2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee - MEDIA GUIDE INSIDE
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
2022
Scripps
National
Spelling
Bee
INSIDE
How to watch on TV
MEDIA GUIDE 2022 Speller Guide
Prize information
Bee history
Media Guide
Details
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
The Details
Media information.................................................3
Media availability...................................................3
How to watch.........................................................4
The prizes................................................................4
Covering the competition.....................................5
Calendar
Bee week schedule................................................6
Statistics
Spellers by the numbers.......................................8
History
Past champions......................................................9
Fun facts
2022 speller notes.................................................13
People to know
The officials.............................................................15
The talent................................................................16
New home
The move to ION...................................................17
Meet the spellers
2022 speller bios...................................................18
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 2
Media Guide
Details
MEDIA
INFORMATION
Thank you for your interest in covering the 2022 Scripps National Spelling
Bee. In this guide you will find the daily schedule, statistics, fun facts,
history and information on every speller in the competition. Information
was excerpted from the 2022 Bee Keeper magazine, which will be available
in print and online the week of May 30.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, we encourage you to go to
spellingbee.com, where you can find the rules, information on the words
used and the Scripps Cup and much more.
You can also reach out to Rebecca McCarter or Michael Perry, whose
information is below. They will try to help connect you with spellers or the
information you need.
Rebecca McCarter, rebecca.mccarter@scripps.com, (513) 410-2425
Michael Perry, michael.perry@scripps.com, (513) 259-4718
The Bee has only had two logos in
Questions and requests can also be sent to media@spellingbee.com its 97-year history, one featuring the
U.S. Capitol and the current version
with the iconic bee graphic.
Media Availability
(all times Eastern Standard Time)
Wednesday, May 18: 1 to 2 p.m.
Scripps National Spelling Bee teleconference
Featuring: Dr. J. Michael Durnil, executive director, SNSB; David Hudson, vice president, original programming, Scripps Networks
RSVP: Media@spellingbee.com (details on how to call in will be provided to those who RSVP)
Tuesday, May 31: 8 to 8:30 a.m.
Kickoff press conference
Featuring: Dr. J. Michael Durnil, executive director, Scripps National Spelling Bee; other Bee officials, including Dr. Jacques Bailly,
pronouncer; Dr. Brian Sietsema, associate pronouncer; Mary Brooks, head judge (lineup subject to change based on availability)
Where: Chesapeake 7-8
Wednesday, June 1: Conclusion of semifinals (Approximately 8 p.m.)
Semifinalists press conference
Featuring: All spellers (approximately 10-12) who advance to the finals on June 2
Where: Maryland Ballroom (onstage)
Thursday, June 2: Approximately 10:15 p.m.
Champion press conference
Featuring: The winner of the 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee
Where: Maryland Ballroom (onstage)
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 3
Media Guide
Details
How to watch the 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee on TV
This year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee semifinals (live to tape, Wednesday, June 1, at 8 p.m.) and finals (live, Thursday, June 2, at 8 p.m.) are being
televised on ION and Bounce. They will also be simulcast on Laff and TrueReal. The finals will re-broadcast on June 3 and June 5 on Newsy.
To follow the competition:
• To watch the preliminaries, starting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 31, and the quarterfinals, starting at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, June 1, go to free
streaming platforms on the ION Plus and Bounce XL channels. These are available via free apps on Smart TVs (Samsung TV+ and Vizio Watchfree+)
and other free apps (Roku Channel and Pluto TV) that can be accessed through Smart TVs and connected TV devices like Roku, Amazon Fire
TV and Apple TV.
• The semifinals (beginning at approximately 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 1) and finals (beginning at 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 2) also will be
live-streamed on ION Plus and Bounce XL.
“The Road to the Bee,” a one-hour special, will air May 26 on ION and Bounce at 8 p.m. with rebroadcasts planned for Newsy on May 29,
June 3 and June 5.
Visit spellingbee.com/watch for instructions on how to watch the Bee in a specific area.
2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee prizes
For all spellers For the champion* Note: Quarterfinalist, semifinalist, finalist
From the Scripps National Spelling Bee From the Scripps National Spelling Bee and champion monetary awards are not
• Prize package, including Bee souvenirs • $50,000 cash cumulative; that is, a speller moving on
to the semifinals will not receive both the
and an official certificate of participation • Commemorative medal
quarterfinalist and semifinalist gift cards, but
From Merriam-Webster • The Scripps Cup, the official championship a quarterfinalist who does not qualify for the
• One-year subscription to Merriam-Webster trophy of the Scripps National Spelling Bee semifinals will receive everything listed at the
Unabridged Online From Merriam-Webster quarterfinalist level.
From Jay Sugarman • $2,500 cash and reference library
• 2022 U.S. Mint proof set, given in honor From Encyclopædia Britannica * Spellers who are eliminated from the
competition in the same round are assigned
of his father Samuel Louis Sugarman, who • $400 of reference works, including
the same rank (place).
revered academic achievement a 1768 Encyclopædia Britannica ©
From Encyclopædia Britannica Replica Set and a three-year membership Spellers competing in the Spell-off (if
• One-year subscription to Britannica to Britannica Online © Premium activated) will be ranked according to number
Online Premium of words spelled correctly; any spellers who
For the champion’s school and spell the same number of words correctly will
For quarterfinalists* sponsor be assigned the same rank (place) except in
From the Scripps National Spelling Bee the case of a tie for first. In that case, the
From the Scripps National Spelling Bee winner will be the speller who achieved the
• Commemorative pin • Engraved commemorative plaques
highest percentage correct out of words
• $100 gift card attempted during the Spell-off. If there is
still a tie, co-champions will be declared.
For semifinalists* Misspellings during the Spell-off do not result
From the Scripps National Spelling Bee in immediate elimination.
• Commemorative medal
If two or more spellers tie for first place, the
• $500 gift card
cash prize for each will be $50,000.
Cash prizes for spellers who are tied for 2nd
For finalists* through 6th place will be determined by
From the Scripps National Spelling Bee the method used in the following example:
• Commemorative medal, and: If three spellers tied for 4th place, the cash
• Miss in first round of finals prize for each would be the sum of the prize
through to 7th place - $2,000 amounts for 4th, 5th and 6th place divided
• 6th place - $2,500 by three; therefore, each speller tied for 4th
place would receive $5,833.33 ($2,500 +
• 5th place - $5,000
$5,000 + $10,000) / 3).
• 4th place - $10,000
• 3rd place - $15,000
• 2nd place - $25,000
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 4
Media Guide
Details
COVERING
THE COMPETITION
Event app
We encourage you to download our event app – Scripps National
Spelling Bee – for information to help you cover the competition and
receive real-time notifications throughout, including competition updates,
press conference alerts and any schedule changes.
Bee Keeper magazine
You will receive one complimentary copy of this publication when you
pick up your credentials. It includes features on spellers, officials and
more. As noted on Page 2, material from the magazine was excerpted
for this media guide.
Contacting spellers
To contact specific spellers for interviews, please go to the Media Desk
and make that request or email media@spellingbee.com. We have contact
information for parents and request that you please get permission from
parents before contacting spellers directly.
Wi-Fi
Information about Wi-Fi at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention
Center will be available on site when you pick up your media credentials.
Media workroom Photos:
A media work room is reserved for media on competition days. The room Photos for all 234 spellers, Bee officials and on-air talent are available
offers workspace, power strips and refreshments, including light food and for download here.
drinks, throughout the open hours.
