Florida teen Dev Shah wins Scripps Nationwide Spelling Bee with profitable phrase ‘psammophile’

A Florida 14-year-old earned the title of America’s high speller Thursday night within the Scripps Nationwide Spelling Bee after a rollercoaster of a spelling profession.

The third time was the allure for eighth-grader Dev Shah, as this yr marked his third journey to the nationwide stage, however his first win. He beforehand competed for the Scripps trophy in 2019 and 2021, tying for 51st place and 76th place, respectively.

Shah, who attends Morgan Fitzgerald Center Faculty in Largo, Florida, received the trophy after efficiently spelling “psammophile.” He was awarded greater than $50,000 in money and prizes.

Different notable phrases below his belt from this yr’s nationwide bee are bathypitotmeter, aegagrus, schistorrhachis and perioeci.

SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE CHANGES VOCABULARY QUESTIONS TO MAKE PREPARING FOR THE CONTEST MORE DIFFICULT

{The teenager} can also be the 22nd champion up to now 24 years with South Asian heritage. His father immigrated to the U.S. from India 29 years in the past to acquire a grasp’s diploma in electrical engineering, in line with The Related Press. Shah’s brother can also be a rising junior at Yale.

Shah’s father informed The Related Press that his son confirmed an “unimaginable recall” with phrases starting at three years previous, including that he spent a few years taking part in tutorial competitions with nonprofit North South Basis.

Regardless of his tutorial expertise, it was solely 15 months in the past when Shah wasn’t certain if he would return to the nationwide competitors. After a fourth-place end final yr at his regional bee in Orlando, he stated he “did not know if [he] wished to maintain persevering with.”

After not less than 4 months of getting “again on observe,” Shah’s laborious work paid off and he received this yr’s regional competitors by accurately spelling “fustanella,” punching his ticket to the nationwide stage in Washington, D.C.

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Shah was topped the champion over 228 different members on this yr’s nationwide bee, which is open to college students as much as the eighth grade. 

Charlotte Walsh, a 14-year-old from Arlington, Virginia, was the runner-up.

Phrases used within the Scripps Nationwide Spelling Bee come from Merriam-Webster’s Unabridged dictionary. Any entry is honest recreation within the nationwide competitors, aside from phrases designated as archaic or out of date.

The Related Press contributed to this report.

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