKROH LQ WKH UXOHV DW WKH UHJLRQDO VSHOOLQJ EHH

“Akeelah and the Bee” (2006): Movie about 11-yearROG VSHOOLQJ SKHQRP

PH OTO G R A PH S BY M A R K B OW EN A N D P ROV I D ED BY N U P U R L A L A

“American Bee: The National Spelling Bee and the Culture of Word Nerds” (2006): $ ERRN E\ -DPHV 0DJXLUH WKDW SURILOHV ILYH VSHOOHUV ZKR PDGH LW WR WKH ILQDO URXQGV RI WKH FRPSHWLWLRQ DQG JRHV EHKLQG WKH VFHQHV RI WKH 6FULSSV 1DWLRQDO 6SHOOLQJ %HH

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2005): 0XVLFDO FRPHG\ SOD\ DERXW D ¿FWLRQDO VSHOOLQJ EHH launched on Broadway.

“Bee Season” (2005): 'UDPD EDVHG RQ 0\OD *ROGEHUJ¶V

25 Years of ‘Spellbound’ ³6SHOOERXQG´ IROORZV HLJKW VSHOOHUV DV WKH\ SUHSDUH WR FRPSHWH LQ WKH 6FULSSV +RZDUG 1DWLRQDO 6SHOOLQJ %HH 7KH GRFXPHQWDU\ FDSWXUHV WKH HQGHDULQJ KXPDQ VLGH RI VSHOOLQJ EHHV IURP WKH GHYDVWDWLQJ ULQJ RI WKH EHOO WR WKH HXSKRULD RI 1XSXU /DOD V HYHQWXDO ZLQ :KDW PRVW YLHZHUV GRQ¶W UHDOL]H LV WKDW VKH ZDVQ¶W DPRQJ WKH VSHOOHUV RULJLQDOO\ FDSWXUHG IRU WKH GRFXPHQWDU\ ³:H ¿OPHG P\ SRUWLRQ ULJKW DIWHU WKH VSHOOLQJ EHH ´ /DOD UHFDOOHG 7KH ¿OPPDNHUV VWD\HG ZLWK KHU IDPLO\ IRU D ZHHN WR VKRRW DQG WKHQ VKH GLGQ¶W KHDU IURP WKHP IRU IRXU \HDUV %\ /DOD KDG ZULWWHQ LW R̆ DV D QLFH H[SHULHQFH EHIRUH VKH OHDUQHG ³6SHOOERXQG´ KDG EHHQ VKRZQ DW D IHZ ¿OP IHVWLYDOV DQG ZDV JDLQLQJ WUDFWLRQ 7KH ¿OP ZDV UHOHDVHG WR D ZLGHU DXGLHQFH MXVW EHIRUH VKH VWDUWed college at the University of Michigan where she VWXGLHG EUDLQ DQG FRJQLWLYH VFLHQFH ³3HRSOH ZRXOG ZULWH RQ D ZKLWHERDUG RQ P\ GRRU LQ P\ GRUP µ$UH \RX WKH 1XSXU IURP µ6SHOOERXQG¶"¶´ $IWHU FROOHJH /DOD¶V LQWHUHVW LQ VWXG\LQJ EUDLQV OHG her to do research at the Massachusetts Institute of 7HFKQRORJ\ EHIRUH HDUQLQJ D PDVWHU¶V GHJUHH DW 0' $QGHUVRQ &DQFHU &HQWHU LQ WKH RVWHRVDUFRPD ODE 6KH ZHQW RQ WR DWWHQG PHGLFDO VFKRRO $V IRU KHU LQYROYHPHQW LQ ³6SHOOERXQG"´ ³,W¶V JLYHQ PH D YHU\ LQWHUHVWLQJ VHFRQG OLIH DV D VSHOOHU DQG , IHHO SUHWW\ OXFN\ ´—TYLER HYDE

QRYHO RI WKH VDPH QDPH WKDW IROORZV D \RXQJ JLUO¶V MRXUQH\ WKURXJK YDULRXV OHYHOV RI VSHOOLQJ EHH FRPSHWLWLRQV WR WKH 6FULSSV 1DWLRQDO 6SHOOLQJ %HH

“Spellbound” ( 2002 ): 'RFXPHQWDU\ DERXW HLJKW FRPSHWLWRUV LQFOXGLQJ WKH FKDPSLRQ DW WKH 6FULSSV +RZDUG 1DWLRQDO 6SHOOLQJ %HH

“The Girl Who Spelled Freedom” ( 1986 ): Disney PRYLH DERXW D JLUO IURP &DPERGLD ZKR EHFRPHV D VSHOOLQJ EHH contender.

Note: List does not include skits or inclusion in shows

THEN AND NOW Nupur Lala in 1999 (left) and today, finishing her neuro-oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Common Chord P I A N O I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y S T O C K . A D O B E . C O M / S A M U I I

Pianist Sarah Fernandes Finds Harmony in Spelling, Performing

By Amy Blakely

22 BEE KEEPER • 2024

P H O T O G R A P H S P R O V I D E D B Y ( O P P O S I T E PA G E ) PA M R O C H H O L Z / I R I S I M A G E S / ( R I G H T ) T H E FA M I LY O F S A R A H F E R N A N D E S V I A T H E A M E R I C A N P R O T E G E I N T E R N AT I O N A L P I A N O C O M P E T I T I O N

CENTER STAGE Sarah performs at Carnegie Hall in April 2022.

Sarah Fernandes enjoys being on the stage, whether it’s to compete in a spelling bee or play the piano. And she’s found great success doing both.

Fernandes, 12, a sixth grader at St. Stephen the Martyr 6FKRRO LQ 2PDKD 1HEUDVND FRPSHWHG DQG ZDV D ¿ QDOLVW LQ last year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee, and she’s back for another try this year after tying for 10th place.

Bee Week means a hiatus from the concerts and contests that have brought her acclaim as a piano prodigy. Sarah has won national and international piano competitions, and she has performed at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall in New York and Ganz Hall in Chicago. In 2022, she was featured as a child musical prodigy at Project Harmony’s 25th Anniversary Gala in Omaha. That performance was especially fun, she says, because she got the “star treatment,” including having her own private dressing room and an invitation to the after party.

Sarah has participated in master classes with world-renowned pianists such as Enrico Elisi (the Harold D. and Imogene Herndon Endowed Professor of Music in piano at Texas Christian University), Joseph Rackers (piano professor at the Eastman School of Music), Jason Kwak (Regents’ and University Distinguished Professor of Piano at Texas State University), Marina Lomazov (piano professor at the Eastman), Michelle Cann WKH (OHDQRU 6RNROR̆ &KDLU LQ 3LDQR 6WXGLHV DW WKH &XUWLV ,QVWL tute of Music), Alan Chow (professor of piano and chair of the Piano Department at the Eastman), and Meng-Chieh Liu (faculty at the New England Conservatory and the Curtis Institute).

Most recently, Sarah won an audition to represent the Omaha Music Teachers Association at a master class with Grammywinning pianist Emanuel Ax. This past April, she was a guest soloist with the Mainland Symphony Orchestra in Orlando.

Sarah says competitive spelling and playing the piano have a

2024 • BEE KEEPER

23

Music-loving family Music has always been a part of the Braganza-Fernandes home.

Sarah’s mother, Sharmila Braganza, is a computer engineer but became a stay-at-home mom shortly after having kids.

Sarah’s dad, Praveen Fernandes, is a psychiatrist. Braganza and Fernandes are both from India but met and married after coming to the United States to work. Braganza says she always loved listening to music when she was growing up, although as a child in India she never had the opportunity to learn to play an instrument. She wanted Sarah and her older sisters, Rachel, now 18, and Hannah, now 17, to have that chance.

Braganza remembers the family going to a showroom to purchase a piano a decade ago. Though she was cautioned “not to touch,” toddler Sarah was on her tiptoes trying to reach and touch the keys. Looking back, Braganza says that should have been a sign that her youngest daughter was destined to make music.

Making of a child prodigy Once her older sisters began taking piano lessons, it wasn’t long before little Sarah started climbing up on the piano bench to give it a try, too.

“I remember playing little pieces of my sisters’ songs,” Sarah says. “I would just hear the songs in my head and try to recreate WKHP ´ %UDJDQ]D VDLG VKH ZDV VXUSULVHG WR ¿ QG 6DUDK DWWHPSWLQJ one of her sisters’ practice pieces. She says her daughter has perfect pitch and, from the start, would compose little tunes. “They would make sense, and they were beautiful,” Braganza says.

Fernandes began taking piano lessons at age 4. Today, she takes hour-long weekly virtual lessons with Washington Garcia, dean of the School of Music at Stetson University in Florida.

The two met when he was the founding Director of the School of Music at the University of Nebraska, Omaha.

“In my years of teaching, few students have left as deep a mark as Sarah,” Garcia says. “Not only does she stand in the top 1 percent of all the students I have had the privilege to instruct in my entire career ... but her commitment to mastering the piano also speaks highly about her pursuit of excellence. Sarah’s natural musicality and her disciplined approach to practice set her apart as a true prodigy. Her ability to interpret complex works

PIANO GIRL (Below) Sarah plays a concerto with a professional orchestra at the Ganz Hall in Chicago in January 2023.

(Opposite page, top to bottom) Sarah is with Dr. Washington Garcia, her piano teacher, visiting from Florida, at Project Harmony's 25th Anniversary Gala celebration at Holland Performing Arts Center in Omaha in October 2022. Sarah is with Grammy Awardwinning pianist Emanuel Ax at the Holland Performing Arts Center in Omaha in September 2023. Sarah won an audition to earn the masterclass with Ax, who was performing at the Holland that evening. Sarah advanced to the finals of the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee and finished tied for 10th place overall.

24 BEE KEEPER • 2024

P H O T O G R A P H P R O V I D E D B Y T H E FA M I LY O F S A R A H F E R N A N D E S V I A T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L YO U N G A R T I S T C O N C E R T O C O M P E T I T I O N

lot in common. “In both of them, you’re up on a stage in front of a lot of people. It’s the same kind of emotion—excited and just a little bit nervous,” Sarah says. “In both, you are trying to see how well you can do. In spelling, you have to memorize words,” she adds. For piano concerts and contests, “you have to memorize your music, so you don’t have to stare at a piece of music.”

P H O T O G R A P H S P R O V I D E D B Y T H E FA M I LY O F S A R A H F E R N A N D E S / S PEL L I N G B EE PH OTO G R A PH BY E. M . P I O RO DA

“In my years of teaching, few students have left as deep a mark as Sarah. Not only does she stand in the top 1 percent of all the students I have had the privilege to instruct in my entire career ... but her commitment to mastering the piano also speaks highly about her pursuit of excellence.”

with technical precision and deep emotional resonance predicts a bright future for her.”

Juggling school, homework, spelling study and her other interests, Fernandes tries to practice piano two to four hours a day. Her favorite piece is “The Lark,” based on a popular Russian song of the Romantic era. The simple core melody, composed by Mikhail Glinka, forms the basis of this intricate piece

by Mili Balakirev.

Sarah still likes to improvise, too. “Sometimes I get on the piano, and I think about what would sound really beautiful,” she says. Occasionally she writes these melodies down, “but usually I just keep them in my brain.”

For Sarah, playing the piano is much more than a hobby. “I want to be a famous pianist,” she says. “I want to travel around the world sharing my music with as many people as I can.”

I ‘ n music, I can relax more’ While there are similarities between competing in a spelling EHH DQG SHUIRUPLQJ D SLDQR FRQFHUW WKHUH DUH DOVR GL̆ HUHQFHV Sarah says. “I get just a little more nervous” at spelling bees, she says. In spelling, you are either right or wrong. “Music is more about what you feel. In music, I can relax more.”

At a concert or piano competition, Sarah eases her jitters by “trying to imagine what the audience will be thinking about when they listen to songs.”

In a spelling bee, “I like to take a deep breath and focus on the word” and then ask questions to get clues about the spelling.

Sarah watched her older sister, Hannah, compete in the national competition in 2017 and 2021. And having competed herself in 2023, Sarah says she’s less apprehensive about this year’s bee. “I know what to expect,” she says. “I had a great time last year. It was a lot of fun being on that stage. I’m excited about this year. I’m hoping it will be an amazing experience again.”

You can learn more about Sarah and hear her play piano on her website www.sarahgfernandes.com or by searching @sarahfernandespiano on YouTube.

2024 • BEE KEEPER

25

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By Amy Blakely

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ean Gibbons is a boy of many talents: He loves video games. He’s worked a 3x3 Rubik’s Cube in 40 seconds.

He’s fascinated with the periodic table and enjoys solving tough math problems. He can cite obscure facts about FRXQWULHV DQG À DJV And, of course, he’s a spelling whiz.

A 13-year-old eighth grader at Bryan Middle School in Elmhurst, Illinois, Sean won the DuPage Regional Spelling Bee to earn his seat in this year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee. Despite his fascination with words, his remarkable memory and his unmistakably high intelligence, competing in the Bee poses a special challenge for Sean.

7KDW¶V EHFDXVH 6HDQ LV QHXURGLYHUJHQW 6SHFL¿ FDOO\ KH LV DX WLVWLF ZKLFK PHDQV KLV EUDLQ SURFHVVHV LQIRUPDWLRQ GL̆ HUHQWO\ than most people’s brains.

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Unique, but Not 6HDQ LV QRW WKH ¿ UVW QDWLRQDO VSHOOLQJ EHH FRQWHVWDQW WR EH RQ WKH spectrum; in fact, there have been several. Among those: Evan O’Dorney, the 2007 champion. $OWKRXJK KH ZDV QHYHU Ṙ FLDOO\ GLDJQRVHG 2¶'RUQH\ QRZ 30, says his parents were told early on that he was “profoundly gifted” but exhibited classic signs of autism. He was doing calculus at age 10. He was fascinated by words and language.

And, as a young child, he enjoyed reading from the dictionary as a bedtime story. ³%XW , DOZD\V KDG GL̇ FXOW\ UHODWLQJ WR P\ SHHUV ´ KH VD\V Over the years, he’s been able to dramatically improve his social skills. O’Dorney, who has a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a doctorate from Princeton University, is now a SRVW GRFWRUDO UHVHDUFKHU DQG Ḋ OLDWHG IDFXOW\ PHPEHU DW &DU negie Mellon University.

WHIZ KID (Right) Sean Gibbons, center, with his teammates and teacher/coach Heather Bolur, left, at the Illinois State Mathcounts competition in March. (Opposite page) Sean peruses the dictionary at 2 1/2 years old (top); competing at the DuPage Regional Spelling Bee (bottom).

26 BEE KEEPER • 2024

P H O T O G R A P H P R O V I D E D B Y T H E FA M I LY O F S E A N G I B B O N S / B R A I N I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y S T O C K . A D O B E . C O M /C R A Z Y N O O K

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P H O T O G R A P H S P R O V I D E D B Y T H E FA M I LY O F S E A N G I B B O N S

Sharing to Help Others Sean, along with his parents—Regina, a classroom aide and substitute teacher, and Ryan, a corporate tax director for a large insurance company—decided they wanted to share their journey in hopes it might be helpful to others. ³:H UHFRJQL]HG WKDW 6HDQ¶V QHXURGLYHUVLW\ LV D VLJQL¿FDQW element of who he is, and it isn’t something to shy away from,” Ryan Gibbons says. “We also recognized that we had an opportunity to share a great success that might be helpful or inspiring for other neurodiverse kids and their parents to hear. Parenting D \RXQJ FKLOG WKDW LV QHXURGLYHUVH FDQ EH YHU\ GL̇FXOW ´ The Gibbonses said they realized early on that there was VRPHWKLQJ GL̆HUHQW DERXW 6HDQ %\ DJH 6HDQ ZDV OHD¿QJ through the dictionary. He would sing the alphabet over and over. He liked to keep his toys in a neat line. And at the park, he preferred to run in circles rather than play on the equipment.

He could draw a perfectly straight line without a ruler.

Sean was diagnosed as autistic in preschool and attended UHJXODU HOHPHQWDU\ VFKRRO FODVVHV %XW WKH WUDQVLWLRQ ZDVQ¶W smooth. Sean struggled with anxiety and other developmenWDO KHDOWK FKDOOHQJHV 6RFLDO LQWHUDFWLRQV ZHUH GL̇FXOW IRU KLP “Sean has long wanted to do things his way, not the way everyone else does them,” Ryan Gibbons says.

1HHGLQJ PRUH KHOS WKDQ KLV HOHPHQWDU\ VFKRRO FRXOG R̆HU Sean was placed in a special program for kids with autism. He spent his third and fourth grades there and began learning how to modify his behavior. “He had a lot of teachers and therapists who worked to improve things,” Ryan Gibbons says. “When other kids his age were playing, Sean was working on his issues.

I’ve always been really proud of Sean to achieve what he has.

He’s worked hard.” ,Q ¿IWK JUDGH 6HDQ PRYHG EDFN LQWR KLV UHJXODU FODVVURRP Though he disliked online classes during the pandemic, he’s enjoyed school since in-person classes resumed. “My favorite thing about school is we get to see each other,” Sean says, referring to his classmates and his teachers.

A Headful of Words Sean excels in many subjects, including math, science and spelling. He is on his school’s math team and was one of four students chosen to represent his school at a recent Illinois state tourQDPHQW ³, OLNH PDQ\ GL̆HUHQW NLQGV RI SUREOHPV DQG VROYLQJ them,” Sean says.

Sean is also fascinated with the periodic table. His parents say that once, seeking to amuse himself when he got bored during his younger brother’s scouting event, Sean found a whiteboard and drew the periodic table—complete with each element’s atomic number and weight—from memory.

Sean has also always loved words. For many years, he asked for a new dictionary for his birthday. “He’s spent many hours paging through dictionaries,” Ryan Gibbons says. “He’s got a headful of words.”

Sean won his regional bee on the word “ossuary,” which refers to a container or room that holds the bones of dead people.

He didn’t remember studying the word, so “I basically asked IRU WKH GH¿QLWLRQ ODQJXDJH RI RULJLQ DQG VR RQ $QG , LQIHUUHG the spelling.”

For the national competition, Sean has studied from the dictionary with his mom and dad serving as his coaches. “Spelling runs in the family,” Regina Gibbons says. She won her town VSHOOLQJ EHH LQ HLJKWK JUDGH 6HDQ¶V EURWKHU 6DP ZRQ WKH MXQLRU GLYLVLRQ RI KLV VFKRRO VSHOOLQJ EHH JUDGHV ± DV D VHFond grader. “I’m the only one who hasn’t won a school spelling bee,” Ryan Gibbons notes with a laugh.

Sean says his goal is to make it as far as he can in the national FRPSHWLWLRQ DOWKRXJK KH VD\V KH¶G ORYH WR PDNH LW WR WKH VHPL¿QDOV DQG RU ¿QDOV VR KH FDQ EH RQ QDWLRQDO 79 IRU WKH ¿UVW WLPH 7KH ZKROH IDPLO\ ZLOO DFFRPSDQ\ 6HDQ WR WKH %HH DQG QR matter what happens, they say their goal is to do what they do every day: “Try to help Sean be his best.”

2024 • BEE KEEPER

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Five things you might not know about the production of the Bee

BY DAVID HUDSON Head of Original Programming for Scripps Networks and Executive Producer of the Bee

You can’t spell

CHAMPION without In October 2021, The E.W. Scripps Company announced that the Scripps National Spelling Bee would have a new television home: ION, a national network acquired by the company in January 2021 and the No. 5 most-watched entertainment network in primetime. +DYLQJ ¿ UVW PDGH LWV WHOHYLVLRQ GHEXW RQ 1%& LQ WKH Bee aired sporadically on various networks from PBS to CNN before spending 27 years on ESPN platforms.

Taking over the broadcast was a major undertaking. I thought it might be interesting to take you behind the scenes and share some of what goes into televising the event. So, as executive producer of the Bee, I talked to the Bee Keeper team.

28 BEE KEEPER • 2024

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HOW LONG DOES PLANNING TAKE? Specific planning for each year’s production begins primarily in October, so seven to eight months out. Various divisions from Scripps Networks begin meeting bi-monthly starting in January with some groups meeting weekly or bi-weekly.

Scripps must secure contracts with outside help, such as directors, producers, engineers and other support staff. (More on that later.)

Planning doesn’t really have a starting and stopping point.

It’s year-round, and in some cases, we’re looking ahead several years. For example, the Bee has been working on ideas for the celebration of its 100th anniversary (in 2025) since 2022.

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HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN THE TELEVISION PRODUCTION? During the planning stages, more than 100 people are involved, the majority of which work for Scripps Networks. There are several key independent contractors who are focused on the physical production of the show. These are people mostly behind the scenes who play important roles in the broadcast.

We feel we have the best of the best. David Bryant is a veteran supervising producer, and Bill Urban is the executive in charge of production who oversees the television production for all of Bee Week. We have Emmy award–winning director Michael Dempsey and his exceptional crew that capture every magical moment of competition.

Story producer/director Nancy Saslow and her team of award-winning producers are in charge of telling the spellHUV¶ VWRULHV DQG VKHSKHUGLQJ EURDGFDVW DQDO\VW 3DXO /RḦ HU through 20 hours of competition. Saslow, in fact, has gone to spellers’ homes leading up to the competition to conduct interviews for promotional and broadcast purposes.

“It’s incredible and very special to interact with the kids and their families behind the scenes,” Saslow says. “To experience the Bee with them, as well as with this large and talented group of colleagues is a blast. It’s like we all get to run away and join the circus for a week.”

During Bee Week, there are more than 200 people involved in the production, including volunteers and television crew members. Michelle Robinson’s responsibility includes managing every second of the televised production for the Bee broadcast. James Stevens is our expressions operator, responsible for all the graphics presented, including the words that are being spelled, their meaning and everything you see in written form on the television screen.

