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How Indian Americans Came to Love the Spelling Bee
The New York Times
Since 2008, a South Asian American child has been named a champion at every Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Eighth graders aren’t generally known as dictionary aficionados. But Dhroov Bharatia, 12, has a passion for language. “Nothing can express an idea as effectively as a judicious use of words,” he said by phone from his home in Plano, Texas. This love of vocabulary has made him one of 11 finalists in this year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee, adding him to a long line of South Asian American middle and elementary schoolers who have excelled at the competition. It’s a well-documented relationship. Since 2008, a South Asian American kid has been named a champion at every Scripps bee. This year, two-thirds of the semifinalists were of South Asian descent, and at least nine of the 11 finalists are of South Asian descent.More Related News