Oldest living National Spelling Bee champion reflects on his win 70 years later

EAST GREENWICH, R.I. (AP) — In medical school and throughout his career as a neonatologist, William Cashore often was asked to proofread others’ work. Little did they know he was a spelling champion, with a trophy at home to prove it. “They knew that I had a very good sense of...

Bruhat Soma wins the National Spelling Bee after a slow night concludes with a sudden tiebreaker

OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — Bruhat Soma insisted he was nervous during the idle hours as he waited to take the Scripps National Spelling Bee stage, and he felt even more pressure to perform given that he hadn’t lost a spelling bee in eight months. He never showed any nerves in front of...

Bruhat Soma wins the Scripps National Spelling Bee, spelling 29 words correctly in a lightning-round tiebreaker

OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — Bruhat Soma wins the Scripps National Spelling Bee, spelling 29 words correctly in a lightning-round tiebreaker.

On spelling's saddest day, hyped National Spelling Bee competitors see their hopes dashed

OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — When Achyut Ethiraj's final appearance in the Scripps National Spelling Bee ended far earlier than he anticipated, the 14-year-old grimaced at the microphone, walked off the stage quietly and exited the ballroom with his mother's arm draped around his back. ...

National Spelling Bee competitors try to address weaknesses, including 'super short, tricky words'

OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — A four-letter word sent Shradha Rachamreddy to a third-place finish in last year's Scripps National Spelling Bee. As the remaining spellers dwindled, Shradha was given “orle,” a heraldry term that means several small charges arranged to form a border...

National Spelling Bee reflects the economic success and cultural impact of immigrants from India

When Balu Natarajan became the first Indian American champion of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 1985, a headline on an Associated Press article read, “Immigrants’ son wins National Spelling Bee,” with the first paragraph noting the champion “speaks his parents’ native Indian...