PH OTO G R A PH S BY E. M . PI O RO DA

ACTION! Emmy-award winning director Michael Dempsey in the control room.

We are always thinking about how to better the experience for participants, their families and the millions of viewers that watch the Bee every year. After each Bee Week, we evaluate what worked and didn’t work and solicit new ideas. They are all discussed and considered as we plan for the next year.

After 2022, we re-evaluated the role of a host, the idea of backstage interviews after spellers were eliminated, the number and timing of breaks during the competition, and so much more. $ ORW RI SHRSOH IURP GL̆ HUHQW GHSDUWPHQWV SURYLGHG IHHGEDFN that led to changes in 2023.

2024 • BEE KEEPER

29

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HOW IS THE SET BUILT OUT? Planning for the Bee set is a constant endeavor as we always are looking to add something new and exciting. For the 2023 competition, we redesigned the host set with an updated look that was more modern and functional for the competition’s broadFDVW 7KDW LV ZKHUH DQDO\VW /RḦ HU VLWV DQG WDONV WR D YDULHW\ RI guests. It’s in the back of the ballroom.

Last year, the set arrived with the iconic Bee stage Friday morning prior to Bee Week. Some 30 crew members worked on clearing the room, hanging pipe for the lighting and drapes, and constructing the set. In 2023, because of new branding for the Bee, the new giant logo had to be created and hung in place above the stage.

All this was done before the television crew (70 people) and its equipment arrived Saturday morning when the television buildout began.

Video and audio trucks were set up, generators put in place, a quarter mile of cable run, cameras and lights positioned and everything was tested in preparation for the Opening Ceremony and subsequent days of competition.

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WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WATCHING ON TV AND BEING IN THE ROOM? It’s important to note there is a challenge in balancing the in-person experience vs. the TV viewer experience. What works for television doesn’t always work for the integrity of the Bee

30 BEE KEEPER • 2024

experience. How do you capture the moments so they are as compelling as if you were there? Producers want viewers captivated but not at the expense of the integrity of the competition nor the experience of the participants and their families.

As for the spellers, they ranged from 9 to 14 years old last \HDU )RU PDQ\ WKLV LV WKHLU ¿ UVW WUXH H[SHULHQFH RI FRPSHWLWLRQ at a high level and on national television.

We want to provide a good experience in the face of the pressure of the competition. Scripps, organizers of the Bee, the executive team within Scripps Network and organizers of the television production take this mission seriously and work closely to ensure a positive experience that will impact the spellers throughout their lives. :H ZRUNHG KDUG WR LPSURYH WKH SURGXFWLRQ DQG À RZ RI WKH TV show in 2023, and onsite in the ballroom we used more music and even had a comedian/rapper entertaining the audience.

(Zach Sherwin will be back in 2024, too. See page 57 for more RQ KLP :H ZLOO FRQWLQXH WR ¿ QH WXQH WKH H[SHULHQFH IRU WKH television viewers and those in attendance.

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HOW HAS THE AUDIENCE GROWN SINCE MOVING TO ION? In 2022, viewership was up 147% from the previous year with WKH ODUJHVW WHOHYLVLRQ DXGLHQFH VLQFH (631 7KH OLYH ¿ QDOV EURDGFDVW RQ ,21 %RXQFH /D̆ DQG 7UXH5HDO FRPELQHG WR UHDFK PLOOLRQ YLHZHUV ZKLOH WKH VHPL¿ QDOV RQ -XQH UHDFKHG

PH OTO G R A PH S BY E. M . PI O RO DA

SET THE SCENE (Above) The crew transforms the Maryland Ballroom in the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center into the Bee's home for the week. (Right) Analyst Paul Loeffler interviews actress Yvette Nicole Brown from the Maryland Ballroom.

3.1 million viewers—the highest audience ever for the semis. ,Q 6FULSSV DLUHG WKH VHPL¿ QDOV DQG ¿ QDOV RQ DOO VL[ RI LWV HQWHUWDLQPHQW QHWZRUNV ,21 %RXQFH 'HI\ 79 *ULW /D̆ DQG ,21 0\VWHU\ 7KH ¿ QDOV OLYH DQG LPPHGLDWH HQFRUH UHDFKHG its largest audience since 2012—6.1 million viewers.

SPELLING BEE

PROGRAMS

2022

Dev Jaiswal and Arjun Jagjivan work from the production truck during the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

2023

REACH

REACH

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3.1M

4.9M

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3.7M

4.5M

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1.6M

3.1M

ALL SPELLING BEE PROGRAMS

7.5M

9.2M

Reach reflects the unduplicated number of viewers (ages 2 and up) that saw at least one minute of the program.

Individual programs total more than all programs added up because some viewers watched multiple Bee programs.

Reach in 2022 reflects viewership across four Scripps networks (ION, Bounce, LAFF and TrueReal). Reach in 2023 reflects six Scripps networks (ION, Bounce, Defy TV, Grit, Laff and ION Mystery).

P H OTO G R A P H BY T K LO R E M I S P U M

Source: Nielsen, Live+SameDay.

DID YOU KNOW FORMER NATIONAL COMPETITORS CONTROL THE ONSCREEN GRAPHICS IN REAL TIME? For the last two years, Dev Jaiswal has worked from the production truck during Bee Week, enhancing the YLHZLQJ H[SHULHQFH IRU PLOOLRQV ZLWK OLYH RQVFUHHQ VSHOOLQJV RI HYHU\ ZRUG LQ WKH FRPSHWLWLRQ $ ¿ QDOLVW LQ KH KDV D ¿ UVW KDQG XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI WKH IRFXV and care required to carry out this role. After all, he knows just how much the television audience relies on the onscreen graphics, especially for those tricky ZRUGV LQ WKH ¿ QDOV In his role, Jaiswal uses a touchscreen monitor to FRQWURO ZKDW WKH WHOHYLVLRQ YLHZHU VHHV DQG WKH FKDQJ HV JR OLYH LQ UHDO WLPH +H FRORU FRGHV WKH OHWWHUV RI each word in the competition as they are spelled. For correctly spelled letters, he presses a green button that turns the letter blue. If a letter is spelled incorrectly, he presses a red button that turns the letter red. During word meaning rounds, he presses a button indicating WKH VSHOOHU¶V DQVZHU ³$ ´ ³%´ RU ³&´ DQG WKH V\VWHP color codes it as green for correct or red for incorrect. ³&RQWUROOLQJ WKH JUDSKLFV RI WKH %HH EURDGFDVW LQ UHDO WLPH LV DQ H[FLWLQJ UHVSRQVLELOLW\ DQG D XQLTXH O\ WKULOOLQJ ZD\ RI H[SHULHQFLQJ WKH FRPSHWLWLRQ ´ Jaiswal says.

Since the work requires constant focus, he shares the role with other former national competitors, each working a few hours at a time. In 2023, he was joined E\ $UMXQ -DJMLYDQ 7DUD 6LQJK DQG FR FKDPSLRQ Jairam Hathwar. Alongside them in the production truck are members of the graphics team who control RQVFUHHQ HOHPHQWV OLNH WKH GH¿ QLWLRQ DQG WLPH FORFN along with the speller’s name, hometown and more.

—TYLER HYDE

2024 • BEE KEEPER

31

WHO’S THAT GIRL? It was this photo posted

by Brian Throckmorton, middle, that prompted Amy Blakely, right, to find her spelling bee classmates. Richard Spontak is at left.

Long Lost Friends Nearly 50 years later, a ’75 Bee contestant is on a quest to find her fellow spellers.

“I wonder what happened to all of those kids who were in the National Spelling Bee with you?”

It all began with that simple question.

About four years ago, soon after retiring from my career in newspaper journalism and college public relations, I stumbled upon a Facebook group for former National Spelling Bee spellers. I lost myself scrolling through the posts until—gasp!—I saw a photo of my 14-year-old self standing with two boys at the 48th Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee in 1975.

One of the boys, Brian Throckmorton (now a research editor for the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission) had posted the photo. In it, he and another speller, Richard Spontak (now a Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at North Carolina State University), were signing each other’s autograph books.

Throckmorton’s post referred to me as “a girl whose name I can’t remember.” &XULRXV VXUSULVHG DQG D OLWWOH PL̆HG WKDW , KDGQ¶W EHHQ memorable, I quickly replied, “I’m that girl.”

7KH QH[W GD\ , VKDUHG P\ )DFHERRN ¿QG ZLWK P\ \HDU ROG mom. Marveling at it, she asked the question already on both of our minds. “I don’t know what happened to all of those kids,” I UHSOLHG ³%XW ,¶P JRLQJ WR WU\ WR ¿QG RXW ´

Transformational experience

All hyperbole aside, the National Spelling Bee was a life-changing experience for me.

32 BEE KEEPER • 2024

I grew up in Centralia, a small town in southern Illinois. I am an only child, and my father passed away when I was 8.

I was a good student, quiet and well-behaved. I played clarinet in the band and helped produce a school newspaper. I was active in my church youth group and had lots of hobbies.

Despite all I had going for me, I wasn’t part of the “in-crowd.”

Meanwhile, my mom was busy working as a special education teacher, raising me and maintaining our home. She had a VPDOO FLUFOH RI IULHQGV EXW ZDV QRW D VRFLDO EXWWHUÀ\ HLWKHU When I won the St. Louis Post-Dispatch regional bee, we ZHUH H[FLWHG EXW DOVR QHUYRXV DERXW MHWWLQJ R̆ WR :DVKLQJWRQ D.C. I had never been on an airplane before; my mom hadn’t ÀRZQ IRU PDQ\ \HDUV +RZ ZHUH ZH JRLQJ WR QDYLJDWH WKH QDWLRQ¶V FDSLWDO WKH 0D\ÀRZHU +RWHO DQG WKH 1DWLRQDO 6SHOOLQJ Bee on our own?

Very well, thank you.

Even though I made it only halfway through the competition EHIRUH WULSSLQJ RQ WKH ZRUG ³RQ\[ ´ %HH :HHN ZDV VHOI ḊUPing, even liberating.

Overall, my fellow contestants were a lot like me— high-achieving, serious-but-fun-loving kids. We were cool, but we didn’t know it. We enjoyed the parties and sightseeing trips.

We got to mingle with Will Geer, who played Grandpa Walton on the popular ’70s TV show, “The Waltons,” who was there to make a TV special about the bee.

A group of us bought “Virginia is for Lovers” T-shirts to wear RQ WKH EXV WRXUV :H FRQYLQFHG KRWHO VWD̆ WR OHW XV XVH D PHHWLQJ

P H OTO G R A P H BY T K LO R E M I S P U M

By Amy Blakely

P H O T O G R A P H S P R O V I D E D B Y A M Y B L A K E LY P H OTO G R A P H BY T K LO R E M I S P U M

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Big anniversary looms 'XULQJ WKH SDVW IRXU \HDUV ,¶YH ORFDWHG RI WKH FRQWHVWDQWV ZKR FRPSHWHG ZLWK PH LQ WKH 1DWLRQDO 6SHOOLQJ %HH , KDYH LQWHUYLHZHG ,¶YH PDGH FRQWDFW ZLWK RWKHUV EXW ,¶P VWLOO ZDLWLQJ IRU WKHP WR UHVSRQG WR P\ TXHVWLRQV RU DJUHH WR DQ LQWHUYLHZ 8QIRUWXQDWHO\ ,¶YH GLVFRYHUHG WKDW WKUHH DUH GHFHDVHG DQG RQH LV LQFDUFHUDWHG 2QO\ WKUHH KDYH GHFOLQHG WR SDUWLFLSDWH $QG VL[ UHPDLQ D P\VWHU\ , KDYHQ¶W EHHQ DEOH WR ORFDWH WKHP <HW 1H[W \HDU ZLOO EH WKH WK DQQLYHUVDU\ RI RXU EHH² DQG WKH WK DQQLYHUVDU\ RI WKH 6FULSSV 1DWLRQDO 6SHOOLQJ %HH²WKH SHUIHFW WLPH WR VKDUH RXU VWRULHV DQG FHOHEUDWH RXU PHPRULHV 6R ZLWK WKH WHQDFLW\ RI D MRXUQDOLVW²DQG WKH KHDUW RI D IRU PHU VSHOOLQJ EHH FRQWHVWDQW², FRQWLQXH VHDUFKLQJ IRU KLQWV DVNLQJ TXHVWLRQV DQG KRSLQJ IRU V X F F H V V Amy Blakely has been writing for the Bee Keeper magazine since 2022. If you are inspired to help track down your spelling bee classmates, please visit spellingbee.com/alumni to let us know.

LASTING MEMORIES Left, a New York Daily News clipping shows spellers Peter Francis, with the sign, Lisa Weinstock, left, Christine Polisciano, back middle, and Craig Kamins, right, at LaGuardia Airport. Center, Amy Blakely with fellow contestant Bill Cota in 2021. Right, Amy Blakely (with braids) with fellow spellers in their "Virginia is for lovers" shirts.

2024 • BEE KEEPER

33

m o r f e com

out b a k l a t s r le Three spel ories. t s e u q i n u their

yd e B y Ty le r H l P e rr y e a h ic and M

34 BEE KEEPER • 2024

Germany

WILLKOMMEN Left, Benjamin, with mom Kelly, younger brother Harrison and dad Sergio at Mont-Saint-Michel during a camping trip to Normandy, France. Right, Benjamin holds up his trophy and certificate after winning the European PTSA regional spelling bee.

ODWH ZD̈ HV DQG IULHV +LV IDYRULWH FXLVLQH" -DSDQHVH ³7KHUH LV D ELJ -DSDQHVH FRPPXQLW\ LQ 'XVVHOGRUI QRW WRR IDU IURP where I live.”

When asked about the biggest advantage of his life in Germany, Benjamin shares that he believes it is “getting to know people from so many cultural backgrounds” and “learning about GL̆ HUHQW SDUWV RI WKH ZRUOG LQ D ZD\ , GRQ¶W WKLQN \RX FDQ IURP ERRNV ´ +H KDV WUDYHOHG ZLWK KLV IDPLO\ WR GL̆ HUHQW FRXQWULHV in his nine years. When Benjamin travels for Bee Week, the 8QLWHG 6WDWHV ZLOO EHFRPH KLV WK FRXQWU\ ³,¶P UHDOO\ H[FLWHG to see Washington. My little brother borrowed a book from the library so we could learn more about the city.”

P H O T O G R A P H S P R O V I D E D B Y T H E FA M I LY OF BENJA MIN GRICE

N

ine-year-old Benjamin Grice has lived in Germany for two years. Before that, his family called Latvia, one of the Baltic countries in Northern Europe, their home. Before that, he lived everywhere from Halifax to Ottawa in his home country of Canada. In fact, winning the European PTSA spelling bee will give him the opportunity to FKHFN D QHZ FRXQWU\ R̆ KLV OLVW WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV of America.

Benjamin is part of a military family. “Being the kid of a parent in the military has given me a chance WR OLYH LQ VR PDQ\ GL̆ HUHQW SODFHV DQG DOO RI WKHP are unique,” he says.

One of the best things about Selfkant, the German city where he currently lives, is its proximity to both the Netherlands and Belgium. “I go to school in the Netherlands, and we might go to lunch in Belgium. There are so many languages and things to see and do.”

Afnorth International School has over 900 students, ages 3 to 18. Of the 24 kids in his class, most are Canadian, though he also has classmates from Romania, Poland, Norway and Czechia. Benjamin’s school bus picks him up at the military base ZKHUH KLV GDG ZRUNV LQ *HUPDQ\ DQG GURSV KLP R̆ DW KLV VFKRRO LQ WKH 1HWKHUODQGV ,Q WKH DIWHUQRRQV KH JHWV GURSSHG R̆ LQ WKH small German town near his home.

Benjamin likes to play soccer (“fussball, as they call it here”), and he’s known at his school for his skills at folding origami and solving Rubik’s Cubes. He also plays basketball, volleyball and touch rugby.

Some of the unique aspects of living in Germany are the festivals (“Germany has a lot of Christmas markets in the winter and they are fun to go to”) and the food (“I like big fresh pretzels and sometimes schnitzel”). Being located on the border with the Netherlands and Belgium means he gets to try their foods, WRR OLNH 'XWFK IULHG ¿ VK FDOOHG Kibbeling and Belgian choco-

y a aw

The majority of the spellers competing in this year’s national competition will journey from across the country to join together in the Washington, D.C., area. Many will travel by airplane, some by train and a few will pack up the car and drive to the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center.

Some, however, will have no choice but to fly.

(It would take an impossibly long bridge to drive from Saipan!) We talked with three spellers who live outside of the United States to learn more about their lives and what makes them unique.

P H O T O G R A P H S P R O V I D E D B Y T H E FA M I LY O F A L L E E N A V I L L A L U Z

S

eventh-grader Alleena Villaluz, 13, lives in Saipan, a U.S. commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands with a population of roughly 51,000. Villaluz earned a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee by winning the Guam regional. Guam, a U.S. territory, is an island roughly 133 miles (by air) from Saipan.

“Saipan is truly a very unique island to live in,” Alleena shares. “What I feel makes Saipan unique is its culture. Saipan’s culture, also called Chamorro culture, originates from Japan, 6SDLQ WKH 3KLOLSSLQHV DQG WKH 8 6 ,WV LQÀ XHQFHV PDNH LW YHU\ GL̆ HUHQW IURP RWKHU FXOWXUHV RI WKH ZRUOG 6RPH &KDPRUUR SUDFWLFHV LQFOXGH ¿ HVWDV RU SDUWLHV ZKHUH &KDPRUUR IDPLOLHV gather; novenas, or gatherings to pray; and traditional dancing.”

Alleena enjoys the diverse population of the island and experiencing different cultures, including the Philippines, Korea, China and Saipan itself. She says she believes it gives Saipan residents “a better understanding of other cultures, which you can’t really accomplish living anywhere else.”

Her daily life, she says, is “fairly normal for a kid similar to my age.” Her mother drives her by car every morning to her school of about 300 students (kindergarten through 12th grade). Her classes include English, Mandarin, World History, Math, Drama, Composition and Science. Her seventh-grade class has 20 students.

After school, she takes an additional math class, then attends

Saipan

HÅFA ADAI Top, Alleena with her brother Arthur, mom Roxanne and dog Potato. Right, Alleena is closing in on a black belt in tae kwon do. Lower left, Alleena after winning the Rotary Club of Guam Regional. an hour-long tae kwon do lesson. She is one level away from black belt. She is also part of her school’s math club, Model United Nations club, and speech and debate club, with which she will compete nationally this summer.

“There are numerous outdoor activities unique to Saipan, including boat riding, hiking, diving and exploring outdoors,” Alleena says. “In Saipan, you can take boat rides to the small neighboring island of Managaha, a fantastic destination for swimming and diving. There are also several other swimming and diving areas, including Micro Beach and the Grotto. Aside from ocean activities, Saipan also is home to hiking trails, some of which include trails to the Forbidden Island and the Old Man by the Sea.” She also mentioned unique foods, including escabeche, a dish RI PDULQDWHG ¿ VK DQG YHJHWDEOHV apigigi, a dish of grilled coconut wrapped in banana leaves; and chicken kelaguen, a dish of cubed grilled chicken combined with shredded coconut, lemon and various spices. Her favorite Chamorro food is buñuelos aga, RU GHHS IULHG EDQDQD GRQXWV WRSSHG R̆ ZLWK VXJDU “My life in Saipan is very fun and exciting,” she said. “Saipan has so many activities and opportunities that are scarcely available anywhere else in the world.”