Photos from Bee Week and all competition elements will be available on
Social media the Scripps National Spelling Bee’s official Flickr page. Media is free to
use any of these with proper attribution.
You can also get the latest news by following along:
Twitter (@Scrippsbee)
Twitter hashtag: #spellingbee Interview spot
Instagram (Scripps National Spelling Bee) Near the Media Desk, there will be a step-and-repeat that provides a
Instagram hashtag: #scrippsbee Bee-branded background for video interviews.
Facebook (Scripps National Spelling Bee)
The 2022 broadcast platforms are: @IONtv and @Bouncetv Championship moment
After the competitor correctly spells the winning word, Adam Symson,
president and CEO of The E.W. Scripps Company, will present the Scripps
Cup to the champion. Once ION signs off from its broadcast coverage,
we will quickly set up a news conference area onstage.
All credentialed media can come onstage and plug into a mult box to get a
clean audio signal of the champion’s comments. The champion will stand
at the microphone to answer questions.
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 5
Media Guide
Calendar
2022 BEE WEEK
SCHEDULE
MONDAY, MAY 30 Visits to Planet Word
925 13th St. NW, Washington, D.C., 20005
Welcome & Registration 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Hall of Champions – Maryland Foyer Spellers will travel by bus in groups assigned by speller number
to visit this new immersive language museum.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Opening Ceremony Merriam-Webster Presentation
Peter Sokolowski, Editor-at-Large
Maryland Ballroom
Maryland Ballroom
7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
8 to 8:45 p.m.
Doors open at 7 p.m.
TUESDAY, MAY 31 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1
Preliminaries (Rounds 1–3) Quarterfinals
Maryland Ballroom
Maryland Ballroom
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
9 a.m. to 7:15 p.m.
Streamed live on ION Plus and Bounce XL.
Streamed live on ION Plus and Bounce XL.
Each speller will compete in up to three rounds in one turn
Semifinals
during the preliminaries. See the Contest Rules of the 2022 Maryland Ballroom
Scripps National Spelling Bee for detailed format information: 3:30 to 8 p.m.
spellingbee.com/rules. Onstage remarks begin at 3:40 p.m.
Streamed live on ION Plus and Bounce XL.
Preliminaries by Speller Number: The semifinals will air from 8 to 10 p.m. on ION and Bounce.
Spellers 1 to 40
9 to 10:40 a.m.
Spellers 41 to 80
10:45 a.m. to 12:25 p.m.
Spellers 81 to 120
12:30 to 2:10 p.m.
Spellers 121 to 160
2:25 to 4:05 p.m.
Spellers 161 to 200
4:10 to 5:50 p.m.
Spellers 201+
5:55 to 7:15 p.m.
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 6
Media Guide
Calendar
THURSDAY, JUNE 2 Speller and
Sponsor Desk hours
Camp Bee
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, various
meeting spaces Providing information and assistance to
These are ticketed events. spellers and sponsors
Hall of Champions, Maryland Foyer
D.C. Area Tours Monday, May 30
Various regional locations 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 6 to 8:30 p.m.
These are ticketed events.
Tuesday, May 31
Finals 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Maryland Ballroom Wednesday, June 1
8 to 10 p.m. 7 a.m. to end of semifinals
Onstage remarks begin at 7:40 p.m. Thursday, June 2
Broadcast live on ION and Bounce. 8 a.m. to noon, 6 to 11 p.m.
Friday, June 3
FRIDAY, JUNE 3 9 a.m. to noon
Camp Bee
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, various
Media Desk hours
meeting spaces
These are ticketed events. Providing information and assistance to
media members
D.C. Area Tours Inside main hallway of Gaylord conference space
Various regional locations Tuesday, May 31
These are ticketed events. 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 1
Awards Banquet 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Maryland Ballroom
Thursday, June 2
6 to 8 p.m. 9 a.m. to noon
This is a ticketed event. 6 to 11 p.m.
Speller Farewell Party
Cherry Blossom Ballroom Media contacts
8 to 11 p.m.
Rebecca McCarter
rebecca.mccarter@scripps.com, (513) 410-2425
Michael Perry
michael.perry@scripps.com, (513) 259-4718
Questions and requests can also be sent to
media@spellingbee.com
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 7
Media Guide
Statistics
Gender
SPELLERS BY
THE NUMBERS
Here’s a breakdown of the 234 spellers competing
in the 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee. 105 Female spellers
128 Male spellers
1 Non-binary speller
Age Grade
11
year 14
olds year
olds 6th
graders 8th Spelling in Their Blood
graders
12
year 23 spellers have relatives who have
olds
13 7th participated in a combined 46 Scripps
year graders
olds National Spelling Bees.
2 7 year olds
3 9 year olds
1 2nd grader
8 10 year olds
8 4th graders
34 11 year olds
23 5th graders
Spell-peaters
39 12 year olds
34 6th graders
81 13 year olds
62 7th graders Coming into this year, 45 spellers
66 14 year olds
106 8th graders have previously competed in the
Scripps National Spelling Bee.
1 15 year old
School Type
40 165 11
Private Schools Public
Home Schools
Schools
11 7
Charter Schools Parochial Schools
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 8
Media Guide
History
CHAMPIONS AND
THEIR WINNING WORDS
1925 1930 1935 1942 1952 1957
gladiolus albumen intelligible sacrilegious vignette schappe
Frank Neuhauser Helen Jensen Clara Mohler Richard Earnhart Doris Ann Hall Sandra Owen
Louisville Courier- Des Moines Akron Beacon El Paso Herald-Post Winston-Salem Canton Repository
Journal Register & Tribune Journal El Paso, Texas Journal Canton, Ohio
Louisville, Kentucky Des Moines, Iowa Akron, Ohio Winston-Salem, AND
North Carolina
1946 Dana Bennett
1926 1931 1936 semaphore
cerise foulard interning John McKinney
1953 Rocky Mountain
soubrette News
Pauline Bell Ward Randall Jean Trowbridge Des Moines Register Denver,
Louisville Courier- White Hall Des Moines Register & Tribune Elizabeth Hess Colorado
Journal Register-Republican & Tribune Des Moines, Iowa Arizona Republic
Louisville, Kentucky White Hall, Des Moines, Iowa Phoenix, Arizona 1958
Illinois
1947 1954 syllepsis
1937 chlorophyll Jolitta Schlehuber
first winner promiscuous
Waneeta Beckley
Mattie Lou Pollard
transept
William Cashore Topeka Daily Capital
Atlanta Journal Topeka, Kansas
Norristown Times
Frank Neuhauser was 11 when he Louisville Courier- Atlanta, Georgia Herald
won the first Bee. His prizes? A stack
Journal
Louisville, Kentucky
Norristown, 1959
1948 Pennsylvania catamaran
of gold coins worth $500 and a visit psychiatry Joel Montgomery
with President Calvin Coolidge. 1938 Jean Chappelear 1955
sanitarium Rocky Mountain
Akron Beacon
crustaceology News
Marian Richardson Journal Sandra Sloss Denver, Colorado
Louisville Times Akron, Ohio St. Louis Globe-
1932 Louisville, Kentucky
1927 invulnerable
Democrat
abrogate 1949 St. Louis, Missouri
Dean Lucas
Dorothy Greenwalk 1939 dulcimer
Des Moines Register canonical Kim Calvin
Akron Beacon
Journal
Akron, Ohio
& Tribune
Des Moines, Iowa
Elizabeth Ann Rice
Worcester Telegram
Canton Repository
Canton, Ohio
long-time partner
& Gazette
1928 1933 Worcester, Merriam-Webster has been the official
torsion Massachusetts 1950
knack meticulosity dictionary partner of the Bee since
Alma Roach
Betty Robinson
1940 Colquitt Dean 1957. The official source of all words
Akron Beacon
South Bend News- Journal therapy Atlanta Journal in the 2022 Bee is Merriam-Webster
Times Akron, Ohio Atlanta, Georgia
South Bend, Indiana Laurel Kuykendall Unabridged.
