Why are all spelling bee champions Indian?
Writer Gurnek Bains argued that one reason for South Asians’ dominance in spelling bees was steeped in history. Over millennia, Indian culture developed 15 elaborate mnemonic devices, aiding in a near-perfect oral transmission of India’s sacred Vedic texts like the Mahabharata.
Where is Nupur Lala now?
Rhode Island Hospital
But at age 14, the 1999 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion Nupur Lala RES’22, MD, could spell it without missing a beat. For Lala, now a second-year resident in neurology at Rhode Island Hospital, spelling complex words was just part of her daily eighth-grade routine.
How did Indian Americans come to love the spelling bee?

An Engine for Success Navya and Nihar’s family, who live in Austin, Texas, first came across spelling bees through Navya’s bharatanatyam (an Indian classical dance) teacher, who was involved with the nonprofit North South Foundation.
How do I prepare my child for Spelling Bee?
Have her practice.
- Use her list of words that she needs to spell. Make sure to have definitions ready if she asks.
- Gather the family or a few friends. Have her stand up in front of you. Give her a word to spell.
- Make sure she uses the correct format of stating the word first, spelling it, and then stating it again.
Who is the youngest Spelling Bee champion?
Zaila Avant-garde, a 14-year-old from Louisiana, won the Scripps National Spelling Bee — and $50,000. The winning word was “murraya,” a genus of tropical Asiatic and Australian trees.

Is Akash Vukoti an Indian?
Akash Vukoti is an Indian-American spelling child prodigy and TV personality from San Angelo, Texas. He was the first-ever first grader to qualify for and compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, and first appeared in the NBC TV show Little Big Shots in March 2016.
Where is Angela arenivar now?
Angela Arenivar She currently teaches Spanish in Texas, and you can keep up with her on her blog.
Where is Harry Altman now?
Funny man Harry Altman graduated from the University of Chicago and is now a graduate student in math at the University of Michigan. According to various sources on the Internet, the saddest of the Spellbound stories is that of Ted Brigham, a Missouri native. He died in 2007. He was pursuing medical school at the time.
Why is Spelling Bee a thing?
Spelling bees became widespread across the United States during the 1800s, as a way to motivate students to learn standardized spelling. These spelling bees were usually held within individual schools and towns, and were not nationally organized.
Where is Akash Vukoti from?
Rockville, Maryland
Akash Vukoti is an Indian-American spelling child prodigy and TV personality from San Angelo, Texas….
Akash Vukoti | |
---|---|
Born | May 29, 2009 Rockville, Maryland, U.S. |
Years active | 2012–present |
Website | akashvukoti.com |
How does Scripps spelling bee work?
Each speller receives a unique word. Every speller participates and has a chance to take the stage. A correct oral spelling in Round Two is worth three points. If they miss their word, the head judge will ring the bell, and the speller is eliminated from the competition.