2024 • BEE KEEPER

35

MIIFALA BO Right, Giovanni Adjei kisses his trophy after winning the Young Educators Foundation Regional in Accra, Ghana. Below left, Giovanni with his parents and siblings in March 2023. Below right, Giovanni and his brother petting a monkey at the Ada Island Zoo in December 2022.

en-year-old Giovanni Adjei is proud to be from Ghana, a West African country with a rich cultural history. “CulturDOO\ ZH DUH D EOHQG RI ¿ YH HWKQLF JURXSV ZLWK RYHU VSRNHQ ODQJXDJHV ´ *LRYDQQL VKDUHV (DFK HWKQLF JURXS FHOHEUDWHV D XQLTXH IHVWLYDO DW D SDUWLFX ODU WLPH RI \HDU )RU *LRYDQQL¶V WULEH *D $GDQJEH WKH \HDUO\ IHVWLYDO FDOOHG ³+RPRZR´ LV FHOHEUDWHG LQ WKH PRQWK RI $XJXVW ³7KLUW\ GD\V SULRU WR WKH FHOHEUDWLRQ ´ KH H[SODLQV ³WKHUH LV D EDQ RQ QRLVHPDNLQJ DQG ¿ VKLQJ 7KLV LV EHOLHYHG WR JLYH RXU DQFHVWRUV DQG ODQG VRPH UHVW DQG TXLHW EHIRUH WKH FHOHEUDWLRQV ´ ³+RPRZR´ PHDQV ³KRRWLQJ DW KXQJHU´ LQ WKH *D ODQJXDJH and Giovanni and his family celebrate it to remember the past ZKHQ KLV DQFHVWRUV PRYHG IURP D SHULRG RI H[WUHPH KXQJHU LQWR D EXPSHU KDUYHVW RI FRUQ 'XULQJ WKH FHOHEUDWLRQV D VSHFLDO meal called Kpokpoi LV SUHSDUHG IURP FRUQ DQG VSULQNOHG DOO DURXQG WR WKDQN WKH DQFHVWRUV IRU DQRWKHU VXFFHVVIXO \HDU $F FRUGLQJ WR *LRYDQQL WKLV ZHHN ORQJ HYHQW RI GUXPPLQJ GDQF LQJ DQG PHUU\PDNLQJ LV ³D JUHDW KRPHFRPLQJ VHDVRQ ZKHUH family members who may have travelled or relocated visit home WR FHOHEUDWH ZLWK IDPLO\ DQG IULHQGV ´ 2Q D W\SLFDO VFKRRO GD\ *LRYDQQL¶V OLIH VRXQGV OLNH WKDW RI PDQ\ VSHOOHUV +H ZDNHV XS LQ WKH PRUQLQJ JHWV UHDG\ IRU VFKRRO ZLWK KLV VLEOLQJV DQG KRSV LQWR WKH FDU VR KLV GDG FDQ GURS KLP R̆ ³0\ VFKRRO LV D PLVVLRQDU\ VFKRRO DQG KDV TXLWH D ODUJH SRSXODWLRQ PDGH RI FKLOGUHQ IURP PL[HG XUEDQ DUHDV ´ KH VD\V 7KHUH DUH VWXGHQWV LQ KLV FODVV ZLWK DQ DOPRVW HTXDO SURSRUWLRQ RI ER\V WR JLUOV $IWHU VFKRRO KH FRPSOHWHV KLV KRPHZRUN SOD\V ZLWK KLV EURWKHU DQG UHDGV XQWLO EHGWLPH ³,¶P WU\LQJ WR DFFXPXODWH UHDGLQJ SRLQWV IURP P\ UHDGLQJ FOXE DSS ´ 2Q WKH ZHHNHQGV he plays football with his soccer academy and attends class for 8&0$6 D SRSXODU DULWKPHWLF DQG FRJQLWLYH VNLOOV SURJUDP LQ $IULFD DQG $VLD 6XQGD\V DUH IRU IXQ DFWLYLWLHV ZLWK WKH IDPLO\ ZKLFK FRXOG EH ZDWFKLQJ D PRYLH YLVLWLQJ D SOD\JURXQG SRRO RU EHDFK RU HYHQ YLVLWLQJ KLV JUDQGSDUHQWV RU FRXVLQV ³, DP YHU\

36 BEE KEEPER • 2024

Ghana KDSS\ , EHORQJ WR D SODFH ZKHUH WKHUH LV YHU\ ULFK FXOWXUH DQG KHULWDJH DQG FKLOGUHQ DUH YDOXHG EHFDXVH LQ *KDQD IDPLO\ DQG WUDGLWLRQ LV D YHU\ NH\ SDUW RI RXU ZD\ RI OLIH ´ )RRG LV DOVR D XQLTXH DVSHFW RI WKH *KDQDLDQ FXOWXUH :KLOH WKHUH DUH VRPH IRRGV LQ FRPPRQ ZLWK QHLJKERULQJ FRXQWULHV *LRYDQQL VKDUHG WZR WKDW DUH XQLTXH WR *KDQD gari fortor, made IURP JUDWHG FDVVDYD ZKLFK LV URDVWHG WR D FRXVFRXV OLNH IHHO DQG PL[HG ZLWK WRPDWR VDXFH DQG kenkey, made from corn meal and ERLOHG VHUYHG ZLWK IULHG ¿ VK LQ D SHSSHU VDXFH %RWK GLVKHV DUH FRPPRQO\ HQMR\HG E\ *KDQDLDQV OLYLQJ DORQJ WKH FRDVW %HWZHHQ WKH FRDVWOLQH ULFK KLVWRULFDO VLWHV DQG WKH EHDXWLIXO weather, Giovanni believes Ghana is “one of the best places to EH ERUQ OLYH DQG JURZ XS ,W IHHOV OLNH VXPPHU DOPRVW DOO \HDU URXQG ´

P H O T O G R A P H S P R O V I D E D B Y T H E YO U N G E D U C AT O R S F O U N D AT I O N A N D T H E FA M I LY O F G I O VA N N I A D J E I

T

the bee is getting ready to celebrate its

Calling all alumni! Did you know the first National Spelling Bee took place on June 17, 1925, in Washington, D.C.?

Next year, the Bee will celebrate its 100th anniversary, and we want you to be part of the centennial celebration.

Join the Bee’s alumni group to stay connected to all the buzz.

You could even submit your own photos or stories for inclusion in special opportunities leading up to the anniversary.

Visit spellingbee.com/alumni to join the celebration!

your beeswax Hidden Pictures

This puzzle is provided courtesy of

a valued partner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Explore more Hidden Pictures like this one from brainPLAY magazine at highlights.com/ BeeBrainy.

sailboat dog bone

artists brush

bowl fork

buzz-y bees gavel

saucepan

pen

boomerang

38 BEE KEEPER • 2024

rocket ship

spoon

cauldron

kite

tack

frying pan

butter knife

teacup

trowel

bell

slice of pizza

banana

pennant

golf club

hat

wishbone

slice of pie

I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y J O E S E I D I TA

feather

your beeswax Crossword

BY CHANDI DEITMER

across

P H OTO G R A P H BY T K LO R E M I S P U M

down

Answers on page 45 2024 • BEE KEEPER

39

your beeswax History

champions and their winning words 1925

1931

1937

1942

1949

gladiolus

foulard

promiscuous

sacrilegious

dulcimer

Frank Neuhauser Louisville Courier-Journal Louisville, Kentucky

Ward Randall White Hall RegisterRepublican White Hall, Illinois

Waneeta Beckley Louisville Courier-Journal Louisville, Kentucky

1926

1932

1938

cerise

invulnerable

sanitarium

Pauline Bell Louisville Courier-Journal Louisville, Kentucky

1927 abrogate

Dean Lucas Akron Beacon Journal Akron, Ohio

1928 knack

Betty Robinson South Bend News-Times South Bend, Indiana

Dorothy Greenwalk Des Moines Register & Tribune Des Moines, Iowa

1933 torsion

Alma Roach Akron Beacon Journal Akron, Ohio

1934 brethren

Sarah Wilson Portland Evening Press Portland, Maine

1929

1935

luxuriance

intelligible

Virginia Hogan The Omaha World-Herald Omaha, Nebraska

Clara Mohler Akron Beacon Journal Akron, Ohio

1930

1936

albumen

interning

Helen Jensen Des Moines Register & Tribune Des Moines, Iowa

Jean Trowbridge Des Moines Register & Tribune Des Moines, Iowa

40 BEE KEEPER • 2024

Marian Richardson Louisville Times Louisville, Kentucky

Richard Earnhart El Paso Herald-Post El Paso, Texas

1946 semaphore

John McKinney Des Moines Register & Tribune Des Moines, Iowa

Kim Calvin Canton Repository Canton, Ohio

1950 meticulosity

Colquitt Dean Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia Diana Reynard Cleveland Press Cleveland, Ohio

1939 canonical

Elizabeth Ann Rice Worcester Telegram & Gazette Worcester, Massachusetts

first winner Frank Neuhauser was 11 when he won the first Bee. His prizes? A stack of gold coins worth $500 and a visit with President Calvin Coolidge.

1940 therapy

Laurel Kuykendall The Knoxville News Sentinel Knoxville, Tennessee

1941 initials

Louis Edward Sissman Detroit News Detroit, Michigan

1947

1951

chlorophyll

insouciant

Mattie Lou Pollard Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia

1948 psychiatry

Jean Chappelear Akron Beacon Journal Akron, Ohio

Irving Belz Memphis Press Scimitar Memphis, Tennessee

1952 vignette

Doris Ann Hall Winston-Salem Journal Winston-Salem, North Carolina

1953 soubrette

Elizabeth Hess Arizona Republic Phoenix, Arizona

1954 transept

William Cashore Norristown Times Herald Norristown, Pennsylvania

1955 crustaceology Sandra Sloss St. Louis Globe-Democrat St. Louis, Missouri

1956 condominium

Melody Sachko The Pittsburgh Press Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1957 schappe

Sandra Owen Canton Repository Canton, Ohio Dana Bennett Rocky Mountain News Denver, Colorado

1958 syllepsis

Jolitta Schlehuber Topeka Daily Capital Topeka, Kansas

your beeswax History

1959

1965

1972

1977

1983

1990

catamaran

eczema

macerate

cambist

Purim

fibranne

Joel Montgomery Rocky Mountain News Denver, Colorado

1960 eudaemonic

Henry Feldman The Knoxville News Sentinel Knoxville, Tennessee

1961 smaragdine

John Capeheart Tulsa Tribune Tulsa, Oklahoma

1962 esquamulose Nettie Crawford El Paso Herald-Post El Paso, Texas

Michael Day St. Louis Globe-Democrat St. Louis, Missouri

1963 equipage

Glen Van Slyke III The Knoxville News Sentinel Knoxville, Tennessee

1964 sycophant

William Kerek Akron Beacon Journal Akron, Ohio

Michael Kerpan, Jr. Tulsa Tribune Tulsa, Oklahoma

Robin Kral Lubbock AvalancheJournal Lubbock, Texas

John Paola The Pittsburgh Press Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1966 ratoon

Robert A. Wake Houston Chronicle Houston, Texas

1967

the trophy

The Scripps Cup, the Bee’s championship trophy, is designed by Rookwood Pottery in Cincinnati, Ohio.

1968 abalone

Robert L. Walters The Topeka Daily Capital Topeka, Kansas

1969 interlocutory Susan Yoachum Dallas Morning News Dallas, Texas

1970 croissant

Libby Childress Winston-Salem Journal & Sentinel Winston-Salem, North Carolina

1971 shalloon

Jonathan Knisely Philadelphia Bulletin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1984

1973

1978

vouchsafe

deification

Barrie Trinkle Forth Worth Press Fort Worth, Texas

Peg McCarthy The Topeka Daily Capital Topeka, Kansas

1974

1979

hydrophyte

maculature

Julie Anne Junkin Birmingham Post-Herald Birmingham, Alabama

1975 incisor

Hugh Tosteson García San Juan Star San Juan, Puerto Rico

1976 narcolepsy Tim Kneale Syracuse Herald JournalAmerican Syracuse, New York

Katie Kerwin Rocky Mountain News Denver, Colorado

1980 elucubrate

Jacques Bailly Rocky Mountain News Denver, Colorado

1981

Daniel Greenblatt Loudoun TimesMirror Leesburg, Virginia

Balu Natarajan Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois

1986 odontalgia

Jon Pennington The Patriot News Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

1987 staphylococci Stephanie Petit The Pittsburgh Press Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1988 elegiacal

Paige Pipkin El Paso Herald-Post El Paso, Texas

1982

1989

psoriasis

spoliator

Molly Dieveney Rocky Mountain News Denver, Colorado

antipyretic

Joanna Lagatta The Wisconsin State Journal Madison, Wisconsin

1992

milieu

Rageshree Ramachandran The Sacramento Bee Sacramento, California

sarcophagus

Amy Marie Dimak The Seattle Times Seattle, Washington

1991

luge

1985

Chihuahua

Jennifer Reinke The Omaha World-Herald Omaha, Nebraska

Blake Giddens El Paso Herald-Post El Paso, Texas

lyceum

Amanda Goad The Richmond News Leader Richmond, Virginia

1993 kamikaze *HR̆ +RRSHU The Commercial Appeal Memphis, Tennessee

1994 antediluvian Ned G. Andrews The Knoxville News Sentinel Knoxville, Tennessee

1995 xanthosis

Justin Tyler Carroll The Commercial Appeal Memphis, Tennessee

Scott Isaacs Rocky Mountain News Denver, Colorado

2024 • BEE KEEPER

41

your beeswax History

1996

2000

2002

2004

2008

2013

vivisepulture

demarche

prospicience

autochthonous

guerdon

knaidel

Wendy Guey The Palm Beach Post West Palm Beach, Florida

1997

George Abraham Thampy St. Louis Post-Dispatch St. Louis, Missouri

Pratyush Buddiga Rocky Mountain News Denver, Colorado

euonym

Rebecca Sealfon Daily News New York, New York

1998 chiaroscurist

Jody-Anne Maxwell Phillips & Phillips Stationery Suppliers Kingston, Jamaica

1999 logorrhea

Nupur Lala The Tampa Tribune Tampa, Florida

historic

Jody-Anne Maxwell, from Jamaica, became the first Black winner of the Bee in 1998. Zaila Avant-garde became the first Black American winner in 2021.

Maxwell is also the only winner from a country outside the United States.

2001

2003

succedaneum

pococurante

Sean Conley Aitkin Independent Age Aitkin, Minnesota

Sai R. Gunturi The Dallas Morning News Dallas, Texas

David Scott Pilarski Tidmarsh South Bend Tribune South Bend, Indiana

2005 appoggiatura Anurag Kashyap San Diego UnionTribune San Diego, California

2006 Ursprache

Katharine Close Asbury Park Press/Home News Tribune Asbury Park, New Jersey

2007 serrefine

Evan M. O’Dorney Contra Costa Times Walnut Creek, California

Sameer Mishra Journal and Courier Lafayette, Indiana

2009 Laodicean

Kavya Shivashankar The Olathe News Olathe, Kansas

2010 stromuhr

Anamika Veeramani The Plain Dealer Cleveland, Ohio

2011 cymotrichous Sukanya Roy Times Leader Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

2012 guetapens

Arvind Mahankali Daily News New York, New York

2014 stichomythia Sriram Hathwar Corning Rotary Club Corning, New York

feuilleton

Ansun Sujoe Texas Christian University Fort Worth, Texas

2015 nunatak

Gokul Venkatachalam St. Louis Post-Dispatch St. Louis, Missouri

Snigdha Nandipati U-T San Diego San Diego, California

scherenschnitte

executive directors

1985-1989

1996-2020

Mary Curtin-Brooks

Paige P. Kimble

1925-1931

1940-1948

1958-1959

Dean George B. Wood

Max B. Cook

Richard D. Peters

1987

1949-1957

1960-1984

Charles Schneider

James H. Wagner

1939 Douglas D. Cornette

1985-1986 Mary L. Mangold

42 BEE KEEPER • 2024

Vanya Shivashankar The Olathe News Olathe, Kansas

2021-2022

Susan Miller

Dr. J. Michael Durnil

1988-1991

2023–Present

Sondra J. Austin

&RUULH /RḦHU

1990-1997 Reta Rose

your beeswax History

2016 Feldenkrais Jairam Hathwar Corning Rotary Club Corning, New York

gesellschaft Nihar Janga Houston Public Media Houston, Texas

2017 marocain

Ananya Vinay The Fresno Bee Fresno, California

2018 koinonia

Karthik Nemmani Scoggins Middle School McKinney, Texas

times 8

In 2019, eight co-winners were dubbed the “Octochamps” and hold the Guinness World Record for “Most winners of the Scripps National Spelling Bee (single competition).”

2019 erysipelas

Erin Howard Adventure Travel Birmingham, Alabama

auslaut

Rishik Gandhasri Bay Area Regional Spelling Bee San Francisco, California

bougainvillea Saketh Sundar Howard County Library Columbia, Maryland

aiguillette

Shruthika Padhy Rosa International Middle School Cherry Hill, New Jersey

pendeloque Sohum Sukhatankar Dallas Sports Commission Dallas, Texas

palama

Abhijay Kodali Dallas Sports Commission Dallas, Texas

odylic

Rohan Raja Dallas Sports Commission Dallas, Texas

2021 Murraya

Zaila Avant-garde New Orleans Chapter of The Links New Orleans, Louisiana

stats 108

total champions

53

Harini Logan Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre Association San Antonio, Texas

2023 psammophile Dev Shah SNSB Region One Bee Largo, Florida

14 year olds

53

13 year olds

19

12 year olds

3

11 year olds longest word

scherenschnitte (2015)

shortest word

cernuous

luge

Christopher Serrao Discover Lehigh Valley Allentown, Pennsylvania

pronouncers 1925-1927

1937-1940

Dr. George S. Wills, Western Maryland College

Harold F. Harding, George Washington University

1929-1936 Dr. Charles E. Hill, George Washington University

Boys

33

2022 moorhen

55

Girls

(1984)

1938-1939

1948-1960

1981-2002

2019-present

George F. Hussey, Jr., Special Contributing Editor to Webster’s New International Dictionary

Benson S. Alleman, Department of Communication, American University

Dr. Alex J Cameron, Associate Professor of English, University of Dayton

Dr. Brian Sietsema, Clergyman, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

1941-1942; 1946-1947

1961-1980

2003-present

Dr. Richard R. Baker, Professor of Philosophy, University of Dayton

Dr. Jacques Bailly, Associate Professor of Classics, University of Vermont

Dr. W. Hayes Yeager, Professor of Public Speaking, George Washington University

2024 • BEE KEEPER

43

your beeswax State by State

champions by state Texas ( 16 ) Richard Earnhart, El Paso, 1942; Nettie

Crawford, El Paso, 1962; Robert A. Wake, Houston, 1966; Susan Yoachum, Dallas, 1969; Robin Kral, Lubbock, 1972; Barrie Trinkle, Fort Worth, 1973; Paige Pipkin, El Paso, 1981; Blake Giddens, El Paso, 1983; Sai R. Gunturi, Dallas, 2003; Ansun Sujoe, Fort Worth, 2014; Nihar Janga, Houston, 2016; Karthik Nemmani, McKinney, 2018; Abhijay Kodali, Dallas, 2019; Sohum Sukhatankar, Dallas, 2019; Rohan Raja, Dallas, 2019; Harini Logan, San Antonio, 2022.

Ohio (9 ) Dean Lucas, Akron, 1927; Alma Roach, Akron,

1933; Clara Mohler, Akron, 1935; Jean Chappelear, Akron, 1948; Kim Calvin, Canton, 1949; Diana Reynard, Cleveland, 1950; Sandra Owen, Canton, 1957; William Kerek, Akron, 1964; Anamika Veeramani, Cleveland, 2010.

Pennsylvania (8 ) William Cashore, Norristown,

1954; Melody Sachko, Pittsburgh, 1956; Jonathan Knisely, Philadelphia, 1971; John Paola, Pittsburgh, 1977; Jon Pennington, Harrisburg, 1986; Stephanie Petit, Pittsburgh, 1987; Sukanya Roy, Wilkes-Barre, 2011; Christopher Serrao, Allentown, 2019.

Colorado ( 7 ) Dana Bennett, Denver, 1957; Joel Montgomery, Denver, 1959; Katie Kerwin, Denver, 1979; Jacques Bailly, Denver, 1980; Molly Dieveney, Denver, 1982; Scott Isaacs, Denver, 1989; Pratyush Buddiga, Denver, 2002.

Tennessee (7 ) Laura Kuykendall, Knoxville, 1940;

Irving Belz, Memphis, 1951; Henry Feldman, Knoxville, 1960; *OHQ 9DQ 6O\NH ,,, .QR[YLOOH *HR̆ +RRSHU 0HPSKLV 1993; Ned G. Andrews, Knoxville, 1994; Justin Tyler Carroll, Memphis, 1995.

California (6 ) Rageshree Ramachandran, Sacramento,

1988; Anurag Kashyap, San Diego, 2005; Evan M. O’Dorney, Walnut Creek, 2007; Snigdha Nandipati, San Diego, 2012; Ananya Vinay, Fresno, 2017; Rishik Gandhasri, San Francisco, 2019.

Kansas (5 ) Jolitta Schlehuber, Topeka, 1958; Robert

L. Walters, Topeka, 1968; Peg McCarthy, Topeka, 1978; Kavya Shivashankar, Olathe, 2009; Vanya Shivashankar, Olathe, 2015.

New York

(5 ) Tim Kneale, Syracuse, 1976; Rebecca Sealfon, New York City, 1997; Arvind Mahankali, New York City, 2013; Sriram Hathwar, Corning, 2014; Jairam Hathwar, Corning, 2016.

Iowa ( 4 ) Helen Jensen, Des Moines, 1930; Dorothy

Greenwalk, Des Moines, 1932; Jean Trowbridge, Des Moines, 1936; John McKinney, Des Moines, 1946.

44 BEE KEEPER • 2024

Kentucky

( 4 ) Frank Neuhauser, Louisville, 1925; Pauline Bell, Louisville, 1926; Waneeta Beckley, Louisville, 1937; Marian Richardson, Louisville, 1938.

Missouri (4 ) Sandra Sloss, St. Louis, 1955; Michael Day, St. Louis, 1962; George Abraham Thampy, St. Louis, 2000; Gokul Venkatachalam, St. Louis, 2015.

Florida (3 ) Wendy Guey, West Palm Beach, 1996; Nupur Lala, Tampa, 1999; Dev Shah, Largo, 2023.

Indiana (3 ) Betty Robinson, South Bend, 1928; David Tidmarsh, South Bend, 2004; Sameer Mishra, Lafayette, 2008.

states with 2 champions Alabama – Julie Anne Junkin, Birmingham, 1974; Erin Howard, Birmingham, 2019. Georgia – Mattie Lou Pollard, Atlanta, 1947; Colquitt Dean, Atlanta, 1950. Illinois – Ward Randall, White Hall, 1931; Balu Natarajan, Chicago, 1985.

Nebraska – Virginia Hogan, Omaha, 1929; Jennifer Reinke, Omaha, 1967. New Jersey – Katharine Close, Asbury Park, 2006; Shruthika Padhy, Cherry Hill, 2019. North Carolina – Doris Ann Hall, Winston-Salem, 1952; Libby Childress, Winston-Salem, 1970. Oklahoma – John Capeheart, Tulsa, 1961; Michael Kerpan, Jr., Tulsa, 1965. Virginia – Daniel Greenblatt, Leesburg, 1984; Amanda Goad, Richmond, 1992.

states/others with 1 champion Arizona – Elizabeth Hess, Phoenix, 1953. Louisiana – Zaila Avant-garde, New Orleans, 2021. Maine – Sarah Wilson, Portland, 1934. Maryland – Saketh Sundar, Columbia, 2019.