AND
The Knoxville News
1934 Sentinel Diana Reynard
1929 brethren Knoxville, Tennessee
luxuriance Cleveland Press 1956
Virginia Hogan
Sarah Wilson Cleveland, Ohio
condominium 1960
Portland Evening 1941 eudaemonic
Melody Sachko
The Omaha World-
Herald
Press initials 1951 Henry Feldman
Portland, Maine Louis Edward insouciant The Pittsburgh Press
Omaha, Nebraska Pittsburgh, The Knoxville News
Sissman Irving Belz Pennsylvania Sentinel
Detroit News Memphis Press Knoxville, Tennessee
Detroit, Michigan Scimitar
Memphis, Tennessee
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 9
Media Guide
History
1961
smaragdine
John Capeheart
1967
Chihuahua
Jennifer Reinke
1973
vouchsafe
Barrie Trinkle
STATS
Tulsa Tribune The Omaha World- Forth Worth Press
Tulsa,
Oklahoma
Herald
Omaha, Nebraska
Fort Worth, Texas
1974
106
Total Champions
the trophy hydrophyte
52 54
Julie Anne Junkin
Birmingham Post- Girls Boys
The Scripps Cup, the Spelling Herald
Bee’s championship trophy, is Birmingham, Alabama
designed by Rookwood Pottery
in Cincinnati, Ohio.
1975
incisor
3 11 year olds
Hugh Tosteson
San Juan Star
19 12 year olds
1962
esquamulose
1968
abalone
San Juan, Puerto Rico
1976
53 13 year olds
31
Nettie Crawford Robert L. Walters
El Paso Herald-Post The Topeka Daily narcolepsy 14 year olds
El Paso, Texas Capital Tim Kneale
Topeka, Kansas Syracuse Herald
AND
Journal-American
Michael Day 1969 Syracuse, New York
St. Louis Globe- interlocutory
Top 5 States
Democrat 1977
15
Susan Yoachum
St. Louis, Missouri
Dallas Morning News cambist Texas
Dallas, Texas John Paola
1963
equipage
Glen Van Slyke III
1970
The Pittsburgh Press
Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania
9 Ohio
8
croissant
The Knoxville News Libby Childress Pennsylvania
Sentinel
Winston-Salem
1978
7
Knoxville, Tennessee deification
Journal & Sentinel
Peg McCarthy
Tennessee & Colorado
Winston-Salem,
1964 North Carolina
6
The Topeka Daily
sycophant Capital California
William Kerek 1971 Topeka, Kansas
Akron Beacon shalloon
Journal Jonathan Knisely 1979
Akron, Ohio maculature
Philadelphia Bulletin
Philadelphia, Katie Kerwin
Longest Word
1965
scherenschnitte
Pennsylvania Rocky Mountain
eczema News
Michael Kerpan, Jr. 1972 Denver, Colorado
(2015)
Tulsa Tribune macerate
Tulsa, Oklahoma Robin Kral
Lubbock Avalanche- Shortest Word
1966 Journal
ratoon
Robert A. Wake
Lubbock, Texas
luge
(1984)
Houston Chronicle
Houston, Texas
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 10Media Guide
History
1980 1986 1991 1995 1999
elucubrate odontalgia antipyretic xanthosis logorrhea
Jacques Bailly Jon Pennington Joanna Lagatta Justin Tyler Carroll Nupur Lala
Rocky Mountain The Patriot News The Wisconsin The Commercial The Tampa Tribune
News Harrisburg, State Journal Appeal Tampa, Florida
Denver, Colorado Pennsylvania Madison, Wisconsi Memphis, Tennessee
1981 2000
sarcophagus 1987 1992 1996 demarche
Paige Pipkin
staphylococci lyceum vivisepulture George Abraham
Stephanie Petit Amanda Goad Wendy Guey Thampy
El Paso Herald-Post
El Paso, Texas The Pittsburgh Press The Richmond News The Palm Beach Post St. Louis Post-
Pittsburgh, Leader West Palm Beach, Dispatch
Pennsylvania Richmond, Virginia Florida St. Louis, Missouri
1982
psoriasis
1988
Molly Dieveney
Rocky Mountain
News
elegiacal
Rageshree
historic
Ramachandran
Denver, Colorado
The Sacramento Bee Jody-Anne Maxwell, from Jamaica, became the first
Sacramento, Black winner of the Bee in 1998. Zaila Avant-garde
1983 California
Purim became the first Black American winner in 2021.
Blake Giddens 1989
El Paso Herald-Post spoliator
El Paso, Texas Scott Isaacs
Rocky Mountain 1993 1997 2001
1984 News kamikaze euonym succedaneum
luge Denver, Colorado Geoff Hooper Rebecca Sealfon Sean Conley
Daniel Greenblatt The Commercial Daily News Aitkin Independent
Loudoun Times- 1990 Appeal New York, New York Age
Mirror fibranne Memphis, Tennessee Aitkin, Minnesota
Leesburg, Virginia Amy Marie 1998
Dimak 1994 chiaroscurist
1985 The Seattle antediluvian Jody-Anne Maxwell
milieu Times Ned G. Andrews
Seattle, Washington Phillips & Phillips
Balu Natarajan The Knoxville News Stationery Suppliers
Chicago Sentinel Kingston, Jamaica
Tribune Knoxville, Tennessee
Chicago, Illinois
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
1925-1931 1940-1948 1958-1959 1985-1986 1990-1997
Dean George B. Max B. Cook, Richard D. Peters, Mary L. Mangold Reta Rose
Wood, American Promotion Editor, Scripps-Howard 1985-1989 1996-2020
University Scripps-Howard Newspapers
Newspapers Mary Curtin-Brooks Paige P. Kimble
1939 1960-1984
1949-1957 1987 2021-present
Douglas D. James H. Wagner,
Cornette, The Charles Schneider, Scripps-Howard Susan Miller Dr. J. Michael
Courier-Journal Scripps-Howard Newspapers Durnil
(Louisville, KY) Newspapers 1988-1991
Sondra J. Austin
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 11Media Guide
History
2002 2007 2012 2015 2017 odylic
prospicience serrefine guetapens nunatak marocain Rohan Raja
Pratyush Buddiga Evan M. O’Dorney Snigdha Nandipati Gokul Venkatachalam Ananya Vinay Dallas Sports
Commission
Rocky Mountain Contra Costa Times U-T San Diego St. Louis Post- The Fresno Bee
Dallas, Texas
News Walnut Creek, San Diego, California Dispatch Fresno, California
Denver, Colorado California St. Louis, Missouri AND
2013 AND 2018 cernuous
2003 2008 knaidel scherenschnitte koinonia Christopher Serrao
pococurante guerdon Arvind Mahankali Vanya Shivashankar Karthik Nemmani Discover Lehigh
Sai R. Gunturi Sameer Mishra Valley
Daily News The Olathe News Scoggins Middle Allentown,
The Dallas Morning Journal and Courier New York, New York Olathe, Kansas School Pennsylvania
News Lafayette, Indiana McKinney, Texas
Dallas, Texas AND
2009 2019 bougainvillea
2004 Laodicean times 8 erysipelas Saketh Sundar
autochthonous Kavya Shivashankar Erin Howard Howard County
David Scott Pilarski In 2019, eight co-winners were Library
The Olathe News Adventure Travel Columbia, Maryland
Tidmarsh Olathe, Kansas dubbed the “Octochamps” and Birmingham, Alabama
South Bend Tribune AND
hold the Guinness World Record for AND
South Bend, Indiana aiguillette
2010 “Most winners of the Scripps National auslaut
stromuhr Shruthika Padhy
Rishik Gandhasri
2005 Anamika Veeramani Spelling Bee (single competition).” Rosa International
appoggiatura Bay Area Regional Middle School
