25 Indian-Americans among 49 spelling bee semi-finalists

[P.J.]

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25 Indian-Americans among 49 spelling bee semi-finalists



[h=2]For several years now, Indian-Americans have won most of the prestigious spelling awards in the United States.[/h]

As many as 25 Indian-Americans have made it to the list of 49 semi-finalists of the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee, in yet another indication of their continued dominance in the prestigious annual contest.


These Indian-Americans would vie for top positions in the final of 88th Scripps National Spelling Bee scheduled for Friday (India time).


For several years now, Indian-Americans have put up formidable challenges to their competitors and won most of the prestigious spelling awards in the United States.


Gokul Venkatachalam, 14, from St Louis, Missouri, who finished third in 2014, is considered favourite this year.
Sriram Hathwar, 12, and Ansun Sujoe were the joint winners in 2014.
Making her fifth appearance to the Spelling Bee, 13-year-old Vanya Shivashankar from Kansas is another frontrunner.


Ms. Shivashankar previously competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2010, 2012 (tied for 10th place), 2013 (tied for 5th place) and 2014 (tied for 13th place).


Her elder sister, Kavya, won the 2009 championship.


The National Spelling Bee started in 1925 with nine contestants.


Within the U.S., all 50 States are represented this year, along with competitors from the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Department of Defence Schools in Europe.


This year the winner will get a cash prize of about $35,000.


Indian-American domination of Scripps National Spelling Bee contest continues - The Hindu

 

[prasad1]

For the second straight year, the Scripps National Spelling Bee ended with co-champions each holding onto one side of the golden trophy while they were showered with confetti.
Vanya Shivashankar and Gokul Venkatachalam were the last two standing Thursday after exhausting the 25 words reserved for the final three spellers without stumbling. Before last year, there hadn't been a tie since 1962.


The last 10 winners of the bee, and 14 of the past 18, have been Indian-Americans, a run of dominance that began in 1999 with Nupur Lala's victory, which was later featured in the documentary "Spellbound."

Vanya and Gokul each will receive more than $37,000 in cash and prizes, and while they held up the trophy together as they were being showered with confetti, each will get one to take home.
The winners don't have to worry about spelling anymore. But Kimble is left to ponder a future when the toughest words still aren't tough enough.
"I think it's time to consider that the bee may be entering a new era where the level of competition is so intense that we need to entertain this as a possibility every year," she said. "I think the popularity of the event drives up the competitive level and I think that's a good thing."
Gokul Venkatachalam And Vanya Shivashankar Tie In National Spelling Bee

 

[P.J.]

The National Spelling Bee co-champions are ...

The National Spelling Bee co-champions are ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnbw82HT-A8

Published on May 28, 2015
For the second year in a row, co-champions are declared in the National Spelling Bee: Vanya Shivashankar, 13, and Gokul Venkatachalam, 14.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRYUmkPIqGk



Last Few Minutes


Published on May 28, 2015
Gokul Venkatachalam and Vanya Shivashankar had an amazing win in the 2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee!

 

[prasad1]

Mirle Shivashankar, first father whose daughters both won the Spelling Bee, breaks out AMAZING SHIRT
https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/604105776060321793/photo/1