Massachusetts – Elizabeth Ann Rice, Worcester, 1939.

Michigan – Louis Edward Sissman, Detroit, 1941. Minnesota – Sean Conley, Aitkin, 2001. Washington – Amy Marie Dimak, Seattle, 1990. Wisconsin – Joanna Lagatta, Madison, 1991.

Jamaica – Jody-Anne Maxwell, 1998. Puerto Rico – Hugh Tosteson García, 1975.

states waiting for their first champion Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming

top sponsor cities of champions Denver, Colorado (7) Akron, Ohio (5) Dallas, Texas (5) Des Moines, Iowa (4)

El Paso, Texas (4) Knoxville, Tennessee (4) Louisville, Kentucky (4)

your beeswax Puzzle Answers

buzz-y bees See page 38

crossword

P H OTO G R A P H BY T K LO R E M I S P U M

See page 39

H OW DI D Y O U DO?

2024 • BEE KEEPER

45

YOUR BEESWAX

excellent adventures

2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion Dev Shah made multiple appearances on national and local TV and was even honored by his community upon his return home. Since then, he has authored bylines in The Washington Post, the Tampa Bay Times and Fortune magazine, sharing his Bee experience with even more people through his passion for writing.

FROM SPELLER TO AUTHOR

MEDIA TOUR

Dev’s post-win media tour began under bright lights the morning following his win – he appeared on TV shows including "Good Morning America," "TODAY" and "Scripps News." He went on to New York City where he made an appearance on “Live with Kelly and Mark.”

HOMECOMING

Back in his hometown of Largo, Dev was recognized by the mayor of Largo, who proclaimed June 20 “Dev Shah Day” in the city. He was also recognized by the Pinellas County Government and the Pinellas County School Board.

46 BEE KEEPER • 2024

Since his win, Dev has harnessed his love of words to pen columns that have appeared in The Washington Post, the Tampa Bay Times, Fortune magazine and Teen Mag. The Washington Post and Fortune Magazine also featured Dev’s columns in video posts on Instagram.

P H O T O G R A P H S ( T H I S PA G E , M I D D L E ) B Y A N D R E A L I ZC A N O/ " L I V E W I T H K E L LY A N D M A R K " / ( L E F T B O T T O M ) C O U R T E S Y T H E S H A H FA M I LY / ( O P P O S I T E PA G E , T O P L E F T ) C O U R T E S Y O F C H R I S M I L L A R D/ W A R N E R B R O S . / ( T O P R I G H T ) N AT I O N A L P R E S S C L U B / ( B O T T O M ) N A S D A Q , I N C .

2023 Champion

YOUR BEESWAX 2023 Champion

GUEST JUDGING Dev joined head pronouncer Dr. Jacques Bailly at the National Press Club’s “Press vs. Politicians” Bee. This time, he was on the other side of the stage as a judge for the event, which named Amy Wang, The Washington Post’s national politics reporter, its champion.

STAR-STUDDED DAY In April, Dev joined some of the stars of “Abbott Elementary” on "The Jennifer Hudson Show" for a mock spelling bee.

DEV RIN GS THE CLO SIN G BEL L AT NAS DAQ ON TIM ES SQU ARE IN NEW YOR K CIT Y.

2024 • BEE KEEPER

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YOUR BEESWAX

1975 national competitor

Gary Oberbrunner is Emmy-winning creator of visual effects software for films —AMY BL AKELY ary Oberbrunner is an Emmy-award-winning FUHDWRU RI YLVXDO H̆HFWV software that’s been used to make movies including “Iron Man,” “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Matrix,” music videos by Beyonce and Lady Gaga and TV shows like “Lost,” “CSI” and “Dancing with the Stars.”

While most of his career has been dedicated to telling stories YLVXDOO\ 2EHUEUXQQHU ZDV ¿UVW D fan of words.

He was 12 and in the seventh grade in Syracuse, New York, when he participated in the 48th annual Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee in 1975.

“I had a great time,” Oberbrunner says, recalling the sightseeing trips and parties with the other contestants. “But it was all a blur really because all I could think of was the Bee.” He ended up placing 11th LQ WKH ¿HOG RI VSHOOHUV “I went out on...don’t laugh…‘mien,’ ” he says.

The word refers to a person’s look or manner that expresses their character, attitude or personality.

“I’d literally never heard of that word and choked. I didn’t ask for the derivation, or I would’ve gotten it easily because I was pretty good in French. But as soon as I said ‘m-e,’ I heard that ding and knew I was done.

G

48 BEE KEEPER • 2024

“Even today I still can’t see the word ‘mien’ and not think of that moment.”

Oberbrunner went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1984. He spent 20 years as vice president of engineering and FKLHI WHFKQRORJ\ ṘFHU DW *HQ$UWV D FRPSDQ\ ZKRVH FXVWRPHUV LQFOXGH 'LVQH\ /XFDV¿OP 3DUDPRXQW 3LFWXUHV 079 8QLYLsion, Televisa and Warner Bros. ,Q 2EHUEUXQQHU ZRQ DQ (QJLQHHULQJ (PP\ $ZDUG IRU *HQ$UWV 6DSSKLUH D VXLWH RI YLVXDO H̆HFWV SOXJ LQV KH FR FUHDWHG WKDW DOORZV HGLWRUV WR DGG VSHFLDO H̆HFWV WR ¿OP DIWHU LW¶V VKRW Oberbrunner now has his own company, Dark Star Systems, where he uses what he learned in TV and movie production to help scientists explain their work in visually beautiful, scienWL¿FDOO\ DFFXUDWH YLGHRV ³, IHHO OLNH VFLHQFH LV RIWHQ portrayed as an ivory tower, an elite thing that nobody understands,” he says. “I wanted to help show everyday people how beautiful science can be.”

For the past two years, Oberbrunner also has been the chief software architect for Color WINNING SMILE Intelligence, a comGary Oberbrunner with SDQ\ WKDW XVHV DUWL¿his 2019 Emmy award FLDO LQWHOOLJHQFH $, (top); on stage playing jazz bass (center). to help studios enKDQFH ¿OPV WKURXJK color.

In his spare time? “I love learning new things,” Oberbrunner says, adding that he’s currently studying climate change, pandemic policy and the LPSDFW RI $, +H SOD\V jazz bass and loves music, the outdoors and travel.

Oberbrunner lives LQ $UOLQJWRQ 0DVsachusetts, with his partner, Laura. He has two grown children.

ng .

Ob er br un ne r al so en jo ys sa ili lk s He re , he 's wi th a gr ou p of fo rb or . fr om MI T, sa ili ng on Bo st on Ha

PH OTO G R A PH S PROV I D ED BY G A RY O B ER B RU N N ER

Where Are They Now?

YOUR BEESWAX Where Are They Now?

1991 national competitor Dan Feyer is nine-time American crossword puzzle tournament champ —AMY BL AKELY

hether it’s across, up and down, or one letter at a time, Dan Feyer has a way with words.

A competitor in the 1991 Scripps National Spelling Bee, Feyer is a nine-time winner of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (ACPT). He holds Guinness World Records for most consecutive and total number of ACPT wins.

Born and raised in San Francisco, Feyer earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Princeton University in 1999. He then lived in New York City for 14 years, working as a freelance pianist for musical theatre.

In 2014, he moved back to San Francisco where he continues to work as a musical theatre accompanist. He recently played keyboard for the national tour of “Hamilton.” He’s also a freelance proofreader and editor for crossword publishers, and he’s created four crosswords that were published in The New York Times.

Feyer said he’s always loved reading, spelling and games.

As an eighth grader, he survived a couple of rounds of the 1991 Scripps National Spelling Bee before missing “panegyric” (public speech or text praising someone).

His passion for crosswords began 16 years later, after watching “Wordplay,” a documentary about the ACPT, which was founded in 1978 and is the oldest and largest crossword tournament in the country.

“I hadn’t thought about crosswords as a sport or competitive activity,” he says. “The movie made it look very exciting. The movie also delved into how puzzles are made, edited, curated DQG FDOLEUDWHG IRU GL̇FXOW\ ´ With his interest piqued, Feyer became a student of cross-

PH OTO G R A PH S PROV I D ED BY DA N FE YER

W

PUZZLING IT OUT Dan Feyer with his 2023 American Crossword Puzzle Tournament trophy (top); Feyer participates in the San Francisco County Spelling Bee (bottom). word puzzles. He started reading crossword blogs and discovered an active crossword community online.

Soon, Feyer was working 20 to 25 crossword puzzles each day and could complete a normal-size puzzle in two to three minutes.

His spelling prowess proved helpful.

“You pretty much have to be a crack speller to be a really fast crossword solver,” he says. ,Q )H\HU SODFHG WK LQ KLV ¿UVW $&37 7KH QH[W \HDU he placed fourth. He won in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019. He claimed his ninth championship in 2023 by edging out his competition by one second.

Feyer tried his hand at another type of puzzle in 2022: He competed on “Jeopardy.”

“I always thought, ‘I know enough to get on ‘Jeopardy’ but not win a lot of money,’” he says. “I wanted to take my chance.”

Unfortunately, a Daily Double error was his downfall.

These days, Feyer sticks with crosswords. He’s down to ZRUNLQJ RQO\ ¿YH WR SHU GD\ RSWLQJ IRU WKH PRVW GL̇FXOW puzzles from The New York Times, The New Yorker, the Los Angeles Times, Newsday and independent puzzle makers.

“I don’t have time for the easier ones,” says Feyer, who now has a 4-year-old son with wife, Gretchen. “Becoming a father has cut down on my crossword time.”

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YOUR BEESWAX

1998 national competitor Versha Sharma amplifies young changemakers as Teen Vogue editor —AMY BL AKELY

A

s a sixth-grader, Versha Sharma tripped on the word “misogynistic” in the 1998 Scripps National Spell-

ing Bee. “As someone who grew up to write a lot about women’s rights and feminism, this always strikes me as ironic,” says Sharma, now the editor of Teen Vogue magazine.

The daughter of Indian immigrants, Sharma was born and raised in Alexandria, Louisiana.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in political science from Centenary College of Louisiana in 2008, she spent four months working on Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.

The next year, she moved to New York City and spent the next 13 years working at a variety of online news organizations. At Lean Forward, a microsite of MSNBC, she covered the 2012 U.S. Presidential election. At Vocativ, she covered international conflicts involving Russia and Ukraine and wrote stories about LGBT and women’s rights. And at NowThis, she produced documentaries on immigration from the U.S.-Mexico border; traveled to Moscow, Russia; and interviewed then-President Obama and current president Joe Biden. She shared in a 2018 Edward R. Murrow Award for a documentary on Hurricane Maria’s impact on Puerto Rico.

Sharma took the helm of Teen Vogue in 2021. She calls it her “dream job.”

“Young people have always

50 BEE KEEPER • 2024

been at the forefront of leading change—protests, activism, marches, calling for progress and calling on those with power to do better. I was that way when I was a teenager, and I know today’s young people are the same,” she says. “So, I love to amplify them as much as I can because I believe in our communal power to make the world a better place to live.”

Looking back, Sharma says the Scripps National Spelling %HH LQWHQVL¿HG KHU IDVFLQDWLRQ ZLWK ZRUGV DQG ZULWLQJ ³,Q middle school and high school, I became increasingly interested in current events, politics and journalism, and I learned to appreciate journalism as WKH ¿UVW GUDIW RI KLVWRU\ ´ GIRL she says. “As a woman of REPORTER color, I also know jourVersha nalism has historically Sharma with excluded a lot of perspechusband tives, and it’s important Casey Michel to me to be part of corat a 2022 recting that.”

Diwalii ball Sharma—who lives (top); today, in New York with jourshe edits Teen Vogue nalist-author husband, magazine Casey Michel, and their (center); 1-year-old daughter, interviewing Devi—says her career then-president has allowed her to travel Obama in the world, immerse her2016 (bottom) self in major news events New York City. and interview some real A-listers.

“Sitting down with President Obama one week before the 2016 election is something I’ll never forget—both because of the experience and because of the substance of what we talked about,” she says, adding that “another unforgettable experience” was interviewing Maria “Masha” Vladimirovna Alyokhina, a Russian feminist political activist, in the back of a cab in Moscow.

“I consider it an honor to be trusted with people’s stories and be given the time and freedom to ask them honest questions.”

PH OTO G R A PH S PROV I D ED BY VER S H A S H A R M A

Where Are They Now?

YOUR BEESWAX Where Are They Now?

2006 champion

Kerry Close Guaragno, a five-time speller, sees lessons in winning and losing —AMY BL AKELY erry Close Guaragno’s victory in the 2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee sparked memorable moments—from appearing on national TV to visiting the White House to being a featured guest on a Broadway stage and at the launch of a cruise ship. %XW KHU ¿UVW IRXU DWWHPSWV LQ WKH QDWLRQDO FRPSHWLWLRQ ZKHQ VKH GLGQ¶W ZLQ DOVR SURYLGHG YDOXDEOH OHVVRQV “Perseverance. Coming back year after year and having the DELOLW\ WR FROOHFW P\VHOI DQG VD\ µ, ZDQW WR JLYH WKLV DQRWKHU JR ¶´ VD\V *XDUDJQR ZKR JUHZ XS LQ 6SULQJ /DNH 1HZ -HUVH\ “And the ability to take a big task and break it down into smaller JRDOV WR QRW JHW RYHUZKHOPHG E\ VRPHWKLQJ ODUJH ´ *XDUDJQR VWDUWHG KHU FDUHHU DV D ¿QDQFLDO MRXUQDOLVW IUHH-

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K

ODQFLQJ DW WKH :DOO 6WUHHW -RXUQDO DQG ZRUNLQJ DW 0RQH\ PDJD]LQH 6KH LV QRZ YLFH SUHVLGHQW DW *URXS *RUGRQ D 1HZ <RUN &LW\ SXEOLF UHODWLRQV ¿UP She prepared for the Scripps National Spelling Bee by studyLQJ ZLWK KHU PRP PDVWHULQJ WKH ṘFLDO SUDFWLFH OLVW DQG GUDZLQJ IURP KHU PLGGOH VFKRRO /DWLQ FODVVHV )RU KHU ¿IWK DQG ¿QDO EHH VKH ZHQW WKURXJK WKH GLFWLRQDU\ SDJH E\ SDJH 6KH QHYHU had a professional coach. :KHQ VKH UHFRJQL]HG KHU ¿QDO ZRUG²³XUVSUDFKH ´ D *HUman word that refers to language—she breathed a sigh of relief. &ODVSLQJ KHU OXFN\ ³$QJHO LQ 0\ 3RFNHW´ PHGDOOLRQ VKH VSHOOHG her way to victory.

7KH PRUQLQJ DIWHU KHU ZLQ VKH ZDV LQWHUYLHZHG RQ QDWLRQDO QHZV VKRZV DQG WKHQ ÀHZ WR /RV $QJHOHV WR DSSHDU RQ ³-LPP\ .LPPHO /LYH ´ 'XULQJ WKH QH[W IHZ ZHHNV *XDUDJQR PHW ZLWK 3UHVLGHQW *HRUJH : %XVK DQG )LUVW /DG\ /DXUD %XVK DW WKH :KLWH +RXVH 6KH ZDV LQYLWHG WR WKH %URDGZD\ PXVLFDO ³7KH WK $QQXDO 3XWQDP &RXQW\ 6SHOOLQJ %HH ´ ZKHUH VKH ZDV VXPPRQHG WR WKH VWDJH WR ³FRPSHWH ´ 6KH MRLQHG FHOHEULWLHV .DWKDULQH 0F3KHH DQG 0DUWKD 6WHZDUW DW WKH LQDXJXUDWLRQ RI D 3ULQFHVV &UXLVH /LQH VKLS DQG HQMR\HG D IUHH FUXLVH ZKHUH VKH KHOSHG NLFN R̆ D ³VSHOOLQJ EHH DW VHD´ SURJUDP *XDUDJQR DQG KHU KXVEDQG - - *XDUDJQR D ZHE GHYHORSHU were married in 2021 after the pandemic forced them to postSRQH WKHLU FHUHPRQ\ 7KH\ OLYH LQ 1HZ <RUN¶V +XGVRQ 9DOOH\ ZLWK WKHLU 0DOWHVH SXS 0DOORZ $Q DYLG UXQQHU *XDUDJQR has completed 13 half-marathons and six marathons.

Guaragno says she recalls the Scripps National Spelling Bee as SEA WORTHY “a celebration with a competition Guaragno with Martha WDFNHG RQWR WKH HQG RI LW ´ :LWK WKDW Stewart and Katharine LQ PLQG KHU DGYLFH WR VSHOOHUV LV WR McPhee (left) the remember that luck is a wild card. inauguration of a “A lot of the Bee is out of your conPrincess Cruise Line ship; WURO ´ VKH VD\V ³+DYH SHUVSHFWLYH with her husband, J.J. ,W¶V QRW DOO DERXW WKH RXWFRPH RI WKH (below left). %HH 7DNH LW LQ DQG HQMR\ LW ´

Ke rr y gu ar ag no an d th en Sc rip ps CE O Ke n Lo we ho ist ing th e tr op hy at th e 20 06 sc rip ps Na ti on al Sp el lin g Be e af te r Cl os e wo n by sp el lin g ur sp ra ch e.

2024 • BEE KEEPER

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your beeswax The Executive Director

"What the Bee and all of the spellers who have participated over the years have taught me is that failure does not mean the absence of success (Sorry, Merriam-Webster!)"

52 BEE KEEPER • 2024

PH OTO G R A PH BY M A R K B OWEN

redefining failure

QHFHVVDULO\ WKH RXWFRPH²ZDV NH\ WR P\ RZQ UHODWLRQVKLS ZLWK IDLOXUH DQG HPSRZHUHG PH WR VWHS LQWR QHZ RSSRUWXQLWLHV EUDYH O\ ´ VKH VD\V ³&RPLQJ IURP D VPDOO WRZQ DQG IURP D IDPLO\ ZLWKRXW D ORW RI PHDQV DQG KDYLQJ WKLV DPD]LQJ H[SHULHQFH²MXVW EHLQJ DW WKH QD WLRQDO FRPSHWLWLRQ ODLG WKH IRXQGDWLRQ WR KHOS PH GUHDP ELJJHU ´ /RḦHU LV IURP /RV %DQRV &DOLIRUQLD DQG KDG QHYHU ÀRZQ RQ DQ DLUSODQH ZKHQ VKH ¿UVW PDGH WKH WULS WR :DVKLQJWRQ ' & When it comes to definitions, the Bee LQ WR ZDWFK KHU ROGHU EURWKHU 3DXO FRPSHWH LQ WKH QDWLRQ is all about being Merriam-Webster DO FRPSHWLWLRQ %\ WKH WLPH KHU RZQ MRXUQH\ ZLWK FRPSHWLWLYH VSHOOLQJ HQGHG VKH ZDV DQ[LRXV WR GLVFRYHU DOO WKH ZRUOG KDG WR official. But there’s one word that Corrie R̆HU 6KH SDUWLFLSDWHG LQ DFDGHPLF FRPSHWLWLRQV DQG GHEDWHV Loeffler, the Bee’s executive director, WKURXJK KLJK VFKRRO DQG FROOHJH WKDW WRRN KHU DURXQG WKH 8 6 wants to redefine. – REBECC A MCC ARTER DQG EH\RQG 6KH VD\V VKH H[SORUHG QHZ SDVVLRQV DQG LQWHUHVWV UHPDLQLQJ GULYHQ E\ FRPSHWLWLRQ EXW ZLWKRXW QHHGLQJ D ZLQ DW WKH HQG :KHQ &RUULH /RḦHU SUHSDUHG WR WUDYHO WR :DVKLQJWRQ ' & ³7KH %HH KHOSHG PH XQGHUVWDQG WKH LQWULQVLF YDOXH DQG H[ LQ WKH VSULQJ RI WKHUH ZDV RQO\ RQH WKLQJ RQ KHU PLQG VKH FLWHPHQW RI JRLQJ GHHS LQWR OHDUQLQJ ´ /RḦHU VD\V ³, OHDUQHG ZDV JRLQJ WR ZLQ WKH 6FULSSV 1DWLRQDO 6SHOOLQJ %HH KRZ SRZHUIXO \RXU PLQG FDQ EH²QRW MXVW LQ DFFRPSOLVKLQJ \RXU $IWHU KDYLQJ SODFHG VL[WK WKH \HDU EHIRUH KHU VHFRQG \HDU RZQ JRDOV EXW H[SHULHQFLQJ WKH ZRUOG ´ FRPSHWLQJ VKH ZDV UHDG\ WR WDNH RQ WKH GLFWLRQDU\ DQG WKLV 1RZ DIWHU \HDUV ZRUNLQJ IRU WKH SURJUDP WKDW LQVSLUHG WLPH IRU WKH ZLQ 6KH KDG SUHSDUHG ¿HUFHO\ KHDGLQJ LQWR KHU KHU RZQ ORYH RI OHDUQLQJ VKH KDV D PRUH JHQHURXV SHUVSHFWLYH HLJKWK JUDGH \HDU²VWXGLHG KXQGUHGV RI KRXUV ZLWK KHU PRP RQ WKH FRQFHSW RI ZKDW LW PHDQV WR IDLO DQG WR OHDUQHG WKH URRWV DQG SDWWHUQV SOXFNHG RXW VXFFHHG WKDQ VKH GLG ZKHQ VKH KHDUG WKH WKH IXQ ZRUGV DQG WKH DUFDQH 6KH KDG EHOO ULQJ DW \HDUV ROG YLVXDOL]HG LW 6KH KDG HYHQ SLFNHG RXW D ³,W¶V HDV\ WR SODFH D GHPDQG IRU SHU GUHVV VKH WKRXJKW ZRXOG SDLU ZHOO ZLWK IHFWLRQ RQ \RXUVHOI DV \RX¶UH SUHSDU WKH WURSK\ LQJ IRU WKH %HH RU DQ\ RWKHU JRDO \RX ³, KDGQ¶W FRQVLGHUHG QRW ZLQ PLJKW VHW ´ /RḦHU VD\V ³%XW WKH QLQJ DV D SRVVLEOH RXWFRPH DIWHU PRVW LPSRUWDQW WKLQJV , OHDUQHG HYHU\WKLQJ , GLG WR JHW ZKHUH , GXULQJ P\ WLPH FRPLQJ WR %HH ZDV ´ VKH UHPHPEHUV :HHN DV D VSHOOHU ZHUH QRW 7KHQ LQ WKH VHFRQG OHDUQHG IURP WKH FRPSHWL URXQG RI WKH QDWLRQDO FRP WLRQ LWVHOI²WKH\ ZHUH LQ WKH SHWLWLRQ /RHIIOHU KHDUG FRQQHFWLRQV , PDGH ZKLOH WKH LQIDPRXV EHOO DIWHU OHDUQLQJ WKH IULHQGVKLSV , DWWHPSWLQJ WR VSHOO ³GLV VWLOO KDYH WR WKLV GD\ DQG WKH SHO´ WRR TXLFNO\ DSSUHFLDWLRQ , QRZ KDYH IRU ³,W ZDV KDUG DW ILUVW ´ WKH SRZHU RI ODQJXDJH ´ VD\V WKH H[HFXWLYH GLUHFWRU ,Q RWKHU ZRUGV VKH VD\V RI WKH 6FULSSV 1DWLRQDO 6SHOO VXFFHVV IDLOXUH²DQG WKH %HH²DUH LQJ %HH ³&DULQJ DERXW GRLQJ DOO RSHQ WR VSHOOHUV¶ RZQ GH¿QLQJ \RXU EHVW DQG WKHQ IHHOLQJ OLNH \RX ³:KDW WKH %HH DQG DOO RI WKH VSHOO GLGQ¶W FDQ EH HYHQ KDUGHU WKDQ QRW HUV ZKR KDYH SDUWLFLSDWHG RYHU WKH ZLQQLQJ ´ \HDUV KDYH WDXJKW PH LV WKDW IDLOXUH GRHV %XW ZKDW LQLWLDOO\ IHOW WR KHU OLNH D QRW PHDQ WKH DEVHQFH RI VXFFHVV 6RUU\ IDLOXUH EHFDPH D VHPLQDO OHVVRQ IRU /RHI 0HUULDP :HEVWHU ´ VKH VD\V ³,Q IDFW ,¶G ÀHU VKDSLQJ KRZ VKH DSSURDFKHG QHZ RSSRU TOP MOM Corrie Loeffler DUJXH LW¶V TXLWH WKH RSSRVLWH , ZDQW DOO RXU WXQLWLHV UHERXQGHG IURP GLVDSSRLQWPHQWV DQG hugs her mom, Linda, after VSHOOHUV WR NQRZ QR PDWWHU KRZ \RX GR LQ WKH GH¿QHG VXFFHVV she won the parents’ spelling FRPSHWLWLRQ %HH :HHN FDQ FKDQJH \RXU OLIH ³7KH UHDOL]DWLRQ WKDW WKH UHZDUG LV WKH H[ bee at the 1995 Scripps National Spelling Bee. LI \RX OHW LW ´ SHULHQFH RI ZKDW \RX OHDUQ DORQJ WKH ZD\²QRW