The Plain Dealer Spelling Bee Cherry Hill, New
Anurag Kashyap Cleveland, Ohio San Francisco, Jersey
San Diego Union- California
Tribune
2011 2016
San Diego, California 2014 Feldenkrais
AND 2021
cymotrichous palama Murraya
stichomythia Jairam Hathwar Abhijay Kodali
2006 Sukanya Roy Sriram Hathwar Corning Rotary Club
Zaila Avant-garde
Ursprache Times Leader Dallas Sports New Orleans Chapter
Corning Rotary Club Corning, New York Commission
Wilkes-Barre, Corning, New York of The Links
Katharine Close Pennsylvania AND Dallas, Texas New Orleans,
Asbury Park Press/ AND gesellschaft AND Louisiana
Home News Tribune pendeloque
feuilleton Nihar Janga
Asbury Park,
New Jersey Ansun Sujoe Houston Public Sohum Sukhatankar
Texas Christian Media Dallas Sports
University Houston, Texas Commission
Fort Worth, Texas Dallas, Texas
AND
PRONOUNCERS 1941-1942; 1961-1980 2003-present
1946-1947 Dr. Richard R. Dr. Jacques
Dr. W. Hayes Baker, Professor Bailly, Associate
1925-1927 1937-1940 Yeager, Professor of Philosophy, Professor of
Dr. George S. Wills, Harold F. Harding, of Public Speaking, University of Dayton Classics, University
Western Maryland George Washington George Washington of Vermont
College University
1981-2002
University 2019-present
Dr. Alex J Cameron,
1929-1936 1938-1939 1948-1960 Associate Professor Dr. Brian Sietsema,
Dr. Charles E. Hill, George F. Hussey, Jr., Benson S. Alleman, of English, University Clergyman,
George Washington Special Contributing Department of of Dayton Greek Orthodox
University Editor to Webster’s Communication, Archdiocese of
New International American University America
Dictionary
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 12Media Guide
Fun Facts
TAKE NOTE
Here’s a look at some of the competitors in the 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Returning Finalists
Four 2021 finalists won their regional competitions to advance to the 2022 national
qualifying rounds: Dhroov Bharatia (speller 102), tied for fourth; Vivinsha Veduru (speller
152), tied for fourth; Vihaan Sibal (speller 205), tied for seventh; and Roy Seligman (speller
222), tied for fourth.
Coming from Afar
Ana Guadalupe Villagomez (speller 57) from Hagåtña, Guam, is traveling the farthest
for this week’s competition (7,900+ miles). Other spellers are coming from Canada, the
Bahamas, Germany, Ghana and Puerto Rico.
The Youngest
Matthew Yi (speller 30) from New Orleans is 7 years old and the youngest competitor. The
fourth grader’s birthday is Sept. 21, 2014, less than a month after Nam Nguyen (speller
107), a second grader from Vermillion, South Dakota, who was born on Aug. 26, 2014.
The Oldest
Charlie Palmore (speller 4) from Washington, D.C., is the only 15-year-old
competing this week. He is an eighth grader from St. Albans School.
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 13Media Guide
Fun Facts
The Twins
Achyut Ethiraj (speller 11) from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Isaac Morowitz (speller 40) from
Chicago, Illinois, and Akhil Giddaluri (speller 128) from Chattanooga, Tennessee, have
identical twins. Overall, 14 spellers have twins. Fraternal twins Deetya Vuppala (speller
221) and Saharsh Vuppala (speller 206) are both competing this week. They attend
different schools and both advanced through the same regional program.
Speaking of Siblings…
There are other siblings competing this week. Shijay Sivakumar (speller 234), an eighth
grader, and sister Shreeya Sivakumar (speller 204), a fifth grader, are from Odessa, Texas.
They attend different schools and each advanced from different regional programs with
different sponsors. Also, Rishi Jayakumar (speller 192), a seventh grader, and sister Harini
Jayakumar (speller 165), a fourth grader, are from Mooresville, North Carolina. They attend
different schools and advanced through the Carolina Panthers regional.
The Veterans
Akash Vukoti (speller 226) from San Angelo, Texas, is competing in the national competition
for the fifth year. Maya Jean Jadhav (speller 208) from Madison, Wisconsin, and Harini
Logan (speller 231) from San Antonio, Texas, are in their fourth years at the Scripps
National Spelling Bee.
The Veterans, Part II
Competing for the third year are Arnav Kolluru (speller 53), Vikram Raju (speller 76),
Wolfgang Schaff (speller 98), Sophia Lopez (speller 103), Vihaan Sibal (speller 205),
Roy Seligman (speller 222) and Shijay Sivakumar (speller 234). Thirty-five spellers are
competing for the second year.
Full House
Luke LaValley (speller 86) from Lapeer, Michigan, has seven siblings – four brothers and
three sisters. The family also has seven cats, and Luke spends his time helping out on a
small farm, tending cattle, chickens, rabbits and horses.
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 14Media Guide
People to Know
MEET THE OFFICIALS
Dr. Jacques Dr. Brian Dr. Kevin Mary
Bailly Sietsema Moch Brooks
Pronouncer Associate Associate Head Judge
Pronouncer Pronouncer
Peter Barrie Kristin Sameer
Sokolowski Trinkle Hawkins Mishra
Judge Judge Judge Judge
George Ben Frank
Thampy Zimmer Cahill
Judge Judge Record Keeper
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 15Media Guide
People to Know
MEET THE TALENT
LeVar Burton
Host | @levarburton
Burton is an acclaimed actor, director, educator and lifelong children’s
literacy advocate who has entertained generations as former host and
executive producer of PBS’s “Reading Rainbow” (1983–2006); starring
as Kunta Kinte in the acclaimed television miniseries “Roots” (1977); and
as Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge in “Star Trek: The Next Generation”
television series (1987–1994).
Paul Loeffler
Analyst | @P356Loeffler
Loeffler is a sportscaster year-round who has announced every Bee
championship since 2006. He was a competitive speller himself, tying for
13th at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 1990. He announces Fresno
State football, basketball and baseball games and interviews veterans for
a syndicated radio show. He will be part of the broadcast team.
Julie Grant
Analyst | @JulieCourtTV
Grant is an award-winning journalist who serves as a legal expert on
Court TV. She is a licensed attorney, former prosecutor and trial expert.
Additionally, she was a participant in the 1995 Scripps National Spelling
Bee. She will be part of the broadcast team.
