Five of the region’s brightest young spellers will take the national stage in Washington, DC. They will be, armed with flashcards, Greek roots, and enough vocabulary to stump most adults. The 101st Scripps National Spelling Bee will take place May 26 to 28 at DAR Constitution Hall.
Among the standout competitors is Laasya Mohan, a fourth grader at Floris Elementary School in Herndon, who captured the Fairfax County title earlier this spring. Joining her from Fairfax County is runner-up Aadhya Vijayakumar, an eighth grader at Rocky Run Middle School in Chantilly.
Loudoun County Public Schools will be represented by Dhiya Sudhakar, an 11-year-old sixth grader from Gum Spring Middle School in Aldie, and Vikyath Tanamala, a sixth grader at Belmont Ridge Middle School in Leesburg.
Siya Sampath, a seventh grader at Ronald W. Reagan Middle School in Haymarket, will represent Prince William County at the bee. Sampath won the Prince William Regional Spelling Bee in March, securing her third appearance at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Nearly 250 students from the U.S. and several other countries will compete in the nationally televised event. The champion will receive a $50,000 cash prize and the official Scripps Cup. Plus, they will win additional awards from Merriam-Webster, Encyclopedia Britannica and other sponsors.
Northern Virginia has produced few national spelling bee champions over the years. The region’s only previous winner was Daniel Greenblatt of Leesburg. He claimed the 1984 Scripps National Spelling Bee championship by correctly spelling “luge.”
Feature image of FCPS students Laasya Mohan, left, and Aadhya Vijayakumar courtesy Karen Bolt/Fairfax County Public Schools