your beeswax From the CEO

PH OTO G R A PH PROV I D ED BY A DA M SYM S O N

instilling a love of language In my house, reading was central to the bedtime routine for our two daughters. Every night, after they were in their pajamas, reading to them was the wind-down process for the day. Like for so many busy parents, this ritual was a special time together.

For my wife Sherri and I, it started out sitting in rocking chairs in their rooms when they were babies.

Eventually, it transitioned to laying on the bed together reading a book they picked out. I’m sure other parents will empathize with the many nights we read the same story over and over again.

I read “Goodnight Moon” a lot. “Goodnight Zoo” was a particularly good one that taught them animal sounds. And then we transitioned to “Curious George,” and plenty of princess stories, too. Nevertheless, it was about forming a habit, and I am happy to say, the habit stuck.

We wanted them to have a love for books, a love for reading and a love for language. There’s a ton of evidence to show the value of our time together and their association with books and reading. /RJDQ DQG +DQQDK DUH QRZ DQG 7KH\ KDYH GL̆HUHQW WDVWHV LQ ERRNV 7KURXJK PLGGOH VFKRRO +DQQDK UHDOO\ OLNHG VFLHQFH ¿FWLRQ DQG IDQWDV\ EXW KDV QRZ PRYHG RQ PRVWO\ WR \RXQJ DGXOW OLWHUDWXUH alongside the books she has to read for school.

Last year, I introduced Logan to John Irving, my favorite author when I was in high school. I remembered pouring through “The Cider House Rules,” “The World According to Garp,” “Hotel New Hampshire,” DPRQJ KLV PRUH WKDQ QRYHOV $QG , DP JUDWL¿HG WR VD\ WKDW VKH ORYHV KLV ZRUN DV PXFK DV , GR )RU P\ birthday in December, she bought me Irving’s latest book, “The Last Chairlift,” which I’m reading now.

Once I’m done, I’ll give it to her to read.

This connection to language is part of what makes the Scripps National Spelling Bee so special for me.

Language and learning in my family have always been communal. Homework is often done at the kitchen table. Books are passed between my daughters now, and on to my wife or I, or vice versa. And this notion of learning and studying together is central to what I see in a lot of the spellers who study for the Bee. It’s gratifying for our company to play a small role in the development of millions of children across the country.

I always wanted my children to feel a sense of self-determination and empowerment. If knowledge is power, then language, or the ability to articulate that knowledge, is how that power can be put to good use.

I am proud of the role The E.W. Scripps Company plays to inform, engage and entertain the people of this country. The company’s commitment to the Scripps National Spelling Bee represents the reverence we have for the next generation of lifelong learners.

Adam Symson

President and CEO The E.W. Scripps Company

BEDTIME STORY Adam Symson reads to his daughter Hannah when she was young.

2024 • BEE KEEPER

53

your beeswax Honoring a Bee Regional Partner

BUSY BEES Ana Rubio, manager of corporate events and community relations for Sage, is with Julie Lopez, coordinator of the Sage Ventura County Spelling Bee.

54 BEE KEEPER • 2024

The 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee is just getting underway, but already, this year’s Regional Partner of the Year is preparing for how to top its county bee in 2025.

Sage, a global academic publisher of books, journals and library resources, is committed to making sure each speller has a unique, positive experience. Sage’s division, Corwin, is committed to K–12 education, and sponsoring the local spelling bee is aligned with the company’s purpose and values. When Sage took over as the regional partner in 2017, Sage and the Bee team created a vision for what they wanted the regional bee to represent.

Ana Rubio, manager, corporate events and community relations at Sage, has described how much the Bee means by expressing, “we put our hearts into this event each year, and it is truly a labor of love for all of us involved at Sage.”

Sage created a website for the spellers to use as a resource as they prepare for the competition. The website features a video of the school champions, photos and fun facts. Another unique idea created by the Sage team was a special video of “Fritz Goes to the Bee” that details the spelling bee journey for the competitors and adds a special lightheartedness on WKH GD\ RI WKH ¿QDO FRPSHWLWLRQ “The parents have given us feedback that their speller felt very special,” Rubio says. “Every year we look forward to making it more special, more engaging, and really having the students enjoy the process and feel like they’ve gained something from it.”

Organizers work to customize the competition for each speller and provide each school champion with a congratuODWRU\ JLIW D̆HFWLRQDWHO\ NQRZQ DV D EHH ER[ ¿OOHG ZLWK EHH WKHPHG JLIWV OLNH KRQH\ DQG D VWX̆HG EHH “We’re already looking ahead to next year, how we can help our spellers even more,” says Julie Lopez, one of the coordinators for the Sage Ventura County Spelling Bee. The spelling bee holds a special place in Lopez’s heart as she has worked with the county spelling bee for 14 years through her prior employer before Sage became the sponsor. Lopez takes time to get to know each of the roughly 100 spellers every \HDU DQG ¿QGV RXW ZKDW PDNHV WKHP VWDQG RXW 6KH XVHV WKDW information to help inspire them and make them feel personally recognized as they’re eliminated from the competition.

Like the advice given by head judge Mary Brooks at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, with Lopez’s words of wisdom, the eliminated spellers leave with their heads held high.

Lopez and Rubio are excited to cheer on the county’s speller, Ibrahim Zaki, in person in National Harbor, Maryland. They plan to use the trip to help evolve the 2025 Sage Ventura County California Spelling Bee. “We’re looking forward to seeing if Scripps has any new tricks and tips as we move forward with planning the next bee,” Lopez says.

PH OTO G R A PH PROV I D ED BY S AG E

Sage customizes the competition for spellers. —MOLLY MIOSSI

your beeswax Honoring a Bee Teacher

HIVE MIND

PH OTO G R A PH PROV I D ED BY A L E X A N D ER C A R R

Dr. Alexander Carr is with his students, district champion Velvizhi Sethirayar and Syrus Salcedo at the 2024 Orange County Regional Spelling Bee at Walt Disney World.

Dr. Alexander Carr focuses on inclusion. —MOLLY MIOSSI Once a competitive speller himself, the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee Educator of the Year credits his classroom spelling bee for helping him learn the English language.

“I’m a second language learner,” says Dr. Alexander Carr, teacher at Orlando Gifted Academy in Florida. “When I was in school and learning English as a language, we’d do the spelling competition, so I became really interested in spelling.”

Carr moved to Florida from Puerto Rico in elementary school. While he doesn’t remember how far he made it in the competition or what word knocked him out, the lessons he learned from the spelling bee stayed with him. “You may not be the most athletically inclined person, but that doesn’t keep you from competing,” he says. “You can compete with your mind.”

Eight years ago, while teaching at a Title I school in Florida, Carr started a class for junior high students to compete in math, robotics and spelling competitions. His teaching and WKH VWXGHQWV¶ SUDFWLFH SDLG R̆ (DFK \HDU D PHPEHU IURP that class won the school spelling bee and advanced to the regional competition. Carr says it opened the door for those students to get opportunities they might not have had otherwise. “Some of the students that were in that class had not even left their small neighborhood area,” Carr says. “Those experiences are extremely valuable.”

In 2018, Carr began teaching at the Orlando Gifted AcadHP\ DQG VWDUWHG WKH VFKRRO¶V ¿ UVW VSHOOLQJ EHH SURJUDP $V the bee’s coordinator, his goal was to make sure the program was inclusive of all students, regardless of their abilities or language barriers. “Just because you have certain limitations doesn’t mean you’re incapable of doing extraordinary things,” Carr says. One of the students he teaches has partial hearing loss. While putting together the school’s competition this year, he made sure the sound system was upgraded and working properly, while also having the pronouncer use a microphone.

“We are inspired by the way Dr. Carr helps students feel included and sets them on a path to success,” says Corrie LoefÀ HU H[HFXWLYH GLUHFWRU RI WKH 6FULSSV 1DWLRQDO 6SHOOLQJ %HH For the first time this year, one of Carr’s students— sixth-grader Velvizhi Sethirayar—advanced to the national competition. He knows she’ll put her best foot forward and give her best performance, regardless of the outcome.

As a former competitive speller, Carr had one piece of advice for his younger self. “It’s OK that you have an accent,” he says. “It’s OK that you may not know what some words are—that is OK. In time, you’ll get to where you need to be.”

SugarBee ® Apple is sponsoring the Educator of the Year award. “SugarBee ® Apple growers proudly support the Bee’s educators and their devotion to inspiring every child to discover their potential to innovate and create something magical,” says Julie DeJarnatt, director of brand strategy at Chelan Fresh and representative for SugarBee ® Apple.

2024 • BEE KEEPER

55

your beeswax Honoring a Bee Volunteer

SAY IT AGAIN (Top) Craig Pearson, managing editor at the Windsor Star, performs the role of pronouncer at the WFCU Scripps Regional Spelling Bee at the Chrysler Theatre in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

56 BEE KEEPER • 2024

For nearly two decades, Craig Pearson has been the voice behind the Windsor, Ontario, spelling bee. “As we all know, to succeed in a spelling bee, you really have to study,” Pearson says. “To succeed as a pronouncer in a spelling bee, you also have to study.”

Pearson, the managing editor of the Windsor Star, is the pronouncer of the WFCU Credit Union Regional Spelling Bee—a role he’s served in for the last 19 years. “I like to think that if [returning spellers] see the pronouncer for a second or third year in a row that makes them feel a little bit better,” he says.

Even with his nearly four decades of experience working as a news manager, copy editor and reporter, Pearson continues to work on perfecting his pronouncing craft. Before each regional bee, he spends weeks studying and rehearsing.

“I always study with a pencil so that I can make notes. I think what’s most important is some of the alternate pronunciations,” Pearson says. “It always amazes me when I hear myself pronounce this crazy sounding word that I certainly did not know before. I studied it, and this young speller spells it back correctly.”

This year, he was recognized as the Scripps National Spelling Bee Regional Volunteer of the Year. Pearson is credited for leveraging his expertise and media connections to ensure the event is a success each year. His commitment to literacy and educational excellence has helped secure promotional and event coverage in the Windsor Star newspaper.

“Volunteers like Craig help keep the next generation of spellers inspired,” says Bryan Witt, regional partner relations specialist for the Scripps National Spelling Bee. “He dedicates countless hours each year to promoting literacy and reaching kids across his community.”

3HDUVRQ KDV ZLWQHVVHG ¿UVWKDQG KRZ WKH %HH WHDFKHV NLGV about more than just spelling and pronunciation. “I think it KHOSV ERRVW WKHLU FRQ¿GHQFH EHFDXVH IRU D ORW RI WKHP LW¶V WKH ¿UVW WLPH WKH\¶YH HYHU EHHQ RQ VWDJH ´ KH VDLG ³$QG ER\ can you see the nerves in some of them.”

His best advice for spellers is to slow down. “Don’t rush it and ask for what you’re allowed to ask,” Pearson says. “So, of course, you’re allowed to ask the pronouncer to repeat it. But \RX¶UH DOORZHG WR DVN IRU WKH SDUW RI VSHHFK RU WKH GH¿QLWLRQ or to use it in a sentence.”

To help put the spellers at ease as they approach the microphone, he greets them each with a friendly smile and reminds them of what they’ve already accomplished to get there. “Spelling bees should spell, simply, F-U-N.”

P H O T O G R A P H B Y D A X M E L M E R / W I N D S O R S TA R

Craig Pearson prepares each year for his role as pronouncer. —MOLLY MIOSSI

confetti Last Word

that’s entertainment

Zach Sherwin is a Los Angeles-based comedian and rapper who has written and performed on “Epic Rap Battles of History” on YouTube and written for The CW series “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.” Sherwin will be on stage for the in-person audience at the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee, as he was in 2023.

Comedian and rapper? How does that happen?

[Laughs] I know! I got into rap when I was 10 and wrote rhymes all through my teenage years. These raps were comedic, but very much unintentionally so. Then in college, I joined an on-purpose comedy group, and I noticed that the sketches we were writing were all two or three minutes long—the same length as a song. When I started performing on my own, combining the two formats was a no-brainer.

PH OTO G R A PH BY J I L L PE T R ACEK

Your mom was a rabbi.

How was it growing up the son of a rabbi?

First let me say how proud I am of my rabbi mom—a single parent who switched careers in her PLG V WR IXO¿OO D OLIHORQJ professional dream. Way to go, Rita. As for me: I feel like clergy kids are either very docile or very rebellious, and I ZDV GH¿QLWHO\ &DWHJRry 1. I got good grades and was exceedingly polite to my mom’s congregants and generally behaved like a rule-following sweetums.

This is making me think that being in the public eye all the time while having to be Rabbi Boy is part of why comedy felt so exciting when I started—I could break the rules and get rewarded, with laughs. (That said, I remain a rule-following sweetums.)

Memorable moment of your 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee experience?

What really sticks with me from last year’s Bee is watching Dr. Bailly pronounce these unbelievably obscure words, and WKHQ VHHLQJ WKH DVWRQLVKLQJO\ WDOHQWHG ¿QDOLVWV EODVW WKURXJK the spellings without batting an eye, and then looking up from the monitor at the same time as everybody else, and all of our jaws were just hanging wide open. Getting to witness the Bee is exhilarating and joyful. I’m smiling as I type this.

Favorite word?

“Univocalic,” an adjective for words or names or phrases that are spelled using only one of the vowels; for example, Bee Week, Best Week.

Best word you’ve included in a rap?

2QH RI WKH ¿UVW VRQJV , HYHU ZURWH ZDV FDOOHG ³6SK\JPRPDQRPeter,” which is the absurdly technical name for a blood-pressure FX̆ ³$QG LI \RX ZDQQD EH D FRPPRQHU Then I suppose you could call it a ‘blood SUHVVXUH PRQLWRU¶ %XW LI \RX ZDQQD EH D FRQQRLVVHXU" ,W¶V D VSK\JPRmanometer!”

Favorite rhyme in a rap?

I once rhymed “testosterone” ZLWK ³6\OYHVWDK 6WDOORQH ´ which I highly recommend saying out loud.

Have any personal spelling bee experiences?

Oh, wow, do I ever. In sixth grade, I won the spelling bee at my elementary school and WKHQ WRRN ¿UVW SODFH DW UHJLRQDOV on “cirrhosis,” which my grandpa had, so I knew how to spell it. Yes! Then I went to the Ohio state competition, made it to the top four, and then ÀDPHG RXW RQ ³LUUHYRFDELOLW\ ´ ZKLFK PHDQV ³¿QDO QRW DEOH WR EH FKDQJHG RU UHYHUVHG ´ 7KH LURQ\ ZRZ 'LG not go to nationals, did process the trauma by writing a comedy song about the experience many years later and, ultimately, performing at nationals. Yes!

Which one of your YouTube videos should spellers or parents look up?

I’ll just recommend that everybody go watch “The Aggressive Bee,” which is a) my most viewed YouTube video of all time; b) without a doubt the cheapest, easiest video I’ve ever shot; c) 100% squeaky-clean; and d) about a BEE.

2024 • BEE KEEPER

57

thank you to our regional partners!

These regional partners organize spelling bees across the country and sponsor regional champions who advance to the national competition.

platinum partners

gold partners Arizona Educational Foundation

Fairfax County Council PTA

NYC Department of Education

C Spire Foundation

Georgia Association of Educators

San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools

Dallas Sports Commission

Miami Herald

Tennessee Titans The City Journals The Ministry of Education

The Public Education Foundation The Washington Informer

WHYY Wisconsin State Journal

WCPO 9

regional partners 2 News Oklahoma A.C.E.S. ABC 10News Akron Beacon Journal Alabama Kiwanis Foundation Anchorage Daily News Anne Arundel County Public Schools Ball State University - WIPB-TV Bergen County Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Danville Area Boone-Winnebago Regional Office of Education Boston Centers for Youth & Families Boulder Valley School District Cape Breton University Capitol Area Region Carroll/JoDaviess/ Stephenson Regional Office of Education Central Rappahannock Regional Library Champlain Valley Educational Services Charles County Public Schools Charleston Gazette-Mail Chester County Intermediate Unit Chicago Public Schools Collier County Public Schools Columbia Missourian Corning Rotary Club Cumberland County Schools DeKalb Regional Office of Education 16

Delaware County Intermediate Unit Diamond City Sports Duke University Office of Durham and Community Affairs DuPage Regional Office of Education Ector County Independent School District ECU Regional Bee Education Credit Union Educational Service Center of Lorain County Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Envision Credit Union EPISD Education Foundation ESC of the Western Reserve Eureka Enrichment Services, Inc. European PTSA Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Frederick County Public Libraries Grundy/Kendall County Regional Office of Education Harnett County Schools Hawaii State Spelling Bee Howard County Library Hudson County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs Idaho Character Foundation Imperial County Office of Education InsideNoVa/Prince William IU School of Education at IUPUI Johnston County Public Schools

Kalamazoo Experiential Learning Center Kane County Regional Office of Education Kankakee Valley REMC Kansas Press Association Kent Intermediate School District KERO Channel 23 Kiwanis Club of Abilene Kiwanis Club of Lafayette & Arcadiana KRIS Communications Lafayette Adult Resource Academy Lake County Regional Office of Education Laredo Morning Times Lee County Spelling Bee Lewiston Tribune Los Angeles County Office of Education Loudoun County Public Schools Louisiana State University Shreveport Louisville Free Public Library Macomb Intermediate School District Maryland Sports McHenry County Regional Office of Education Mid-Continent Public Library Midland Reporter-Telegram Montana Television Network Monterey County Office of Education Mosaic Life Care Foundation Navajo Times Publishing Company

ND Association of County Superintendents New Hampshire Union Leader New Orleans Chapter of The Links Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society Oakland Schools Education Foundation Ohio University College of Business Oklahoma City Thunder Olathe Public Schools Omaha Sports Commission Orange-Ulster BOCES Pee Dee Education Center Pennsylvania State Education Association and Council for the Advancement of Public Schools Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Portland Press Herald/ Maine Sunday Telegram Press Communications Radford University Ramar Communications Rapoport Holdings, LLC Raymore-Peculiar School District Regional Office of Education #47 Richmond Times-Dispatch Rio Grande Valley AIM Media Texas Riverside County Office of Education Rockingham District Ruritans Rotary Club of Guam SagamoreHill Broadcasting, LLC

Sage Saint Louis University Salem News, East Liverpool Review and The Morning Journal Schuylkill Technology Center Sidelines and Stages Somerset County Library System of NJ South Cook ISC Southeast Education Service Center Sussex County Public Libraries Sweet Success ATX Sweetwater County BOCES TCG Memorial Academy TCP Software Telemundo Portland Texas Christian University The Albuquerque Journal The Blade The Clarksburg Exponent-Telegram The County Press The Daily Item The Daily Star The Denver Post The Dispatch Argus The Herald Palladium The Herald-Star The Lima News The Marietta Times The Martha’s Vineyard Times The Meakem Group The Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools The Orange County Register

The Park Record The Post and Courier The Post-Standard The Repository The Times Leader The Valley Breeze The Virgin Islands Daily News Three Rivers College Town Hall Seattle Traverse City Record-Eagle University of Kentucky College of Education University of Maryland Eastern Shore University of Memphis University of South Dakota University of Texas at San Antonio - College of Education & Human Development USC Upstate Vermont Principals Association Victoria Advocate Visalia Times-Delta/ Tulare Advance-Register Watertown Daily Times Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES West Shore Educational Service District WFCU Credit Union WFMJ Television, Inc. WHRO Public Media Will County Regional Office of Education WITF Public Media WJXT Wright State University WXYZ Channel 7

guide to all 245 spellers

2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee INSIDE

the officials, word panelists, * Meet Bee team and College Crew

* Your Bee Week Passport

speller SPELLER guide GUIDE Meet the Spellers Autograph Pages

would you sign my bee keeper, please?