Vanya Shivashankar
Bee Week emcee
The 2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee co-champion is an undergraduate
student at Yale College, majoring in cognitive science. She has been on
the broadcast team for previous Bees and this year is expected to host
the Opening Ceremony, Awards Banquet and other events.
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 16Media Guide
New Home
ABOUT THE
MOVE TO ION
The Scripps National Spelling Bee was televised on ESPN for 27 years. In October,
The E.W. Scripps Company, long-time steward of the Bee, announced that it was
moving the Bee from ESPN to ION, the No. 5 most-watched entertainment network
in primetime, and Bounce, America’s first and No. 2 most-watched African American-
focused over-the-air network. They are both owned by Scripps and each is available
free in nearly 120 million households nationwide.
Why did Scripps make this move?
Scripps’ purchase of ION in January 2021 gave it a chance to reach a broader
audience who could watch the Scripps National Spelling Bee for free. It is also a
chance for Scripps to own the content.
ION and Bounce are available over the air, meaning viewers only need an antenna
to get access to the Bee; they no longer need a cable subscription to watch it. The
networks are also widely distributed on cable and satellite platforms. The Bee will be
accessible to nearly every home in the country over the air as well as on pay TV – a
much wider reach than ever before.
What does it mean for the broadcast?
Airing the competition on its own networks means:
• Scripps is producing a 60-minute “Road to the Bee” special to air May 26
on ION with rebroadcast planned for Newsy on May 29, June 3 and June 5.
• Scripps also will control streaming opportunities.
Who owns the rights now?
Scripps will own the rights to footage of the Bee now and in the future. That has not
been the case with ESPN. Any outside news outlet or organization wishing to use
content from the Bee broadcast has had to negotiate with ESPN. Going forward,
Scripps will own the content and can make decisions about who can use it and at
what cost.
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 17Meet the
Spellers
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 18SPELLER GUIDE
Meet The Spellers (Listed by Speller Number)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Quinten enjoys
Sahasrad
all types of
can solve a
music and is
Rubik’s Cube
learning how
in less than
to play the
two minutes.
guitar.
#1 SAHASRAD SATHISH #2 QUINTEN S. ATUTIS
13 years old 8th grade 14 years old 8th grade
Lake Forest Country Day School Lake River Ridge Middle School Carroll/
County Regional Office of Education JoDaviess/Stephenson Regional Office of
(Grayslake, Illinois) Education (Freeport, Illinois)
FUN
FACT
Wes started FUN
playing FACT
catcher in Charlie plays
baseball baseball,
when he was ultimate
9 because Frisbee and
no one else tennis.
volunteered
— he ended
up loving it!
#3 WESLEY COOPER #4 CHARLIE PALMORE
10 years old 4th grade 15 years old 8th grade
Crichfield Elementary School Kankakee St. Albans School The Washington Informer
Valley REMC (Wanatah, Indiana) (Washington, D.C.)
FUN
FUN FACT
FACT Joshua is a fan
Ishan has a of the Beatles
3-year-old and started
dog named learning to
Coco who is play guitar and
a Cavachon. bass because
of their songs.
#5 ISHAN RAMRAKHIANI #6 JOSHUA LINO DIOCARES
14 years old 8th grade 12 years old 6th grade
Canterbury School SNSB Indiana Regional Ridge Park Charter Academy Kent
Bee (Roanoke, Indiana) Intermediate School District (Grand Rapids,
Michigan)
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 19SPELLER GUIDE
Meet The Spellers (Listed by Speller Number)
FUN
FACT FUN
Edith has FACT
a passion Juan has
for birding, played tennis
and she has since he was 7
seen several years old and
rare species, currently plays
including the on his school’s
Common tennis team.
Redpoll and
Snow Bunting.
#7 EDITH L. DAWSON #8 JUAN CRISTOBAL
13 years old 8th grade RONDEAU
Mount Vernon Middle School The Dispatch 13 years old 7th grade
Argus (Davenport, Iowa) Westminster Christian School The Miami
Herald (Miami, Florida)
FUN
FUN FACT
FACT Billy is a red-
blue belt in
Naresh is a
tang soo do at
huge fan of
Kaizen Karate
soccer star
Academy
Lionel Messi.
in Camden,
Delaware.
#9 NARESH RAM #10 WILLIAM LEE SCIALLA
14 years old 8th grade 14 years old 8th grade
Oakridge Middle School Collier County Fred Fifer III Middle School Delaware
Public Schools (Naples, Florida) Spelling Bee (Wilmington, Delaware)
FUN
FUN FACT
FACT Vikrant is
Achyut loves learning to
playing chess improve his
and placed flying skills
fourth in on Microsoft
an Indiana Flight
state chess Simulator and
tournament hopes to get a
this year. pilot’s license.
#11 ACHYUT ETHIRAJ #12 VIKRANT
12 years old 6th grade CHINTANABOINA
Maple Creek Middle School SNSB Indiana 13 years old 7th grade
Regional Bee (Fort Wayne, Indiana) Discovery Charter School Falcon Campus
SNSB Regional Bee (Region Two) (San Jose,
California)
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 20SPELLER GUIDE
Meet The Spellers (Listed by Speller Number)
FUN
FACT FUN
Emma sails FACT
in the same Sydney has
bay as the been playing
USS Arizona, the violin for
the sunken four years and
battleship sight-reads
from the music.
attack on
Pearl Harbor.
#13 EMMA K. MALDARELLI #14 SYDNEY GRAHAM
12 years old 7th grade 14 years old 8th grade
La Pietra - Hawai’i School for Girls Hawaii University Academy Envision Credit Union
State Spelling Bee (Honolulu, Hawaii) (Tallahassee, Florida)
FUN
FACT
Lara loves
to bake her
FUN
favorite FACT
desserts: Petra taught
orange herself to play
marmalade the recorder.
almond cake
and tarte
tatin.
#15 LARA K. RANDHAWA #16 PETRA ABENA ABRAFI
13 years old 8th grade SARPONG
Auburndale Intermediate School Riverside 12 years old 6th grade
County Office of Education (Riverside, Sarpong Home School Young Educators
California) Foundation (Accra, Ghana)
FUN
FACT FUN
Tejas loves FACT
to tinker with Jia Xin loves
computers, drawing and
and his has taken
favorite sketch classes
operating for more than
system is a year.
Linux.
#17 TEJAS RAMAN #18 JIA XIN SOPHIA LU
12 years old 6th grade 11 years old 6th grade
Boulder Country Day School Boulder Valley Riverside Elementary School Boise State
School District (Boulder, Colorado) University (Boise, Idaho)
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 21SPELLER GUIDE
Meet The Spellers (Listed by Speller Number)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Mihir likes Braydon
visiting U.S. likes to play
National video games
Parks, and he and enjoys
has collected indulging
around 15 in fictitious
Junior Ranger stories.
badges so far.
#19 MIHIR S. KONKAPAKA #20 BRAYDON JAMES SYX
11 years old 6th grade 13 years old 7th grade
Connect Academy The San Diego West Blocton Middle School Alabama
Union-Tribune (San Diego, California) Kiwanis Foundation (Birmingham, Alabama)
FUN
FACT
Amelia is a
FUN member of a
FACT competitive
Rehan loves jump rope
to write demonstration
poems. team and has
performed
throughout
Maine.
