Many National Spelling Bee Contenders Pursue Mastery. For a Few, It’s More About Memorization
Contestants spend months or years studying, while families and coaches help them handle the pressure of reaching the Thursday night finals.
- On Wednesday, 54 students competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee semifinals in Washington, seeking spots in Thursday's prime-time finals. The competition includes spellers as young as nine years old.
- Mastering Greek and Latin roots and language patterns is essential for elite spellers, according to 2023 champion Dev Shah, whose coach Scott Remer emphasizes that conceptual understanding helps performers manage pressure.
- Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga, California, works with three coaches and competes year-round in online bees. He finished third in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee before returning for his final attempt.
- Significant pressure accompanies the competition for returning finalists, explained 2025 winner Faizan Zaki of Allen, Texas, who finished runner-up in 2024 before claiming victory the following year.
- Scripps National Spelling Bee Executive Director Corrie Loeffler describes the event as the 'Olympics of spelling,' emphasizing that family commitment is essential for participants earning recognition through years of rigorous study.
22 Articles
22 Articles
The Bakersfield Californian
Many National Spelling Bee contenders pursue mastery. For a few, it's more about memorization
Many kids who've won the Scripps National Spelling Bee have taken a comprehensive approach to their preparation. They use private coaches, pay for word lists and study guides and compete in online bees. They seek a mastery of roots and…
Washington Top News
Washington TimesMany National Spelling Bee contenders pursue mastery. For a few, it’s more about memorization
WASHINGTON (AP) — Shrey Parikh finished third in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee before making a stunning exit from his school bee last year.
What it really takes to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee
The Scripps National Spelling Bee puts the countrys top young spellers in the spotlight, with kids as young as nine years old spelling words many adults cant even pronounce. So what does it take to be a top speller? Hard work and discipline are definite requirements, but spelling coach Scott Remer says the best spellers also have a curiosity about language and a love of words. The kids who are most successful are the ones who love to do dicti…
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