One of the great traditions of Bee Week is asking spellers and officials to sign your Bee Keeper, which includes photos and information on all 245 spellers competing in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Can you get every signature in the book?

2024 2 BEE KEEPER • 2023

speller guide Meet the Spellers

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Ayden speaks Vietnamese ć XHQWO\ DQG KDV visited Vietnam PRUH WKDQ times.

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#1 AYDEN KHANG NGUYEN \HDUV ROG • WK JUDGH +LOOFUHVW (OHPHQWDU\ 6FKRRO • $ODEDPD .LZDQLV )RXQGDWLRQ %LUPLQJKDP $ODEDPD

#2 READELL KELLAN LETOAOTAUA MAMEA \HDUV ROG • WK JUDGH :HQGOHU 0LGGOH 6FKRRO • $QFKRUDJH 'DLO\ 1HZV $QFKRUDJH $ODVND

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(OGHQ LV D PLOLWDU\ NLG ZKR KDV OLYHG LQ Ć YH SODFHV 0LQQHVRWD 2NODKRPD 2NLQDZD 0DU\ODQG DQG $ODVND

$OL\DK KDV ORJJHG DOPRVW KRXUV RI ć LJKW LQ VPDOO SODQHV PXFK RI ZKLFK VKH SLORWHG

#3 ELDEN BENJAMIN WIER \HDUV ROG • WK JUDGH %HQ (LHOVRQ -XQLRU 6HQLRU +LJK 6FKRRO • )DLUEDQNV 1RUWK 6WDU %RURXJK 6FKRRO 'LVWULFW )DLUEDQNV $ODVND

#4 ALIYAH RACHEL ALPERT \HDUV ROG • WK JUDGH $OSHUW +RPHVFKRRO • $UL]RQD (GXFDWLRQDO )RXQGDWLRQ 3KRHQL[ $UL]RQD

Autographs 2024 • BEE KEEPER

3

speller guide Meet the Spellers

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Isabelle was the Ć UVW FKDLU WXED LQ $UL]RQDèV WK JUDGH DOO VWDWH EDQG

6K\QHOOH LV D FXULRXV SHUVRQ ZKR KDV ORQJ KDLU

#5 ISABELLE NOELLE GARCIA

#6 SHYNELLE PEYTON JOE

\HDUV ROG • WK JUDGH

\HDUV ROG • WK JUDGH

.\UHQH GHO 3XHEOR 0LGGOH 6FKRRO • $UL]RQD (GXFDWLRQDO )RXQGDWLRQ 3KRHQL[ $UL]RQD

7VDLOH (OHPHQWDU\ 6FKRRO • 1DYDMR 7LPHV 3XEOLVKLQJ &RPSDQ\ :LQGRZ 5RFN $UL]RQD

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5\DQ LV D VHYHQWK JHQHUDWLRQ VWXGHQW RI /XGZLJ YDQ %HHWKRYHQ

$DUDY FDQ VROYH D 5XELNèV &XEH LQ XQGHU D PLQXWH

#7 RYAN FAN

#8 AARAV VIRAT BALANI

\HDUV ROG • WK JUDGH

\HDUV ROG • WK JUDGH

0F1DLU 0LGGOH 6FKRRO • (OHFWULF &RRSHUDWLYHV RI $UNDQVDV -DFNVRQYLOOH $UNDQVDV

/\IRUG &D\ ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 6FKRRO • 7KH 0LQLVWU\ RI (GXFDWLRQ 1DVVDX 7KH %DKDPDV

Autographs

4 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

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Eckward likes to cook.

Sebastian tasted rattlesnake bites while visiting Arizona and liked them.

#9 ECKWARD SEBASTIAN FERGUSON

#10 SEBASTIAN ANTONIO MILLAN

12 years old • 8th grade

11 years old • 5th grade

Central Eleuthera High School • The Ministry of Education (Nassau, The Bahamas)

Albany Park Elementary School • KERO Channel %DNHUVĆ HOG &DOLIRUQLD

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FUn FFACt

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Amaani started learning Indian classical music at the age of 4.

Aren won third place in the 2024 California State Indoor Championships, KLV Ć UVW HYHU archery competition.

#11 AMAANI KADAMBI CHARAN 14 years old • 8th grade Chaboya Middle School • San Ramon Valley Rotary Club (Danville, California)

#12 AREN LEE 12 years old • 7th grade Helios School • San Ramon Valley Rotary Club (Danville, California)

2024 • BEE KEEPER

5

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Shradha has taken classical Indian dance classes for eight years.

Carina is part of her school’s chorus.

#13 SHRADHA ANJANA RACHAMREDDY

#14 CARINA SOFIA BELTRAN

14 years old • 8th grade

13 years old • 7th grade

BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Upper School • San Ramon Valley Rotary Club (Danville, California)

St. Mary’s Catholic School • Imperial County 2IĆ FH RI (GXFDWLRQ (O &HQWUR &DOLIRUQLD

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Aarav joined the middle school golf team as a 6th grader.

Katelyn is a blue belt in Aikido, a Japanese style of martial arts.

#15 AARAV SINGH MANN

#16 KATELYN NGUYEN

13 years old • 7th grade

13 years old • 7th grade

Washington Academic Middle School • 7KH 2IĆ FH of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools (Fresno, California)

Helen Stacey Middle School • The Orange County Register (Irvine, California)

6 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Oliver started his school’s newspaper, The Mirman Messenger, which is now in its third year.

Rishabh has visited 59 of the 63 U.S. National Parks.

#17 OLIVER SULLIVAN MCRAE HALKETT 12 years old • 6th grade The Mirman School • Los Angeles County 2IĆ FH RI (GXFDWLRQ /RV $QJHOHV &DOLIRUQLD

#18 RISHABH SAHA 14 years old • 8th grade Herbert H. Cruickshank Middle School • 616% 5HJLRQ 2QH %HH 0HUFHG &DOLIRUQLD

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Avi keeps a SHUVRQDO (OPR good luck charm in his pocket during competitions.

Nithika’s birthday falls on Star Wars Day.

#19 AVIJEET SINGH RANDHAWA 13 years old • 8th grade Auburndale Intermediate School • Riverside &RXQW\ 2IĆ FH RI (GXFDWLRQ 5LYHUVLGH &DOLIRUQLD

#20 NITHIKA SRI RANGAN 14 years old • 8th grade %URRNĆ HOG 6FKRRO • TCG Memorial $FDGHP\ 6DFUDPHQWR &DOLIRUQLD

Autographs 2024 • BEE KEEPER

7

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

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Ryan sails twoperson C420 race boats on weekends in the crew position and trapezes over the water.

When Shrey ZDV \HDUV ROG he wrote a book and donated all the proceeds to wildlife conservancy.

#21 RYAN D. FERGUSON

#22 SHREY PARIKH

14 years old • 8th grade

12 years old • 6th grade

San Carlos School • Monterey County 2IĆ FH RI (GXFDWLRQ 6DOLQDV &DOLIRUQLD

Day Creek Intermediate School • San Bernardino County Superintendent RI 6FKRROV 6DQ %HUQDUGLQR &DOLIRUQLD

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Srikanth has played basketball for Ć YH \HDUV

Ben learned to read at age 2.

#23 SRIKANTH SATHEESH KUMAR

#24 BENJAMIN KENNETH EVANS

14 years old • 8th grade

14 years old • 8th grade

Heritage Intermediate School • San Bernardino &RXQW\ 6XSHULQWHQGHQW RI 6FKRROV 6DQ %HUQDUGLQR &DOLIRUQLD

Twin Peaks Middle School • ABC 10News 6DQ 'LHJR &DOLIRUQLD

Autographs

8 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

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Ibrahim has a YouTube channel where he uploads his photography and stopmotion animations.

Sarvadnya enjoys doing yoga, especially sun salutations, early in the morning.

#25 IBRAHIM AHMED ZAKI 13 years old • 8th grade Golden Valley Charter School • Sage (Thousand Oaks, California)

#26 SARVADNYA JITENDRA KADAM 13 years old • 7th grade Oak Grove Elementary School • Visalia TimesDelta/Tulare Advance-Register (Visalia, California)

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FUn FFACt

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Duncan loves paleontology and has visited the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, Canada.

Arshan can imitate a British accent.

#27 DUNCAN BENEDICT GRANT 14 years old • 8th grade King’s-Edgehill School • Cape Breton University (Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada)

#28 ARSHAN SHAHRIAR 10 years old • 4th grade Selwyn Elementary School • ECU Regional Bee (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada)

2024 • BEE KEEPER

9

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Isaac likes photography and wants to run a small photo business during his high school years.

&RRSHU èV Ć UVW concert was an Imagine Dragons concert in Denver.

#29 ISAAC JOSEPH BROGAN

#30 COOPER WILLIAM EDWARDS

12 years old • 6th grade

11 years old • 5th grade

Maranatha Christian Academy • WFCU Credit Union (Windsor, Ontario, Canada)

Niwot Elementary School • Boulder Valley School District (Boulder, Colorado)

Autog ra phs

FUn FFACt

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Aditi was recognized as a 2024 National Junior Honor Society Outstanding Achievement Award winner.

Hayden has XDOLĆ HG IRU T the American Invitational Mathematics Examination with Distinction.

#31 ADITI MUTHUKUMAR

#32 HAYDEN HUGHES

13 years old • 8th grade

14 years old • 7th grade

Hulstrom K-8 • The Denver Post (Denver, Colorado)

Hughes Homeschool • Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society (West Hartford, Connecticut)

10 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Vihaan is known to be a humorous conversationalist.

When Noah was 6, he fastened his shoes together and tried to hop down a set of stone steps.

#33 VIHAAN A. JAGADEESH

#34 NOAH XAVIER ROWE

10 years old • 5th grade

14 years old • 8th grade

Rehoboth Elementary School • Sussex County Public Libraries (Georgetown, Delaware)

MacFarland Middle School • The Washington Informer (Washington, District of Columbia)

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Victoria is a big fan of electronic music and hopes to one day create some of her own.

Ben has visited 29 different countries, and the United States will be his 30th country.

#35 VICTORIA ANTONIA MCFETRIDGE

#36 BENJAMIN DANGER GRICE

13 years old • 7th grade

9 years old • 4th grade

St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic School • The Washington Informer (Washington, District of Columbia)

Afnorth International School • European PTSA (Defense and State Department Schools, Europe)

Autographs 2024 • BEE KEEPER

11

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

In her Community Problem Solvers club, Claire worked to combat censorship and advocate for the freedom to read.

Nicasio is a name of Spanish origin, meaning “victory.”

#37 CLAIRE ELISE SMITH 12 years old • 7th grade Southwestern Middle School • SNSB Region Two Bee (DeLand, Florida)

Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School • Lee County Spelling Bee (Fort Myers, Florida)

FUn FFACt

Sree Vidya writes for her school’s literary magazine and LV DOVR D Ć FWLRQ and poetry editor.

Camila has two lucky pins that she has worn to every spelling competition since 7th grade.

13 years old • 7th grade Alice B. Landrum Middle School • WJXT (Jacksonville, Florida)

12 BEE KEEPER • 2024

13 years old • 7th grade

FUn FFACt

#39 SREE VIDYA SILIVERI

Autographs

#38 NICASIO DORRIAN DAVID

#40 CAMILA SANCHEZ IZQUIERDO 13 years old • 8th grade Highpoint Academy • Miami Herald (Miami, Florida)

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Jasmine can draw anything by looking at a picture of it.

Rylan was born in Boston, Massachusetts, but he now lives in Naples, Florida.

#41 JASMINE PEREZ

#42 RYLAN WISE

11 years old • 5th grade

13 years old • 7th grade

Bayview Elementary School • Miami Herald (Miami, Florida)

Pine Ridge Middle School • Collier County Public Schools (Naples, Florida)

Autog ra phs

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Elvis runs a Blooket YouTube channel with over 4,000 subscribers and more than half a million views.

Nathan was the lead character in his school’s musical production of “Descendants” in 7th grade.

#43 ELVIS AVETIS 13 years old • 8th grade Discovery Middle School • Orange County Public Schools (Orlando, Florida)

#44 NATHAN JOHN CRABBENDAM 13 years old • 8th grade SunRidge Middle School • Orange County Public Schools (Orlando, Florida)

2024 • BEE KEEPER

13

speller guide Meet the Spellers

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Vel can perform a Tamil martial art known as Silambam.

Amara has been composing her own music since she was 7 years old.

#45 VELVIZHI SENTHANAMUDAN SETHIRAYAR 11 years old • 6th grade

#46 AMARA CHEPURI 11 years old • 5th grade Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy • Rays Baseball Foundation and Rowdies Soccer Fund (St. Petersburg, Florida)

Orlando Gifted Academy • Orange County Public Schools (Orlando, Florida)

Autog ra phs

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Bruhat was one of the top few in the nation chosen to participate in traditional memory sloka performance.

Jordin spent eight hours in one sitting on one of her drawings without taking a break.

#47 BRUHAT SOMA

#48 JORDIN OREMOSU

12 years old • 7th grade

14 years old • 8th grade

Turner/Bartels K-8 School • Rays Baseball Foundation and Rowdies Soccer Fund (St. Petersburg, Florida)

Lutz Preparatory School • Rays Baseball Foundation and Rowdies Soccer Fund (St. Petersburg, Florida)

14 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Allie has hiked parts of the Appalachian Trail.

Matthew memorized the periodic table of the elements when he was 4 years old.

#49 ALLIE KAY WINSOR 13 years old • 8th grade Holy Comforter Episcopal School • Envision Credit Union (Tallahassee, Florida)

#50 MATTHEW RYLAN BABER 14 years old • 8th grade Rising Starr Middle School • Georgia Association of Educators (Tucker, Georgia)

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Sarv’s name means “everything” in Marati.

Abena loves reading, especially historical novels and books full of adventure and excitement.

#51 SARV SHAILESH DHARAVANE

#52 ABENA KESSEWA KWAFFO

10 years old • 4th grade

13 years old • 8th grade

Austin Elementary School • Georgia Association of Educators (Tucker, Georgia)

KNUST Basic School • Young Educators Foundation (Accra, Ghana)

Autographs 2024 • BEE KEEPER

15

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

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Giovanni has written two short stories and one comic that are yet to be published.

N’Adom loves to take pictures and always has a camera whenever she travels.

#53 GIOVANNI MANUEL NIATSE ADJEI

#54 N ’ADOM DARKO-ASARE

10 years old • 6th grade

13 years old • 7th grade

Christ The King International School • Young Educators Foundation (Accra, Ghana)

DPS International Ghana • Young Educators Foundation (Accra, Ghana)

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Alleena learned to speak her Ć UVW ZRUG “lettuce,” at 9 months old.

Sebastian has a passion for space and astronomy.

#55 ALLEENA RYDER VILLALUZ

#56 SEBASTIAN LUKE CABALONA BEJAR

13 years old • 7th grade

13 years old • 7th grade

Saipan International School • Rotary Club of Guam (Hagåtña, Guam)

Kapa’a Middle School • Hawaii State Spelling Bee (Honolulu, Hawaii)

Autographs

16 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt Amiah appeared on “The Rachael Ray Show” for raising $23,000 for the lunch debt in her school district.

#57 AMIAH RAY VAN HILL 13 years old • 8th grade Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy • Idaho Character Foundation (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho)

Autog ra phs

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Navtaj has solved a Rubik’s Cube in under 14 seconds.

Nidhi is a budding geologist and has a large collection of rocks, amethyst being her favorite mineral.

#58 NAVTAJ KHALSA SINGH 13 years old • 7th grade Lincoln Middle School • Lewiston Tribune (Lewiston, Idaho)

#59 NIDHI KULKARNI 12 years old • 7th grade Alexander Graham Bell Elementary School • Chicago Public Schools (Chicago, Illinois)

2024 • BEE KEEPER

17

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

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Annette has a very wellorganized Pinterest account.

Dev can recite every U.S. president in order.

#60 ANNETTE CHU 14 years old • 8th grade GEMS World Academy Chicago • SNSB Region Three Bee (Chicago, Illinois)

#61 DEV BIPINJANAK KATIRA 14 years old • 8th grade Katira Homeschool • South Cook ISC (Chicago, Illinois)

Autog ra phs

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Ribhu has been to and lived in states all over the country, from Colorado to New Jersey to Georgia.

Andres likes playing video games, especially “Super Smash Bros Ultimate,” “Undertale,” “Geometry Dash” and “Just Shapes & Beats.”

#62 RIBHU CHAHER

#63 ANDRES ROBLES

14 years old • 8th grade

12 years old • 7th grade

Channahon Junior High School • Will County 5HJLRQDO 2IĆ FH RI (GXFDWLRQ &KLFDJR ,OOLQRLV

Huntley Middle School • DeKalb Regional 2IĆ FH RI (GXFDWLRQ 'H.DOE ,OOLQRLV

18 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the Spellers

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Hendrix plays French horn.

Yahya completely memorized the Quran last year.

#64 HENDRIX KOHLE FELD 13 years old • 7th grade Pearl City Junior/Senior High School • &DUUROO -R'DYLHVV 6WHSKHQVRQ 5HJLRQDO 2IĆ FH of Education (Freeport, Illinois)

#65 YAHYA ALI MOHAMMED 12 years old • 6th grade Glenbrook Elementary School • Kane County 5HJLRQDO 2IĆ FH RI (GXFDWLRQ *HQHYD ,OOLQRLV

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Ananya is ambidextrous.

At the age of 8, Evan memorized and spelled the entire periodic table of elements for fun.

#66 ANANYA JOSHI

#67 EVAN COCHRANE

12 years old • 6th grade

12 years old • 7th grade

Roscoe Middle School • Boone-Winnebago 5HJLRQDO 2IĆ FH RI (GXFDWLRQ /RYHV 3DUN ,OOLQRLV

,PPDQXHO /XWKHUDQ 6FKRRO • McHenry County 5HJLRQDO 2IĆ FH RI (GXFDWLRQ 0F+HQU\ ,OOLQRLV

Autographs 2024 • BEE KEEPER

19

speller guide Meet the Spellers

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Adhrit likes to create original, entertaining games of his own.

Jake enjoys learning Japanese and computer programming.

#68 ADHRIT PAL 11 years old • 6th grade Murphy Junior High School • Grundy/Kendall &RXQW\ 5HJLRQDO 2IĆ FH RI (GXFDWLRQ (Morris, Illinois)

#69 JAKE EDWARD EUGENE BAILEY 14 years old • 8th grade Unity Christian School • 5HJLRQDO 2IĆ FH RI (GXFDWLRQ 6WHUOLQJ ,OOLQRLV

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Ian can spell any word he knows backwards.

Sean enjoys speedrun games, especially “Geometry Dash.”

#70 IAN SANT WOON LEONG

#71 SEAN THOMAS GIBBONS

12 years old • 6th grade

13 years old • 8th grade

Matthews Middle School • Lake County Regional 2IĆ FH RI (GXFDWLRQ 9HUQRQ +LOOV ,OOLQRLV

Bryan Middle School • DuPage Regional 2IĆ FH RI (GXFDWLRQ :KHDWRQ ,OOLQRLV

Autographs

20 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

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Reid is a New York Yankees fan and is often found on the couch hollering at the TV during games.

Achyut secured 4th place in 2022 and 6th place in 2023 at the Scholastic Chess of Indiana state level.

#72 REID MICHAEL SHAW

#73 ACHYUT ETHIRAJ

13 years old • 7th grade

14 years old • 8th grade

Tri-North Middle School • SNSB Region Three Bee (Bloomington, Indiana)

Maple Creek Middle School • SNSB Region Three Bee (Fort Wayne, Indiana)

Autog ra phs

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Miah can recite WKH Ć UVW digits of pi.

Sharanya loves irritating her parents with K-pop references, especially about the girl group BLACKPINK.

#74 MIAH KAYLEN MILLER

#75 SHARANYA KAR

13 years old • 7th grade

11 years old • 6th grade

Creekside Middle School • IU School of Education at IUPUI (Indianapolis, Indiana)

West Lafayette Intermediate School • Lafayette Adult Resource Academy (Lafayette, Indiana)

2024 • BEE KEEPER

21

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

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Leo’s least favorite food is cheese.

