Page 18 - The Indian EYE 061022

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JUNE 10, 2022 | The Indian Eye 18

Harini Logan, 14, wins Spelling Bee

crown beating Vikram Raju in final

Besides the championship trophy, Logan received $50,000 cash prize, commemorative
medal and the Scripps Cup from Scripps. She also received $2,500 cash prize and reference

library from the Bee’s dictionary partner Merriam-Webster

OUR BUREAU
San Antonio, TX
arini Logan, a 14-year-old
speller from San Antonio,
HTexas, won back the 2022
Scripps National Spelling Bee crown
for desi kids beating a fellow Indi-
an American in the competition’s
first-ever spell-off. Logan, competing
in the bee for the fourth time, earned
the prestigious title when she correctly
spelled “moorhen”, which is defined
as “the female of the red grouse” in
the finals at the Gaylord National Ho-
tel and Convention Center in Nation-
al Harbor, Maryland, on Thursday.
She was declared the winner
after several rounds left Logan and
Raju, 12, tied. “Honestly, so surre-
al,” she said of her win, calling it “a
dream.”
Adam Symson, president and
CEO of The E.W. Scripps Company
presented her with the championship Encyclopedia Britannica. to spell as many words as possible. placed 31st in 2021, 30th in 2019 and
trophy for the 94th Scripps Nation- Second placed Vikram Raju Raju ended the round with 15 con- 323rd in 2018.
al Spelling Bee. “Harini displayed of Aurora, Colorado will receive firmed correctly spelled words — but Earlier on reaching the finals,
impressive focus and determination $30,000, while third placed Vihaan Logan edged him out with 22 out of Logan said after watching the “cool
throughout the competition all the Sibal of McGregor, Texas, will re- 26 words attempted – the highest big kids” on stage since 2015, she was
way up to her thrilling win,” Symson ceive $15,000. In the final rounds, percentage of words spelled correctly flattered to inspire other young spell-
said. both Raju and Logan first missed – to earn the coveted champion title. ers as a “cool big kid” herself. “It’s
“It’s exactly why the Scripps words back-to-back — tripped up Raju, though, told host LeVar so unreal to think I could be doing
National Spelling Bee is a piece of by “Senijextee,” meaning “a Salis- Burton he would be back next year. that for some second grader in their
American culture beloved by mil- han people of the Columbian River A three-time competitor in 2022, house,” she said of inspiring other
lions around the world. We get to Valley in Washington and British Co- he’ll be eligible one more time. “We spellers.
know these spellers and their stories, lumbia” and “Powys,” a Welsh geo- activated the spell-off because it was Harini also likes to swim, play
and we love rooting them along with graphic name, respectively. the best chance to show the extent of tennis, sing, write and act – she likes
each turn at the microphone.” But Raju, a seventh grader from these spellers’ preparation,” said Dr. drama and musical theater. She’s
“Congratulations to Harini and to Denver, was tripped up in the next J. Michael Durnil, executive director also learning to play stringed instru-
all of the national competitors this year. round by “caul” — allowing Logan to of the Spelling Bee. “Clearly, they ments, and quipped that she’s build-
Scripps is proud to tell your stories.” spell “sereh” correctly. But she was demonstrated their deep capacity for ing herself an orchestra.
Besides the championship tro- then tripped up by “drimys,” mean- the competition.” Spelling, she said is a passion
phy, Logan received $50,000 cash ing the two headed to the next round. Last year’s winner, Zaila – each word carries meaning and is
prize, commemorative medal and the Raju then missed “Otukian,” Avant-garde, was the first African a way to view different world cul-
Scripps Cup from Scripps. She also giving Logan a chance with “myrice- American winner in the bee’s history. tures. As she learned in a research
received $2,500 cash prize and ref- tin.” But she again missed. And each The event was canceled in 2020, the project, just 14 percent of English
erence library from the Bee’s dictio- missed the next word: Raju, “pyrroli- first time since World War II, due to comes from its own language fami-
nary partner Merriam-Webster and done”; Logan, “scyllarian.” Covid-19 pandemic. ly, the Germanic languages. “It’s so
$400 of reference works, including a Judges then decided the two Logan, an 8th grader at The interesting to me how each word has
1768 Encyclopedia Britannica Repli- would face off in a spell-off, the first Montessori School of San Antonio, made a journey like any explorer,”
ca Set and a three-year membership in the history of the bee. was sponsored by Brauntex Perform- she said. “Passion leads me to want
to Britannica Online Premium from Each contestant had 90 seconds ing Arts Theatre Association. She to know more.”

www.TheIndianEYE.com