#21 REHAN MATHEW #22 AMELIA MAE RICE
KOSHY 13 years old 8th grade
12 years old 7th grade South Bristol School Portland Press Herald/
Edison Regional Gifted Center SNSB Maine Sunday Telegram (Portland, Maine)
Regional Bee for Illinois and Texas (Chicago,
Illinois)
FUN
FACT
For Halloween, FUN
Noemie FACT
dressed as a John loves
1970s Monica music and
Rambeau plays the
from “Wanda piano, violin
Vision”; the and drums.
actress,
Teyonah Parris,
retweeted
her photo.
#23 NOEMIE EVA #24 JOHN EOH
JACKSON-WEAVER 13 years old 8th grade
12 years old 6th grade Fruitvale Junior High School KERO 23 ABC
New Hope Academy The Washington (Bakersfield, California)
Informer (Washington, D.C.)
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 22SPELLER GUIDE
Meet The Spellers (Listed by Speller Number)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Christian has
Brody qualified
traveled to
for both
12 countries
all-state band
and enjoyed
and all-county
experiencing
band as a
different
percussionist.
cultures.
#25 CHRISTIAN CHERIAN #26 BRODY BENJAMIN
11 years old 5th grade SANTOS
Ilchester Elementary School Howard 12 years old 7th grade
County Library (Columbia, Maryland) Saint Mark’s Episcopal School The Miami
Herald (Miami, Florida)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Shradha loves At the age
math and of 6, Wyatt
participates learned how
in math to play the
competitions. ukulele.
#27 SHRADHA ANJANA #28 WYATT JALOCHA
RACHAMREDDY 12 years old 6th grade
12 years old 6th grade O.J. DeJonge Middle School Ludington
The Quarry Lane School SNSB Regional Daily News (Ludington, Michigan)
Bee (Region Two) (Dublin, California)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Matthew loves
Abram has
origami and
over 30
knows how to
Lego sets on
fold a number
display in his
of different
room.
airplanes.
#29 ABRAM M. POLLEY #30 MATTHEW G. YI
14 years old 8th grade 7 years old 4th grade
John R. Wooden Middle School Indiana My Brother’s Home School New Orleans
University (Bloomington, Indiana) Chapter of The Links (New Orleans, Louisiana)
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 23SPELLER GUIDE
Meet The Spellers (Listed by Speller Number)
FUN
FACT FUN
Eli has FACT
recently tried Tejas can solve
his hand a 3x3 Rubik’s
at pottery Cube in 57
and finds it seconds.
relaxing.
#31 ELI HOADLEY COKELET #32 TEJAS J. KATIRA
13 years old 8th grade 14 years old 8th grade
Liberty Memorial Central Middle School Larsen Middle School Kane County
Kansas Press Association (Topeka, Kansas) Regional Office of Education (Geneva, Illinois)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Julia collected
Varshitha
personal
loves to bake,
care items
especially
to fill over
pastries and
250 bags for
bread, and her
homeless
sourdough
shelters over
starter’s name
the past year
is Weirdough.
and a half.
#33 JULIA BROOKE #34 VARSHITHA
SETTEVENDEMIE CHOWDARY BOJANAPATI
13 years old 8th grade 13 years old 7th grade
Mabelle B. Avery Middle School Noah Jupiter Middle School SNSB Regional Bee
Webster House & West Hartford Historical (Region One) (Jupiter, Florida)
Society (West Hartford, Connecticut)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Angelina Ananya’s
loves to favorite show
watch Marvel is “Fullmetal
movies, and Alchemist:
her favorite Brotherhood,”
superheroes and “Nana” is a
are Thor and close second.
Spider-Man.
#35 ANGELINA C. GAMPALA #36 ANANYA AUGUSTINE
14 years old 8th grade 14 years old 8th grade
Canton Charter Academy WXYZ Channel 7 Eagle’s Landing Middle School Georgia
(Detroit, Michigan) Association of Educators (Tucker, Georgia)
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 24SPELLER GUIDE
Meet The Spellers (Listed by Speller Number)
FUN
FACT FUN
Last summer, FACT
Miles rode
Bruhat played
in a classic
handbells and
Oldsmobile
chimes in the
442 once
Hillsborough
owned by
County Fine
baseball
Arts Festival.
great Bobby
Bonilla.
#37 MILES K. HUBBERT #38 BRUHAT SOMA
10 years old 4th grade 10 years old 5th grade
The Kent School Maryland Sports Turner Bartels K-8 School SNSB Regional
(Baltimore, Maryland) Bee (Region One) (Tampa, Florida)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
When the Isaac has an
weather is exceptional
nice, Aydin spelling coach
likes to ride who happens
his bike and to be his
shoot some identical twin
hoops. brother, David.
#39 AYDIN M. JONES #40 ISAAC A. MOROWITZ
12 years old 6th grade 13 years old 8th grade
John Hanson Middle School Charles County Skinner North Classical School Chicago
Public Schools (La Plata, Maryland) Public Schools (Chicago, Illinois)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Noemi N’Adom plays
has won a the piano
few soccer and enjoys
tournaments. dancing.
#41 NOEMI ESTRELLA #42 N’ADOM DARKO-ASARE
GALAN 11 years old 5th grade
14 years old 8th grade DPS International Ghana Young Educators
St. Michael Catholic School Ball State Foundation (Accra, Ghana)
University - WIPB-TV (Muncie, Indiana)
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 25SPELLER GUIDE
Meet The Spellers (Listed by Speller Number)
FUN
FACT FUN
Sam loves FACT
to travel and Emmie is
especially currently
enjoyed learning two
his trips to languages,
Iceland, Italy Spanish and
and Costa Italian.
Rica.
#43 SAMUEL EVANS #44 EMERSON QUINN
14 years old 8th grade RAKES
Evans Family Homeschool WJXT 14 years old 8th grade
(Jacksonville, Florida) Lakes Middle School Idaho Character
Foundation (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Justin is
Aiden has
learning to
been an altar
play the violin
server at his
and enjoys
local church
exploring new
for the past
songs on the
two years.
piano.
#45 JUSTIN TRAN #46 AIDEN B.N. PHAM
12 years old 7th grade 12 years old 6th grade
Chaparral Middle School Los Angeles Scott Middle School Kiwanis Club of
Spelling Bee Collaborative (Studio City, Lafayette (Lafayette, Louisiana)
California)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Dominic Sahil likes to
enjoys reading solve different
books about Rubik’s Cubes
American and puzzles,
History, and he taught
especially Joy himself origami
Hakim’s “A at age 7.
History of Us.”
#47 DOMINIC A. #48 SAHIL SACHIN THORAT
MARROQUIN 12 years old 7th grade
13 years old 8th grade Caddo Middle Magnet School Louisiana
Santa Fe Trail Middle School Olathe Public State University Shreveport (Shreveport,
Schools (Olathe, Kansas) Louisiana)
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 26SPELLER GUIDE
Meet The Spellers (Listed by Speller Number)
FUN
FACT FUN
Joey was a FACT
member of
Nesika has
his school’s
lived in three
football and
different
basketball
states: Iowa,
teams this
Oregon and
year, and he
Minnesota.
ran track this
spring.
#49 JOSEPH SHANE #50 NESIKA DAWN
FINNERTY BELLVILLE
13 years old 7th grade 14 years old 8th grade
East Tipp Middle School Adult Learners, Inc. Pine River-Backus High School Sourcewell
(Lafayette, Indiana) (Staples, Minnesota)
FUN
FACT FUN
Merit has FACT
won school Tristan loves
Ping-Pong singing and
tournaments playing the
and plays guitar and the
community ukulele.
pickleball.