Nolan and his brother care for the IDPLO\ èV ć RFN RI eight different breeds of FKLFNHQV

#76 LEO THOMAS FURLONG

#77 NOLAN MICHAEL ROULE

11 years old • 5th grade

14 years old • 8th grade

Burris Laboratory School • Ball State University - WIPB-TV (Muncie, Indiana)

St. John’s Lutheran School • .DQNDNHH Valley REMC (Wanatah, Indiana)

Autog ra phs

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3DUWKD WDNHV pride in being an adept conversationalist.

Emory’s middle school EDVNHWEDOO team played two years undefeated DQG ZRQ EDFN WR EDFN FLW\ championships.

#78 PARTHASARADHI REDDY KATREDDY 12 years old • 7th grade Pleasant Valley Junior High School • The Dispatch Argus (Davenport, Iowa)

22 BEE KEEPER • 2024

#79 EMORY JOBE 14 years old • 8th grade Mission Trail Middle School • Olathe Public Schools (Olathe, Kansas)

speller guide Meet the Spellers

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Carey likes to play chess and has competed in state-level tournaments.

Aarya is taking guitar lessons and loves jamming with his younger brother.

#80 CAREY CHEBII CHESIRE

#81 AARYA KIRAN MEHENDALE

13 years old • 8th grade

13 years old • 8th grade

Andover Middle School • Kansas Press Association (Topeka, Kansas)

St. Paul Catholic School • WCPO 9 (Florence, Kentucky)

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Anna has seven older siblings.

Ian is a selfdescribed major soccer nerd.

#82 ANNA THERESA MERCY GREENWELL 14 years old • 8th grade John Paul II Catholic School • Visit Hopkinsville (Hopkinsville, Kentucky)

#83 IAN JIE-MING GIBSON 14 years old • 8th grade Bowling Green Junior High School • Visit Hopkinsville (Hopkinsville, Kentucky)

Autographs 2024 • BEE KEEPER

23

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

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Joshua has unique eyebrows.

Oliviah sings in her church’s worship team.

#84 JOSHUA ELIJAH BULLEN 13 years old • 7th grade Hopkinsville Middle School • Visit Hopkinsville (Hopkinsville, Kentucky)

#85 OLIVIAH HOPE BRAUN 12 years old • 6th grade Braun Homeschool Academy • University of Kentucky - College of Education (Lexington, Kentucky)

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Zachary is learning Mandarin.

Hi-Tai loves to observe and photograph bugs.

#86 ZACHARY RARA

#87 HI-TAI JULIANA LU

13 years old • 7th grade

14 years old • 8th grade

Meyzeek Middle School • Louisville Free Public Library (Louisville, Kentucky)

Glasgow Middle School • Capitol Area Region (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

Autographs

24 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

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Aiden is an altar server at his local church.

Paranika will decorate anything, anywhere, anytime.

#88 AIDEN PHAM

#89 PARANIKA ETHAKOTA

14 years old • 8th grade

9 years old • 3rd grade

Scott Middle School • Kiwanis Club of Lafayette & Arcadiana (Lafayette, Louisiana)

T.S. Cooley Elementary School • SagamoreHill Broadcasting, LLC (Lake Charles, Louisiana)

Autog ra phs

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Nayara helped raise six ducklings: Tater-tot, Sunny-side-up, Jim, Frank, Monks and Basil.

Sanil is the Ć UVW VSHOOHU IURP )DLUĆ HOG Elementary Magnet to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

#90 NAYARA SONALI DE SILVA-AHMED 14 years old • 8th grade Metairie Park Country Day School • New Orleans Chapter of The Links (New Orleans, Louisiana)

#91 SANIL SAVITA THORAT 8 years old • 3rd grade )DLUĆ HOG (OHPHQWDU\ 0DJQHW 6FKRRO • Louisiana State University Shreveport (Shreveport, Louisiana)

2024 • BEE KEEPER

25

speller guide Meet the Spellers

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Evan plays three instruments: piano, guitar and drums.

Quint likes to create his own fake sports leagues and simulate games, statistics and tournaments.

#92 EVAN THANH-DUY TRIEU

#93 QUINT MARKUS KARLSSON

13 years old • 8th grade

12 years old • 6th grade

St. Brigid School • Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram (Portland, Maine)

Crofton Middle School • Anne Arundel County Public Schools (Annapolis, Maryland)

Autog ra phs

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June likes to make things with a Cricut.

Su is learning Spanish on Duolingo.

#94 JUNE KEATLEY

#95 SU THIRI HLAING

10 years old • 4th grade

13 years old • 7th grade

St. James Academy • Maryland Sports (Baltimore, Maryland)

Saint Peter’s School • The Meakem Group (Bethesda, Maryland)

26 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

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Navya loves learning new languages, such as French, Chinese and Korean.

Chase has raised his pet ball python from a hatchling and plans on breeding her within the next year.

#96 NAVYA DWIVEDI 13 years old • 7th grade Clarksville Middle School • Howard County Library (Columbia, Maryland)

#97 CHASE WILLIAM CAMUTI 11 years old • 5th grade Glade Elementary School • Frederick County Public Libraries (Frederick, Maryland)

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Aidan loves sour candy and can consume an ungodly number of Lemonheads.

Conor enjoys playing with his 1-year-old brother and recently taught him to play catch.

#98 AIDAN MIGUEL COBOS 13 years old • 7th grade Milton M. Somers Middle School • Charles County Public Schools (La Plata, Maryland)

#99 CONOR ALEXANDER KEIGHTLEY-REINHARDT 14 years old • 8th grade &ULVĆ HOG +LJK 6FKRRO $FDGHP\ • University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Princess Anne, Maryland)

Autographs 2024 • BEE KEEPER

27

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

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Tanoshi has roughly 600 diecast cars, and his favorite is a 2008 Toyota Alphard that is 1/59 scale.

Adarsh’s record for solving a 2x2 Rubik’s Cube is 10 seconds.

#100 TANOSHI INOMATA 11 years old • 5th grade F. Lyman Winship Elementary School • Boston Centers for Youth & Families (Boston, Massachusetts)

#101 ADARSH REDDY VENKANNAGARI 10 years old • 5th grade Paul P. Gates Elementary School • The Daily Item (Lynn, Massachusetts)

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Josephine was born in Paris, France, and lived there until she was 3 years old.

Adyson has three cats: a Bengal named Cinci and two tabbies named Boots and Luna.

#102 JOSEPHINE NELLA GAUTIER

#103 ADYSON LYNN GIFFORD

12 years old • 6th grade

13 years old • 7th grade

Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School • The Martha’s Vineyard Times (Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts)

Wyandot Middle School • Macomb Intermediate School District (Clinton Township, Michigan)

Autographs

28 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

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Divya has been training in Hindustani classical music for the past three years.

Joshua is one of two people in his family born in the United States rather than the Philippines.

#104 DIVYA CHOUDHARY 10 years old • 5th grade Canton Charter Academy • WXYZ Channel 7 (Detroit, Michigan)

#105 JOSHUA LINO DIOCARES 14 years old • 8th grade Ridge Park Charter Academy • Kent Intermediate School District (Grand Rapids, Michigan)

Autog ra phs

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Carter’s favorite historical Ć JXUH LV $OEHUW Einstein due to his combination of intelligence DQG JRRĆ QHVV

Calvin likes to crochet.

#106 CARTER JAMES TUTHILL

#107 CALVIN GIDEON PRATT

13 years old • 8th grade

13 years old • 8th grade

Milwood Magnet School • Kalamazoo Experiential Learning Center (Kalamazoo, Michigan)

Imlay City Middle School • The County Press (Lapeer, Michigan)

2024 • BEE KEEPER

29

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

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Ara plays saxophone, and it is also his favorite word.

Karissa is currently learning Italian.

#108 ARA JOSEPH SWIATLOWSKI

#109 KARISSA JOLYN MEASEL

11 years old • 6th grade

14 years old • 8th grade

Mason County Central Middle School • West Shore Educational Service District (Ludington, Michigan)

Christ Lutheran School • The Herald Palladium (St. Joseph, Michigan)

Autog ra phs

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Once at sailing camp, Rhys was knocked into the water by a pole on the sail.

Aryan has been practicing Indian classical music for the past seven years, singing Hindustani music.

#110 RHYS JEFFERSON MILLER

#111 ARYAN RAHUL KHEDKAR

14 years old • 8th grade

13 years old • 8th grade

Traverse City West Middle School • Traverse City Record-Eagle (Traverse City, Michigan)

Baker Middle School • Oakland Schools Education Foundation (Waterford, Michigan)

30 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Yupeng began playing violin at age 4 and now plays in the Duluth Superior Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Kai enjoys making mini Ć UHV XVLQJ D magnifying glass.

#112 YUPENG CHEN

#113 KAI JOHN RIEDNER

14 years old • 8th grade

11 years old • 6th grade

Ordean East Middle School • The Minnesota Service Cooperatives (Duluth, Minnesota)

Minnetonka Middle School West • The Minnesota Service Cooperatives (Excelsior, Minnesota)

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Jacob is a big fan of The Hardy Boys book series.

Jaden has perfect pitch.

#114 JACOB AUGUST WARNER 12 years old • 7th grade Kennedy Secondary School • The Minnesota Service Cooperatives (Fergus Falls, Minnesota)

#115 JADEN GABRIEL GO 13 years old • 7th grade Sacred Heart School • The Minnesota Service Cooperatives (Grand Forks, Minnesota)

Autographs 2024 • BEE KEEPER

31

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

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Elijah likes dipping French fries in ranch.

Roberto knows ERWK WKH ć DJ and capital city of every country in the world.

#116 ELIJAH DEE ELLEDGE 12 years old • 6th grade Immanuel Lutheran School • The Minnesota Service Cooperatives (North Mankato, Minnesota)

St. Francis of Assisi School • The Minnesota Service Cooperatives (Rochester, Minnesota)

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William has never met a dog he didn’t like.

Holland has a pet peacock.

13 years old • 8th grade Royalton Middle School • The Minnesota Service Cooperatives (Royalton, Minnesota)

32 BEE KEEPER • 2024

13 years old • 7th grade

FUn FFACt

#118 WILLIAM DAVID RAUSCH

Autographs

#117 ROBERTO NOVIS VILLASBOAS

#119 HOLLAND VOGEL 14 years old • 8th grade Murray County Central School • The Minnesota Service Cooperatives (Slayton, Minnesota)

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt Leyla is a jazz dancer.

#120 LEYLA WARDA JACOBSON 13 years old • 7th grade North Junior High School • The Minnesota Service Cooperatives (St. Cloud, Minnesota)

Autog ra phs

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Azariah can play both piano and trumpet by ear.

David can solve a Rubik’s Cube in under 45 seconds.

#121 AZARIAH DE WAYNE GREEN

#122 DAVID ALEXANDER HEYMAN

11 years old • 6th grade

12 years old • 7th grade

Hernando Middle School • C Spire Foundation (Columbus, Mississippi)

Caledonia Middle School • C Spire Foundation (Columbus, Mississippi)

2024 • BEE KEEPER

33

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

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Aanya won the state Science Olympiad competition for Experimental Design.

Garrett supports the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, the 7DPSD %D\ Lightning and the Milwaukee %XFNV

#123 AANYA SHETTY 13 years old • 8th grade John Warner Middle School • Columbia Missourian (Columbia, Missouri)

#124 GARRETT WILLIAM FRY 14 years old • 8th grade Delta Woods Middle School • Mid-Continent Public Library (Independence, Missouri)

Autog ra phs

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Mariah is the exact middle child in a family RI Ć YH JLUOV

Scott has Asperger’s syndrome.

#125 MARIAH KATE COFFEY 13 years old • 7th grade +DUULVRQYLOOH 0LGGOH 6FKRRO • Raymore-Peculiar School District (Peculiar, Missouri)

34 BEE KEEPER • 2024

#126 SCOTT ARON TINGLE 13 years old • 7th grade 6HQDWK +RUQHUVYLOOH 0LGGOH 6FKRRO • Three 5LYHUV &ROOHJH 3RSODU %OXII 0LVVRXUL

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

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Kunal has played six sports: tennis, basketball, cricket, swimming, martial arts and soccer.

Ellie once broke a microwave.

#127 KUNAL ROSHAN PATEL

#128 ELOISE KATE WATTENBARGER

11 years old • 6th grade

14 years old • 8th grade

Cedar Ridge Intermediate School • A.C.E.S. (Rolla, Missouri)

Hamilton Middle School • Mosaic Life Care Foundation (St. Joseph, Missouri)

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Sonia loves magic and is considering a part-time career as an illusionist.

Cheyenne could solve four different types of Rubik’s Cubes by age 6.

#129 SONIA BABUL KULKARNI

#130 CHEYENNE XIAORAN WANG

13 years old • 8th grade

12 years old • 6th grade

John Burroughs School • Saint Louis University (St. Louis, Missouri)

St. Joseph Elementary and Middle School • Montana Television Network (Bozeman, Montana)

Autographs 2024 • BEE KEEPER

35

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Sarah is a piano prodigy with perfect pitch who played at Carnegie Hall and as a soloist with an orchestra.

Arabella is left-handed but plays the guitar right-handed.

#131 SARAH GRACE FERNANDES 12 years old • 6th grade St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic School • Omaha Sports Commission (Omaha, Nebraska)

#132 ARABELLA MENDOZA 12 years old • 6th grade Bethlehem Lutheran School • The Public Education Foundation (Las Vegas, Nevada)

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Bella has traveled to 16 different countries.

Amritanshu is in possession of a set of prehistoric shark teeth.

#133 BELLA CLAIRE MY NGUYEN

#134 AMRITANSHU PRADHAN

14 years old • 8th grade

14 years old • 8th grade

St. Francis de Sales Catholic School • The Public Education Foundation (Las Vegas, Nevada)

Amherst Middle School • New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, New Hampshire)

Autographs

36 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Adi is an author with two books published on Amazon, ê7HUULĆ HG LQ the Woods” and “Frutas y Vegetales.”

Olivia wants to live in England one day and obtain a British accent.

#135 ADITYA JAGAN MOHAN 12 years old • 6th grade Franklin Middle School • Somerset County Library System of NJ (Bridgewater, New Jersey)

#136 OLIVIA RHEE 14 years old • 8th grade Lewis F. Cole Middle School • Bergen County Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs (Hackensack, New Jersey)

Autog ra phs

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Kavya’s favorite sport is volleyball because it helps her relax when she feels stressed.

Mariam enjoys baking different types of cookies in her spare time.

#137 KAVYA #138 MARIAM BELKOUCHI SATYAMKUMAR JAKASANIA 14 years old • 8th grade 14 years old • 8th grade Frank R. Conwell, Middle School #4 • Hudson &RXQW\ 2IĆ FH RI &XOWXUDO DQG +HULWDJH $IIDLUV (Jersey City, New Jersey)

Maarif School • Sidelines and Stages (Maplewood, New Jersey)

2024 • BEE KEEPER

37

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Harini has been learning Indian classical music since she was 5 years old.

Juliette played the role of Gill in her school’s “Finding Nemo” musical last year.

#139 HARINI MURALI 12 years old • 7th grade Woodrow Wilson Middle School • Press Communications (Neptune, New Jersey)

#140 JULIETTE GRACE MAY ANDERSON 13 years old • 7th grade Santa Fe Preparatory School • The Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, New Mexico)

Autog ra phs

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Reed enjoys reading classic Ć FWLRQDO literature.

Eli is very athletic.

#141 REED JENSEN FUCHS

#142 ELI JEFFREY MCNAIR

14 years old • 8th grade

13 years old • 8th grade

The Alternative School for Math and Science • Corning Rotary Club (Corning, New York)

South Middle School • Orange-Ulster BOCES (Goshen, New York)

38 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Noah built a rollercoaster out of Lego.

Olivia had published two books by the time VKH Ć QLVKHG elementary school.

#143 NOAH ADAM KAPLAN

#144 OLIVIA LIPIEC

12 years old • 7th grade

13 years old • 7th grade

Van Wyck Junior High School • SNSB Region Four Bee (Hopewell Junction, New York)

Accompsett Middle School • ScholarSkills for STARS (New Windsor, New York)

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YY is learning shooting from nine-time world champion Eric Grauffel.

Victor likes to code in Python and is learning C++.

#145 YY LIANG

#146 ZELONG YANG

12 years old • 7th grade

12 years old • 6th grade

YY Homeschool • ScholarSkills for STARS (New Windsor, New York)

Richard S. Sherman Great Neck North Middle School • ScholarSkills for STARS (New Windsor, New York)

Autographs 2024 • BEE KEEPER

39

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Anna is an immigrant, who is now a U.S. citizen.

Jay will sing at the Met Opera’s production of “El Niño” at the Lincoln Center this spring.

#147 ANNA KORNEEVA

#148 JAY NAYAK

13 years old • 8th grade

9 years old • 4th grade

P.S./I.S. 95 The Gravesend School • NYC Department of Education (New York, New York)

Hunter College Elementary School • NYC Department of Education (New York, New York)

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Ryan has perfect pitch and can identify any note by ear.

Nyarah’s name means “with utmost purpose.”

#149 RYAN CREARY 13 years old • 8th grade Penn Yan Middle School • Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES (Newark, New York)

Autographs

40 BEE KEEPER • 2024

#150 NYARAH SKYE GARVER 12 years old • 7th grade Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School • The Daily Star (Oneonta, New York)

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

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Leah loves “Cats” the musical and plays piano arrangements of the songs.

Simran grew a full foot in height during the pandemic.

#151 LEAH MARIE RINI

#152 SIMRAN SANDERS

12 years old • 7th grade

13 years old • 7th grade

Beekmantown Middle School • Champlain Valley Educational Services (Plattsburgh, New York)

Jamesville-Dewitt Middle School • The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York)

Autog ra phs

FUn FFACt

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Micah trains as a soccer goalie with the Olympic Development Program in New York.

Aishwarya can recite many Vedic hymns from memory.

#153 MICAH RICHARD STERLING

#154 AISHWARYA KALLAKURI

11 years old • 6th grade

13 years old • 7th grade

General Brown Junior-Senior High School • Watertown Daily Times (Watertown, New York)

Valor Preparatory Academy • Carolina Panthers (Charlotte, North Carolina)

2024 • BEE KEEPER

41

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Ananya likes to make word play jokes and songs to remember the words.

Harini has amassed a huge collection of miniatures.

#155 ANANYA RAO PRASSANNA 13 years old • 7th grade Davis Drive Middle School • Carolina Panthers (Charlotte, North Carolina)

#156 HARINI JAYAKUMAR 11 years old • 6th grade The Brawley School • Carolina Panthers (Charlotte, North Carolina)

Autog ra phs

FUn FFACt

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Phaneendra RQO\ OLNHV Ć FWLRQ books because QRQĆ FWLRQ books bore him.

Johannes is half-Trinidadian and got “Trinidadian” as one of his words in his school spelling bee this year.

#157 PHANEENDRA VENKATA SAI BULUSU

#158 JOHANNES KENZO ROXBURGH

12 years old • 6th grade

13 years old • 7th grade

Harris Road Middle School • Carolina Panthers (Charlotte, North Carolina)

Voyager Academy • Duke University 2IĆ FH RI 'XUKDP DQG &RPPXQLW\ $IIDLUV (Durham, North Carolina)

42 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Angelo loves programming and created a spelling bee simulator in the programming language Scratch to help him study.

Like his father and great-grandfather, Ethan plays both the alto and tenor saxophone.

#159 ANGELO SEI ALDOPH 14 years old • 8th grade R. Max Abbott Middle School • Cumberland County Schools (Fayetteville, North Carolina)

#160 ETHAN CARTER DUNLAP 12 years old • 8th grade Overhills Middle School • Harnett County Schools (Lillington, North Carolina)

FUn FFACt

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Orrin streams Minecraft weekly on Twitch.

Luna began practicing Brazilian jiujitsu this year.

#161 ORRIN YIU-SING LAM

#162 LUNA SARA GASEVIC

14 years old • 8th grade

14 years old • 8th grade

McGee’s Crossroads Middle School • Johnston County Public Schools 6PLWKĆ HOG 1RUWK &DUROLQD

Ben Franklin Middle School • ND Association of County Superintendents (Bismarck, North Dakota)

Autographs 2024 • BEE KEEPER

43

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Zach has been to 25 states as well as Bermuda.

Meredith has visited 40 of the 63 U.S. National Parks and hopes to visit them all.

#163 ZACHARY DANIEL YEAGER

#164 MEREDITH ELISE DUNLAP

13 years old • 7th grade

13 years old • 7th grade

Chippewa Junior/Senior High School • Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio)

Fairland Middle School • Ohio University College of Business (Athens, Ohio)

FUn FFACt

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Ryan loves movies and hopes to write and direct them one day.

Logan’s birthday falls on National Pinball Day.

#165 RYAN SEAN FRAZEE

#166 LOGAN COX

15 years old • 8th grade

14 years old • 8th grade

Wheelersburg Middle School • Ohio University College of Business (Athens, Ohio)

Claymont Middle School • The Repository (Canton, Ohio)

Autographs

44 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Emily loves to experiment in the kitchen; her favorite things to bake are cake pops and macarons.

Avinav is a black belt in tae kwon do, with over 100 SRGLXP Ć QLVKHV nationally and internationally.

#167 EMILY ROSE CASTILLA

#168 AVINAV PREM ANAND 13 years old • 7th grade Olentangy Orange Middle School • SNSB Region Two Bee (Columbus, Ohio)

13 years old • 7th grade St. Michael Elementary School • WCPO 9 (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Autog ra phs

FUn FFACt

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Darren loves swimming, especially in the ocean when waves are breaking.

Aurora shoots a recurve bow on her archery team and brings Gilbert the Good Luck Duck to competitions.

