It is a hat-trick for Indian-Americans in the Scripp's National Spelling Bee Championship. Anamika Veeramani (seen seated in the photo with last year's champ Kaavya Shivashankran) is the winner of the 83rd edition of the event. Anamika (14) finished fifth in the last year event and was the bookers' favourite this year. Anamika, a composed and confident girl, crossed nine rounds of hurdles before clinching the title by spelling 'stromuhr' ( An instrument for measuring the quantity of blood that flows per unit of time through a blood vessel). The different words she spelled to win this coveted championship are Exacerbate (increase in severity of a disease), Foggara (I couldn't find its meaning), Osteomyelitis ( an infection of bone), Mirin (a japanese condiment), Nahcolite ( a mineral of sodium), Epiphysis (end portion of a long bone), Juvia ( a Brazilian nut).
Spelling Bee, one of the most famous national juvenile events, gets media coverage on par with any other events. The main sponsor for the event is E.W.Scripps Company, a diversified media firm operating out of Cincinnati. The event aims to improve school-going kids’ spelling skills, vocabulary and help them develop proper English usage.
The video footages of the event show Anamika displaying herself in a very gracious manner. Though a faint vein of nervousness could be seen on her face just before she started spelling the final word, she delivered the spelling very calmly. She continued to keep her cool even immediately after winning the event. When young girls break into tears or scream in the defining moment which is typical of any beauty pageant it was refreshingly different to see a young girl receiving her most anticipated moment quietly.
Anamika is the eighth Indian-American kid to win this prestigious title. Indian kids have won the championship eight times in the last 12 years. In an interview to ABC News, Anamika said the title is the culmination of her seven year labour. She also expressed her desire to grow into a cardiovascular surgeon. Coincidentally the title-clinching word that she spelled has an interesting connection with her professional ambition. Wish her all the success.
Read my post on the last year's Spelling Bee Champion, Kaavya Shivashankran, here.
1 comment:
What can I say bout this year's champ? Eat Healthy, Think better - Ting ting ti Tink!
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