#51 MERIT HOPE #52 TRISTAN JULIAN
NAMASTE-ROSE SCHNEICHEL
14 years old 8th grade 11 years old 6th grade
David L. Rahn Junior High School Regional Revo Academy SAGE Publishing (Thousand
Office of Education #47 (Sterling, Illinois) Oaks, California)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Arnav was Isabella plays
the 2020 travel soccer
U.S. History and travel
Bee national basketball, and
champion in she prefers to
the 6th grade play defense
division. on both teams.
#53 ARNAV KOLLURU #54 ISABELLA ROSANNA
13 years old 8th grade PAGLIAROLI COWAN
Maroa-Forsyth Middle School Macon-Piatt 11 years old 6th grade
Regional Office of Education (Decatur, Illinois) St. André French Immersion Catholic
Elementary School WFCU Credit Union
(Windsor, Ontario, Canada)
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 27SPELLER GUIDE
Meet The Spellers (Listed by Speller Number)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Max likes Annie-Lois was
spicy food the only junior
(especially hot high school
wings!) and candidate to
made his own win gold at
hot sauce this the Science
year using Olympiad in
peppers from Singapore.
the family
garden.
#55 MAXIMILIAN #56 ANNIE-LOIS AMA
F. FOLEY SERWAA ACHEAMPONG
12 years old 6th grade 13 years old 8th grade
St. Mary School - Dekalb DeKalb Regional Ghana Christian International High School
Office of Education 16 (DeKalb, Illinois) Young Educators Foundation (Accra, Ghana)
FUN
FACT FUN
Family is very FACT
important
Jonathan
to Ana
would like
Guadalupe.
to continue
She has five
playing soccer
siblings and
all the way to
loving and
college.
supportive
parents.
#57 ANA GUADALUPE M. #58 JONATHAN DEZIR
VILLAGOMEZ 13 years old 7th grade
13 years old 7th grade Minooka Junior High School Grundy/
Grace Christian Academy Pacific Daily Kendall County Regional Office of Education
News (Hagåtña, Guam) (Morris, Illinois)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Navtaj is Jason is a
passionate journalist for
about his school
aviation. newspaper.
#59 NAVTAJ K. SINGH #60 JASON KHAN
11 years old 5th grade 14 years old 8th grade
Sunnyside Elementary School Lewiston McAuliffe Middle School The Orange
Tribune (Lewiston, Idaho) County Register (Santa Ana, California)
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 28SPELLER GUIDE
Meet The Spellers (Listed by Speller Number)
FUN
FACT
FUN Levi began
FACT karate
Aisha won instruction
her school’s in 2021 and
poetry award aims to have
at the age his black belt
of 8. before he
graduates from
high school.
#61 AISHA SHOEB HAQUE #62 LEVI T. GOULD
11 years old 5th grade 12 years old 7th grade
Centerville Elementary School Frederick Gould Homeschool Lakes Country Service
County Public Libraries (Frederick, Maryland) Cooperative (Fergus Falls, Minnesota)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Zoë has Jeffrey
family all over plays three
the world, instruments,
from Australia but his primary
to Canada to instrument is
Finland. the violin.
#63 ZOË A. KEITH #64 JEFFREY JOBA HSIA
14 years old 8th grade 14 years old 8th grade
Summit Middle School Boulder Valley Bennett Middle School University of
School District (Boulder, Colorado) Maryland Eastern Shore (Princess Anne,
Maryland)
FUN
FACT
Ekansh was a
speller in the FUN
2019 Scripps FACT
National
Faith loves to
Spelling
read and draw.
Bee and
witnessed the
Octochamps’
win.
#65 EKANSH RASTOGI #66 FAITH ZAPATA
13 years old 8th grade 12 years old 6th grade
Markham Woods Middle School Orlando Palm View Elementary School Riverside
City SC (Orlando, Florida) County Office of Education (Riverside,
California)
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 29SPELLER GUIDE
Meet The Spellers (Listed by Speller Number)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Advaith plays Se’lah has
three musical traveled
instruments: to Mexico,
piano, cello France,
and recorder, London,
and sings Georgia, South
South Indian Carolina,
classical Jamaica,
music. Guyana and
Honduras with
#67 ADVAITH #68 SE’LAH their family.
BALAKRISHNAN A. SUTTON
13 years old 7th grade 13 years old 8th grade
Hinsdale Middle School ComEd, An Exelon MacArthur Middle School Anne Arundel
Company (Chicago, Illinois) County Public Schools (Annapolis, Maryland)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Bryce can Jose is a
learn and play talented
songs by ear, basketball
and he plays player and says
the cello, he finds true
piano, guitar happiness in
and drums. basketball.
#69 BRYCE CEDRIC #70 JOSE D. GARCIA
ALARCON MELGAR 13 years old 8th grade
12 years old 7th grade Challenger Middle School Lee County
Ridgeview Middle School Visalia Times- Spelling Bee (Fort Myers, Florida)
Delta/Tulare Advance-Register (Visalia,
California)
FUN
FACT FUN
Henry FACT
loves heavy Moksh plays
machinery, midfield on a
and he competitive
collects 1:87 soccer team
scale diecast and loves all
models of things soccer.
Caterpillar
equipment.
#71 HENRY JOSEPH OLSEN #72 MOKSH KANUKURTHY
14 years old 8th grade 11 years old 5th grade
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School SNSB Valley Crossing Elementary School
Regional Bee for Illinois and Texas (Peoria, Metropolitan Educational Cooperative Service
Illinois) Unit (Arden Hills, Minnesota)
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 30SPELLER GUIDE
Meet The Spellers (Listed by Speller Number)
FUN
FUN FACT
FACT Emily is the
seventh and
Riya plays
youngest child
tennis, and
in her family,
her favorite
and she is the
shot is her
fourth sibling
forehand.
to participate
in the Bee.
#73 RIYA AYISHA KOYA #74 EMILY E. DOUDNA
14 years old 8th grade 13 years old 7th grade
Carmel Middle School Indiana IDEA - Fairbanks Fairbanks North Star
University-Purdue University Indianapolis Borough School District (Fairbanks, Alaska)
(Indianapolis, Indiana)
FUN
FACT FUN
Saketh is on
FACT
the school Vikram is
speech team working on
and has won a project
numerous exploring
first place major
awards in the applications
Massachusetts of renewable
Speech and energy.
Debate
League.
#75 SAKETH #76 VIKRAM RAJU
MADHUSUDHAN 12 years old 7th grade
14 years old 8th grade Aurora Quest K-8 The Denver Post (Denver,
Oak Middle School The Daily Item (Lynn, Colorado)
Massachusetts)
FUN
FACT
Victor is FUN
interested FACT
in plants John has
and their played the
care, and piano since
he recently he was 7
obtained a years old.
three-foot-tall
snake plant.
#77 VICTOR A. ANDREWS #78 JOHN K. FOLSOM
14 years old 8th grade 13 years old 7th grade
East Middle School Oakland Schools Van Avery Preparatory School Riverside
Education Foundation (Waterford, Michigan) County Office of Education (Riverside,
California)
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 31SPELLER GUIDE
Meet The Spellers (Listed by Speller Number)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Shrey is the Lillian is co-
author of “The captain of her
Corona Warriors” soccer team,
about two which she
young brothers’ has played
experiences in on since 3rd
the COVID-19 grade.
pandemic.