#169 DARREN PRINCE-WRIGHT

#170 AURORA OTTILIE SPISAK

13 years old • 8th grade

13 years old • 7th grade

West Geauga Middle School • ESC of the Western Reserve (Concord Township , Ohio)

Hadley E. Watts Middle School • Wright State University (Dayton, Ohio)

2024 • BEE KEEPER

45

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Cayley Anne constantly listens to musical soundtracks, such as “Six,” “Mean Girls” and “Wicked.”

Ope loves to play Scrabble with her family.

#171 CAYLEY ANNE DENISE ANDERSON

#172 OPEMIPO PEARL BALOGUN

14 years old • 8th grade

13 years old • 8th grade

North Ridgeville Academic Center • Educational Service Center of Lorain County (Elyria, Ohio)

Shawnee Middle School • The Lima News (Lima, Ohio)

Autog ra phs

FUn FFACt

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Marissa plays Ć YH GLIIHUHQW musical instruments.

Enzo is the oldest child of four.

#173 MARISSA ELIZABETH GATEWOOD 13 years old • 7th grade Salem Junior High School • Salem News, East Liverpool Review and The Morning Journal (Lisbon, Ohio)

46 BEE KEEPER • 2024

#174 JUAN ENZO ASTORGA 11 years old • 5th grade Belpre Elementary School • The Marietta Times (Marietta, Ohio)

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Drake loves American history.

Brheanna loves to sing.

#175 DRAKE FINNICUM 14 years old • 8th grade Bellaire Middle School • The Times Leader (Martins Ferry, Ohio)

#176 BRHEANNA DAIZ BOYLES 12 years old • 5th grade Buckeye South Elementary School • The Herald-Star (Steubenville, Ohio)

FUn FFACt

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Advait is ć XHQW LQ Ć YH languages: English, Tamil, Hindi, Spanish and Telugu.

Kendall loves to bake, specializing in pies and cakes.

#177 ADVAIT NISHIT

#178 KENDALL JO MEHL

14 years old • 8th grade

12 years old • 6th grade

Incarnate Word Academy • SNSB Region Two Bee (Strongsville, Ohio)

Otsego Junior High School • The Blade (Toledo, Ohio)

Autographs 2024 • BEE KEEPER

47

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Joey created and acted in a VKRUW Ć OP WKLV \HDU FDOOHG “The Extractor.”

Adora swears that if you eat a grape after ELWLQJ D SUHW]HO LW ZLOO WDVWH OLNH fried chicken.

#179 JOSEPH STANLEY CONSTANTINE

#180 ADORA ERXIA ZHANG

\HDUV ROG • 8th grade

\HDUV ROG • 8th grade

/DNHYLHZ +LJK 6FKRRO • :)0- 7HOHYLVLRQ Inc. (Youngstown, Ohio)

:KLWWLHU 0LGGOH 6FKRRO • 2NODKRPD &LW\ 7KXQGHU 2NODKRPD &LW\ 2NODKRPD

FUn FFACt

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1LFR LV ć XHQW LQ (QJOLVK DQG Spanish and LV FXUUHQWO\ OHDUQLQJ French.

Rubina writes a PDMRULW\ RI KHU SRHPV DERXW birds because VKH ORYHV ERWK poetry and bird watching.

#181 NICOLAS REENS

#182 RUBINA WIEDEMER

\HDUV ROG • 6th grade

\HDUV ROG • 8th grade

0RQWH &DVVLQR &DWKROLF 6FKRRO • 1HZV 2NODKRPD 7XOVD 2NODKRPD

)RVVLO &KDUWHU 6FKRRO • 7HOHPXQGR 3RUWODQG 3RUWODQG 2UHJRQ

Autographs

48 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt Charan is mad about math and takes part in competitions like Mathcounts.

#183 SURYA CHARAN GARIMELLA 14 years old • 8th grade Owen J. Roberts Middle School • Chester County Intermediate Unit (Downingtown, Pennsylvania)

Autog ra phs

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Akshaj’s favorite dessert is cookies and FUHDP ć DYRUHG ice cream.

Indigo is currently learning Japanese.

#184 AKSHAJ SOMISETTY

#185 INDIGO SATKO

12 years old • 7th grade

13 years old • 8th grade

Mountain View Middle School • WITF Public Media (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)

Wissahickon Middle School • Pennsylvania State Education Association and Council for the Advancement of Public Schools (Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania)

2024 • BEE KEEPER

49

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

As an Orthodox Jew, Hillel is proud to represent his community at the Bee.

Jayden could spell before he learned to talk in full sentences.

#186 HILLEL N. ZISKIND

#187 JAYDEN JIANG

14 years old • 8th grade

10 years old • 4th grade

The Grayson School • Delaware County Intermediate Unit (Morton, Pennsylvania)

Philadelphia Performing Art Charter School • WHYY (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Autog ra phs

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Leul is very fond of ChickĆ O $ HVSHFLDOO\ its spicy chicken sandwich.

Raana likes to try all types of different foods, and he aims to try crab and lobster dishes while in D.C. for Bee Week.

#188 LEUL GEREMEW

#189 RAANA PARCHURI

13 years old • 8th grade

14 years old • 8th grade

William Davies Middle School • WHYY (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Fort Couch Middle School • Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

50 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Daniel’s favorite musician is Frédéric Chopin.

Aaditya grows his hair and donates it toward the cleaning of petrochemicals and oils from water bodies.

#190 DANIEL YUO KIM

#191 AADITYA AIYER

13 years old • 7th grade

14 years old • 8th grade

Assumption BVM School • Schuylkill Technology Center (Pottsville, Pennsylvania)

Clinton Township Middle School • Diamond City Sports (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania)

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Mariana is a big anime fan— she hopes to learn Japanese and visit Japan one day.

Elliana has helped foster 35 cats and kittens in need over the past four years.

#192 MARIANA ITZEL P ÉREZ GONZ ÁLEZ

#193 ELLIANA GRACE PAGLIARINI

14 years old • 8th grade

11 years old • 5th grade

Radians School • Eureka Enrichment Services, Inc. (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

Hope Elementary School • The Valley Breeze (Lincoln, Rhode Island)

Autographs 2024 • BEE KEEPER

51

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Cate was WKH Ć UVW WHHQ YROXQWHHU DW KHU ORFDO OLEUDU\ ZKHUH VKH VKHOYHV ERRNV DQG FDQ RIWHQ EH IRXQG ORVW LQ WKH VWDFNV

0DOORU\ DVSLUHV WR EH D NLQGHUJDUWHQ WHDFKHU ZKHQ VKH JURZV XS

#194 EVA CATHERINE ANGLE

#195 MALLORY MORGAN GREENE

\HDUV ROG • WK JUDGH

\HDUV ROG • WK JUDGH

'DQLHO ,VODQG 6FKRRO • 7KH 3RVW DQG &RXULHU &KDUOHVWRQ 6RXWK &DUROLQD

&ORYHU 0LGGOH 6FKRRO • &DUROLQD 3DQWKHUV &ORYHU 6RXWK &DUROLQD

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&RQQRU FRXOG UHFLWH WKH DOSKDEHW IRUZDUGV DQG EDFNZDUGV DW DJH

/RJDQ KDV DFKLHYHG RYHU FRQVHFXWLYH VNLSV RQ KLV MXPS URSH

#196 CONNOR PATRICK NORTON

#197 LOGAN AMERICUS EDWARDS

\HDUV ROG • WK JUDGH

\HDUV ROG • WK JUDGH

6RFDVWHH 0LGGOH 6FKRRO • 3HH 'HH (GXFDWLRQ &HQWHU )ORUHQFH 6RXWK &DUROLQD

5RVHEXG 6FKRROKRXVH • &DUROLQD 3DQWKHUV *UHHU 6RXWK &DUROLQD

Autographs

52 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Andy loves singing karaoke.

Rayaan is a big fan of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

#198 ANDY VINH LAU

#199 RAYAAN AHMAD

14 years old • 8th grade

13 years old • 7th grade

Gaffney Middle School • USC Upstate (Spartanburg, South Carolina)

George S. Mickelson Middle School • University of South Dakota (Vermillion, South Dakota)

Autog ra phs

FUn FFACt

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Josh aspires to set up his own space station on Mars by the year 2040.

Leila has traveled to Mexico, Costa Rica, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.

#200 JASHIT VERMA 9 years old • 3rd grade Farmington Elementary School • University of Memphis (Memphis, Tennessee)

#201 LEILA AMELIE MCLAURIN 14 years old • 8th grade Sacred Heart Cathedral School • Tennessee Titans (Nashville, Tennessee)

2024 • BEE KEEPER

53

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Mina has traveled to Ć YH FRXQWULHV RXWVLGH RI WKH United States: Taiwan, Japan, 6RXWK .RUHD $XVWUDOLD DQG ,FHODQG

Sariah likes ZDWFKLQJ WUXH FULPH WHOHYLVLRQ

#202 MINA CHEN

#203 SARIAH LANEE TITUS

14 years old • 8th grade

11 years old • 6th grade

/LSVFRPE $FDGHP\ • Tennessee Titans (Nashville, Tennessee)

0DQQ 0LGGOH 6FKRRO • .LZDQLV &OXE RI $ELOHQH $ELOHQH 7H[DV

Autog ra phs

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Jayden visited VHYHQ FRXQWULHV ODVW \HDU

Tarini enjoys gardening with KHU GDG

#204 JAYDEN ZHENG 14 years old • 8th grade %RQKDP 0LGGOH 6FKRRO • (GXFDWLRQ &UHGLW 8QLRQ $PDULOOR 7H[DV

54 BEE KEEPER • 2024

#205 TARINI NANDAKUMAR 13 years old • 7th grade &KDOOHQJHU 6FKRRO $YHU\ 5DQFK • 6ZHHW 6XFFHVV $7; $XVWLQ 7H[DV

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Anthony’s birthday is on the same day as his favorite holiday, Día de los Muertos.

Faizan has a twin sister, Zara, who also made it to the district spelling bee this year.

#206 ANTHONY MICHAEL REYES 14 years old • 8th grade Paul R. Haas Middle School • KRIS Communications (Corpus Christi, Texas)

#207 FAIZAN ZAKI 12 years old • 6th grade Rice Middle School • Dallas Sports Commission (Dallas, Texas)

FUn FFACt

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Sriya has read the Harry Potter series more than 10 times.

Chioma likes doing crochet.

#208 SRIYA GOMATAM 14 years old • 8th grade Coppell Middle School North • Dallas Sports Commission (Dallas, Texas)

#209 CHIOMA PEARL EGBUONU 14 years old • 8th grade St. Raphael Catholic School • EPISD Education Foundation (El Paso, Texas)

Autographs 2024 • BEE KEEPER

55

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Tanya acted in the “Go Iguanas!” web series on the “Premiere” app and played Marilla in “Anne of Green Gables.”

Ishika loves writing, and her favorite writing style is personal narrative writing.

#210 TANYA KADARU 13 years old • 8th grade George Dawson Middle School • Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, Texas)

Creekside Park Junior High School • Houston Community College (Houston, Texas)

FUn FFACt

Kirsten is the Ć UVW FKDLU violinist of her school orchestra.

Vir is a black belt in tae kwon do.

13 years old • 8th grade International Leadership of Texas Katy K-8 • Houston Community College (Houston, Texas)

56 BEE KEEPER • 2024

13 years old • 8th grade

FUn FFACt

#212 KIRSTEN TIFFANY SANTOS

Autographs

#211 ISHIKA NANDINI VARIPILLI

#213 VIR VISHAL LAGAD 11 years old • 5th grade Jim & Pam Wells Elementary School • Houston Community College (Houston, Texas)

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Alejandro is a triplet with one brother and one sister.

Michael likes to do Michael Jackson’s moonwalk dance at school parties.

#214 ALEJANDRO EMMANUEL MARTINEZ 13 years old • 7th grade Raul Perales Middle School • Laredo Morning Times (Laredo, Texas)

#215 MICHAEL TESFAYE 13 years old • 7th grade Christ The King Cathedral School • Ramar Communications (Lubbock, Texas)

Autog ra phs

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Caleb wants to own a pipe organ one day.

Shreeya’s favorite pastime is building with Lego.

#216 CALEB LEVI GIUOCO

#217 SHREEYA SIVAKUMAR

13 years old • 7th grade

13 years old • 7th grade

South Middle School • Rio Grande Valley AIM Media Texas (McAllen, Texas)

Young Women’s Leadership Academy • Midland Reporter-Telegram (Midland, Texas)

2024 • BEE KEEPER

57

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Jaynard loves peach mango pie and fried chicken from Jollibee.

Kooper has played travel baseball since he was 7 years old.

#218 JAYNARD BUTAC QUIRAY

#219 KOOPER REIN MIKESKA

11 years old • 5th grade

11 years old • 6th grade

Odessa Christian School • Ector County Independent School District (Odessa, Texas)

Irion County Elementary School • TCP Software (San Angelo, Texas)

Autog ra phs

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Siyona is learning tae kwon do, and she is aiming for her black belt.

Lucas has played piano for eight years, saxophone for three years and bass for about a year.

#220 SIYONAMITHRA KANDALA 12 years old • 6th grade Keystone School • University of Texas at San Antonio - College of Education & Human Development (San Antonio, Texas)

58 BEE KEEPER • 2024

#221 LUCAS YOXIN LEE 13 years old • 8th grade Travis Middle School • Victoria Advocate (Victoria, Texas)

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Aarav likes coding with his robotics team, and it is the 2024 Texas Engineering Excellence Champion.

Joseph’s favorite food is chicken alfredo.

#222 AARAV SARGURUNATHAN 12 years old • 7th grade Wellborn Middle School • Rapoport Holdings, LLC (Waco, Texas)

#223 JOSEPH GREAUX 14 years old • 8th grade Eulalie R. Rivera K-8 School • The Virgin Islands Daily News (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands)

FUn FFACt

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Sasha won the 2023 Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest for her drawing of a wood duck LQ ć LJKW

Cadi has written and acted in a number of skits for her school’s TV network.

#224 SASHA KENLON 11 years old • 6th grade Weilenmann School of Discovery • The Park Record (Park City, Utah)

#225 CADI BRIGITA HEATON 14 years old • 8th grade Mont Harmon Middle School • Southeast Education Service Center (Price, Utah)

Autographs 2024 • BEE KEEPER

59

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Brooke has begun to tinker around on BMX bikes with her dad, who has experience competing in the sport.

Sophia is really good at whistling.

#226 BROOKE POWELL 13 years old • 7th grade Martlet Spring Homeschool • The City Journals (Salt Lake City, Utah)

Daybreak Elementary School • The City Journals (Salt Lake City, Utah)

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt Oviya was born in California but has never lived there.

12 years old • 6th grade Riverside School • Vermont Principals Association (Rutland, Vermont)

60 BEE KEEPER • 2024

12 years old • 6th grade

Phoenix shares her name with her sister, who is two weeks older than her.

#228 PHOENIX AURELIA NEWELL

Autographs

#227 SOPHIA BELLA MONTANA

#229 OVIYA AMALRAJ 13 years old • 7th grade J. Michael Lunsford Middle School • Loudoun County Public Schools (Ashburn, Virginia)

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Last year, Claire successfully completed an annual event that challenges participants to write a 50,000word novel in one month.

Dante has had many interesting pets, including a chameleon named Camo and a bearded dragon named Spyro.

#230 CLAIRE MEI MENG

#231 DANTE LEON PAULEY

12 years old • 7th grade

14 years old • 8th grade

Lakeside Middle School • SNSB Region Four Bee (Charlottesville, Virginia)

Tunstall Middle School • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Danville Area (Danville, Virginia)

Autog ra phs

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Daphne’s astrological sun sign is in Virgo.

Antony visited Egypt when he was 2 years old.

#232 DAPHNE ANASTASIA RENO

#233 ANTONY MICHAEL ELGOHARY

13 years old • 8th grade

14 years old • 8th grade

%DWWOHĆ HOG 0LGGOH 6FKRRO • Central Rappahannock Regional Library (Fredericksburg, Virginia)

Montevideo Middle School • Rockingham District Ruritans (Harrisonburg, Virginia)

2024 • BEE KEEPER

61

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Siya likes to sketch still life and people.

Ankita loves reading books and watching movies multiple times.

#234 SIYA AASHIRYA SAMPATH 9 years old • 5th grade J.W. Alvey Elementary School • InsideNoVa/ Prince William (Manassas, Virginia)

#235 ANKITA BALAJI 13 years old • 7th grade Rachel Carson Middle School • Fairfax County &RXQFLO 37$ 0HUULĆ HOG 9LUJLQLD

Autog ra phs

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Nargiza is an experienced calligrapher with an extensive variety of writing styles under her belt.

In the last year, Rohith learned to play the saxophone.

#236 NARGIZA MUZHAPAER

#237 ROHITH VENKATA KONDURI

13 years old • 7th grade

14 years old • 8th grade

Pinnacle Academy • Fairfax County &RXQFLO 37$ 0HUULĆ HOG 9LUJLQLD

Norfolk Academy • WHRO Public Media (Norfolk, Virginia)

62 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Audrey knows a lot of facts about betta Ć VK

Walker’s record IRU VROYLQJ D 3x3 Rubik’s &XEH LV seconds

#238 AUDREY PAGE LEE 13 years old • WK JUDGH $QGUHZ /HZLV 0LGGOH 6FKRRO • 5DGIRUG 8QLYHUVLW\ 5DGIRUG 9LUJLQLD

#239 GABRIEL WALKER WILSON 13 years old • WK JUDGH 6DOHP &KXUFK 0LGGOH 6FKRRO • 5LFKPRQG 7LPHV 'LVSDWFK 5LFKPRQG 9LUJLQLD

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Declan’s favorite PDWKHPDWLFLDQ LV -RKQ + Conway EHFDXVH KH invented “Conway’s *DPH RI /LIH ë

'HDQ KDV served as a SDJH IRU WKH :HVW 9LUJLQLD House of 'HOHJDWHV IRU VHYHUDO \HDUV

#240 DECLAN LOUIS MALLADY 11 years old • WK JUDGH 6QRTXDOPLH (OHPHQWDU\ 6FKRRO • Town Hall 6HDWWOH 6HDWWOH :DVKLQJWRQ

#241 DEAN MASON RYAN 14 years old • WK JUDGH 0HDGRZ %ULGJH +LJK 6FKRRO • &KDUOHVWRQ *D]HWWH 0DLO &KDUOHVWRQ :HVW 9LUJLQLD

Autographs 2024 • BEE KEEPER

63

speller guide Meet the Spellers

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Isaac plays lead guitar in a band.

Aiden received KLV Ć UVW GHJUHH black belt in tae kwon do in 2022.

#242 ISAAC THOMAS BOYCE

#243 AIDEN DEVMINA WIJEYAKULASURIYA

14 years old • 8th grade

13 years old • 8th grade

Bridgeport Middle School • The Clarksburg Exponent-Telegram (Clarksburg, West Virginia)

Blessed Sacrament School • Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wisconsin)

FUn FFACt

FUn FFACt

Nethraa can solve a Rubik’s Cube in under two minutes.

Eli built a pinball machine out of wood.

#244 NETHRAA MUTHUPANDIYARAJA

#245 ELIJAH JAMES JERNIGAN

13 years old • 8th grade

13 years old • 7th grade

Forest Park Middle School • Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wisconsin)

Kemmerer Junior Senior High School • Sweetwater County BOCES (Rock Springs, Wyoming)

Autographs

64 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the Officials and Word Panelists

DR. JACQUES BAILLY Pronouncer

MARY BROOKS Head judge

DR. BRIAN SIETSEMA

Associate pronouncer

2024 • BEE KEEPER

65

speller guide Meet the Officials and Word Panelists

CHRISTIAN AXELGARD

KRISTIN HAWKINS

FRANK CAHILL

SAMEER MISHRA

DR. KEVIN MOCH

GEORGIA SCURLETIS

Officials and word panelists perform various roles throughout the year, including as judges, record keepers, pronouncers and content creators and reviewers.

DR. KAVYA SHIVASHANKAR

speller guide Meet the Officials and Word Panelists

MIRLE SHIVASHANKAR

JANE SOLOMON

BARRIE TRINKLE

PETER SOKOLOWSKI

GEORGE THAMPY

BEN ZIMMER

Autographs 2024 • BEE KEEPER

67

speller guide Meet the Scripps National Spelling Bee Team

CORRIE LOEFFLER

CYBELLE WEEKS

Executive director

Senior director, program operations

MOLLY BECKER

TAMMY RIDDLE

Director, editorial

Director, sales & marketing

TYLER HYDE Brand strategy manager

KIM HARP Development manager

Autographs MAGGIE LORENZ Editorial manager

speller guide Meet the Scripps National Spelling Bee Team

AKSHAY AHUJA

HALEY GOETZ

Editorial manager

Program specialist

JULIA FERMIER

BRYAN WITT

Program specialist

Regional partner relations specialist

EMILY HARE

SHARISSE VERNELLE SANTOS

Editorial coordinator

Administrative assistant

Autographs 2024 • BEE KEEPER

69

speller guide Meet the College Crew

SYDNEY ASLAN Boston University

VANESSA CHAVEZ ACEVEDO Texas Christian University

SURYA DODIA University of Florida

AMELIA BALLINGALL Northeastern University

NATALIE CROSS

Pennsylvania State University

AMMAAR MOHAMMED University of Florida

Autographs

70 BEE KEEPER • 2024

speller guide Meet the College Crew

TARA SINGH Duke University

SADIE STORM

JOSEPHINE SPANIER Loyola Marymount University

University of Maryland, College Park

SAKETH SUNDAR Harvard University

MOLLY TAYLOR Ohio University

Autographs 2024 • BEE KEEPER

71

speller guide Meet the Spellebrities

PAUL LOEFFLER Television analyst

VANYA SHIVASHANKAR Bee Week emcee

DEV SHAH 2023 champion

72 BEE KEEPER • 2024