Nathan Ostermann, a seventh-grader at Wilson Junior High in El Centro, California, had just returned from a science fair competition when he stepped on the stage to defend his title as Imperial County Regional champion. He did not disappoint. In the 14th round, he correctly spelled "expropriate" to win a return trip to the national finals.
Shiv Mehrotra-Varma had a strong ally helping him prepare — Ananya Vinay, the 2017 national champion. Shiv, a fifth-grader at Fugman Elementary School in Fresno, California, lives next door to his friend, and she helped him prepare for this competition. He won by spelling "einkorn." He said it was an unexpected victory, and he plans to try his best in D.C.
Navneeth Murali is on to the next level of studying as he plans for his trip to the national finals. He won the 34th Annual Asbury Park Press/Home News Tribune Regional Spelling Bee in Neptune, New Jersey. The event was hosted by Monmouth University.
Photo credit: James J. Connolly, Asbury Park Press
For the second year in a row, Melodie Loya of Bainbridge, New York, won the Daily Star Regional Spelling Bee. Twenty-two spellers competed for the regional title and Melodie, a seventh-grader, clinched it in the 15th round with “frivolous.” She loves mythology and fiction books, and English is her favorite subject.
Vaibhavi Mahajan, an eighth-grader at Northwest Rankin Middle School in Flowood, Mississippi, will represent her school and her state in the national finals. About 50 students gathered at Jackson State University for the 2018 Mississippi Spelling Bee. Vaibhavi correctly spelled "expropriate" for the win.
Rosy Kannankeril, an eighth-grader from Franklin Classical School in Franklin, Tennessee, had the impressive backdrop of the Tennessee Titans stadium for her regional spelling bee in Nashville. At this event, the top two spellers advance to the national finals. She was runner-up in the event with the winning word "stolon." This is the third regional event sponsored by the NFL team.
Lakeview Middle School eighth-grader Saagar Dubey had his eye on the prize at the MLive/Jackson Citizen Patriot Spelling Bee in Jackson, Michigan. But the prize wasn't necessarily the trophy — it was a cell phone promised by his parents, if he won. His winning words were "agave" and "Mongol." He said he's been doing this since the fifth grade and enjoys the competition.
Carter Herron, a seventh-grader at South Middle School in Morgantown, West Virginia, spelled “expropriate” and “pro rata” correctly to win the North Central West Virginia Regional Spelling Bee. His father said he had a solid training regimen to prepare for the event. Carter previously competed at the regional level in 2016.
Lauren Holsapple. an eighth-grade home-schooled student eliminated distractions by closing her eyes when she spelled at the Columbia Missourian Regional Spelling Bee. After spelling "pneumonectomy" correctly she opened her eyes to see and hear the cheers from the audience. She said she finds competing "exhilarating and nauseating at the same time."
Simone Kaplan took advantage of a second opportunity to have her winning moment, complete with a mic drop, at the 78th Annual Miami Herald Spelling Bee in Broward County, Florida. Her winning word was "aioli." The sixth-grader from St. Bonaventure Catholic School has been preparing since her appearance in the national finals in 2017.