#79 SHREY PARIKH #80 LILLIAN ROSE WALLACE
10 years old 4th grade 14 years old 8th grade
John L. Golden Elementary School San Kennedy Middle School Macomb
Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Intermediate School District (Clinton Township,
(San Bernardino, California) Michigan)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Aaron was
Akira taught
invited to
herself to
the county
read Korean
science fair but
by watching
skipped it for
YouTube
the regional
videos.
spelling bee.
#81 AKIRA S. HARRIS #82 AARON FRANCIS
14 years old 8th grade KUEBLER
Patch Middle School European PTA 12 years old 6th grade
(Stuttgart, Germany) St. Luke’s Lutheran School Orlando City SC
(Orlando, Florida)
FUN
FUN FACT
FACT Avyay holds
Sulayman a Guinness
is great at World Record,
Connect having
4, Uno participated
and other in the largest
strategic online
games. simultaneous
group chant.
#83 SULAYMAN #84 AVYAY KODALI
ABDIRAHMAN 13 years old 7th grade
12 years old 7th grade Plum Grove Junior High School Pepper
Brooke Charter School Mattapan Boston Construction and Wight & Company (Chicago,
Centers for Youth & Families (Boston, Illinois)
Massachusetts)
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 32SPELLER GUIDE
Meet The Spellers (Listed by Speller Number)
FUN
FUN FACT
FACT Luke enjoys
Pihu solved swimming in
her first ponds and
500-piece lakes, as well
puzzle when as taking
she was 6 leisurely
years old. bicycle rides in
the country.
#85 PIHU SAHAI #86 LUKE R. LAVALLEY
14 years old 8th grade 13 years old 8th grade
Upton Middle School The Herald Palladium Ruth Fox Middle School The County Press
(St. Joseph, Michigan) (Lapeer, Michigan)
FUN
FACT FUN
Aliyah and FACT
her twin Zain won
brother Jacob an Award of
like to earn Excellence
money by from Young
busking: she Writers of
plays fiddle, Canada for his
and he plays poem.
guitar.
#87 ALIYAH RACHEL ALPERT #88 ZAIN T. MALIK
11 years old 6th grade 13 years old 8th grade
Alpert Homeschool Arizona Educational Académie Ste-Cécile International School
Foundation (Scottsdale, Arizona) WFCU Credit Union (Windsor, Ontario,
Canada)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Japleen loves Brielle’s
studying favorite place
history to water ski
and has a and slalom is
particular on Birch Lake
fondness for in northern
ancient times. Minnesota.
#89 JAPLEEN KAUR #90 BRIELLE ANNEMARIE
DHILLON BROWN
14 years old 8th grade 13 years old 7th grade
Rio Vista Middle School The Office of the Maple River Middle School South Central
Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Service Cooperative (North Mankato,
(Fresno, California) Minnesota)
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 33SPELLER GUIDE
Meet The Spellers (Listed by Speller Number)
FUN
FACT
FUN Aditi is
passionate
FACT about climate
Daniel change and
collects music environmental
CDs and vinyl impact, and
records. she likes to
repurpose
objects.
#91 DANIEL SANTIAGO #92 ADITI SHASHIDHARA
LEMUS 12 years old 7th grade
14 years old 8th grade Haas Hall Academy - Bentonville Electric
Frank Wright Middle School Imperial Cooperatives of Arkansas (Jacksonville,
County Office of Education (El Centro, Arkansas)
California)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
The first fish
Sam’s favorite
Nimal ever
basketball
caught was
team is the
a flounder in
Minnesota
Hilton Head,
Timberwolves.
South Carolina.
#93 SAMUEL JAMES PASSE #94 NIMAL MURUGAN
14 years old 8th grade 12 years old 7th grade
Wabasha-Kellogg Elementary School South Forsyth Middle School Georgia
Southeast Service Cooperative (Rochester, Association of Educators (Tucker, Georgia)
Minnesota)
FUN
FUN FACT
FACT Mackenzie is
Kalleb likes to obsessed with
play Nintendo listening to
games. Olivia Rodrigo
songs.
#95 KALLEB OLIVEIRA #96 MACKENZIE RENEA
11 years old 5th grade HARMON
Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School 11 years old 5th grade
The Martha’s Vineyard Times (Vineyard Haven,
Ellsworth Community School Traverse City
Massachusetts)
Record-Eagle (Traverse City, Michigan)
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 34SPELLER GUIDE
Meet The Spellers (Listed by Speller Number)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Wolfie’s
Rumaysa has
favorite movie
a newly-
is “Toy Story,”
discovered
and he can
knack for
imitate almost
writing
all of the
rhyming
characters’
poems.
voices.
#97 RUMAYSA NADEEM #98 WOLFGANG WINSTON
13 years old 8th grade SCHAFF
Furqaan Academy ComEd, An Exelon 14 years old 8th grade
Company (Chicago, Illinois) Schaff Family Homeschool Boone-
Winnebago Regional Office of Education
(Loves Park, Illinois)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Vikram enjoys Randell loves
playing sports fishing, and
and video he is top of
games with his class in
his friends mathematics.
and family.
#99 VIKRAM SUNIL C. #100 RANDELL JOHN
REDDY TOTANES RHOADS
14 years old 8th grade 11 years old 5th grade
Robert Frost Middle School The Meakem Knik Elementary School Anchorage Daily
Group (Bethesda, Maryland) News (Anchorage, Alaska)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Amelia has Dhroov was
traveled awarded the
all over top Robotics
the world, and Intelligent
and names Machines
France as Award for an
her favorite earthquake
destination early warning
so far. system.
#101 AMELIA SUSANNA #102 DHROOV V. BHARATIA
GLASS 13 years old 8th grade
13 years old 7th grade Wilson Middle School Dallas Sports
King’s-Edgehill School Cape Breton Commission (Dallas, Texas)
University (Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada)
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 35SPELLER GUIDE
Meet The Spellers (Listed by Speller Number)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Sophia’s Abhilash
favorite stroke plays violin in
in swimming is his school’s
butterfly, and chamber
her favorite orchestra and
track and field has performed
event is the 4 x in his county’s
100-meter relay. orchestra.
#103 SOPHIA LOPEZ #104 ABHILASH PATEL
14 years old 8th grade 14 years old 8th grade
Cedarville Middle School SNSB Michigan Monroe-Woodbury Middle School
and Ohio Regional Bee (Springfield, Ohio) Orange-Ulster BOCES (Goshen, New York)
FUN FUN
FACT FACT
Arnav loves
Tarini’s
Greek
favorite
mythology and
pastime is
won’t spare
spending
the chance to
time with her
enlighten you
dog, Simba.
about it.
#105 TARINI NANDAKUMAR #106 ARNAV PARAT
11 years old 6th grade 9 years old 4th grade
Walsh Middle School Sweet Success ATX Woodlands Elementary School Amarillo
(Austin, Texas) College (Amarillo, Texas)
FUN
FACT FUN
Nam loves FACT
participating Aanya is a
in tennis, first-degree
soccer, black belt in
chess and Tae Kwon Do.
swimming.
#107 NAM SON NGUYEN #108 AANYA PAVAN SHETTY
7 years old 2nd grade 11 years old 6th grade
Jolley Elementary School University of John Warner Middle School Columbia
South Dakota (Vermillion, South Dakota) Missourian (Columbia, Missouri)
2022 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE | MEDIA GUIDE 36You can also read
