{"id":10734,"date":"2023-03-07T15:58:57","date_gmt":"2023-03-07T20:58:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/?p=10734"},"modified":"2023-03-07T16:00:41","modified_gmt":"2023-03-07T21:00:41","slug":"celebrating-smart-kids-eight-division-contestants-showcase-their-spelling-skills-at-whro-public-media-spelling-bee-one-gets-third-place","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/celebrating-smart-kids-eight-division-contestants-showcase-their-spelling-skills-at-whro-public-media-spelling-bee-one-gets-third-place\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating smart kids \u2013 eight division contestants showcase their spelling skills at WHRO Public Media Spelling Bee, one gets third place"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2013by Svetla Tomanova<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Credit: WHRO Public Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Every year for the last 16 years, a diverse group of contestants ages 15 or younger flock from across Hampton Roads to the regional spelling bee. During this year\u2019s bee in February, Old<\/p>\n

Donation School eighth grader Mihika \u201cMahi\u201d Sakharpe won third place after three \u201cspell off\u201d rounds. A seventh grader from the Norfolk Academy, Rohith Konduri, was declared the champion of the WHRO Public Media Spelling Bee by correctly spelling the word “anathema.” It took 12 rounds to determine the bee champion and runner-up Xynthia Anthony, Yorktown Middle School.<\/p>\n

A total of 42 children, eight from the Virginia Beach City Public Schools, came to the WHRO studio to showcase their supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (fantastic) spelling skills; but more importantly, they came to do their best and have fun. Some were exuberant and outgoing, while others were timid and unpretentious. They all had one thing in common though: a love for words, reading and a desire to win the competition.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Credit: WHRO Public Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe love to celebrate smart kids,\u201d said WHRO\u2019s President and CEO, Bert Schmidt, \u201cand the spelling bee is just one of the numerous ways that WHRO provides opportunities for our best and brightest to shine within their schools and the larger community.\u201d<\/p>\n

For many of the students, this was a new experience \u2013 one that filled their hearts with excitement and anticipation \u2013 but for several, this was their second attempt to reach the coveted champion trophy. They had spent countless hours assiduously studying, memorizing words\u2019 origins and roots, practicing pronunciations and building their confidence.<\/p>\n

The contestants also relied on the support of family and friends. Some, like Mahi, used a WordClub app that provided practice with multiple choice, audio and written answer games.<\/p>\n

\u201cI usually practice in transit and while chilling between homework!\u201d said the multilingual eighth grader. \u201cMy little sister, a wannabe spelling champion, picks up the list and starts quizzing me on words, simulating a competition experience. Practicing and familiarizing myself with all the words has helped alleviate some of that nervousness and transform it into confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Credit: WHRO Public Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the contestants filed into the WHRO studio, their parents cheered for them in the teleconference center. When they took their seats and prepared for the competition to begin, they knew that all of their hard work was about to play an important part.<\/p>\n

As the rounds progressed, the words became more challenging, and the number of contestants dwindled. Zoe Hardy with Larkspur Middle wasn\u2019t eliminated until the sixth round. By the final rounds, only two contestants remained.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Credit: WHRO Public Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After Konduri spelled the word anathema correctly, he was declared the 2023 Scripps Regional Spelling Bee champion. He took home the champion trophy and receives an expenses-paid trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, an engraved Apple\u00ae iPad Mini, The Samuel Louis Sugarman Award of a 2023 U.S. Mint Proof Set, and a one-year subscription to Britannica Online Premium. The runner-up and third-place spellers also received trophies. All bee contestants received a certificate of participation, a Spelling Bee drawstring bag, and a 2023 Spelling Bee commemorative T-shirt.<\/p>\n

The regional competition may have ended, but the love for words and the desire to learn more about them will stay forever in these young students \u2013 that is their superpower.<\/p>\n

The recording of the WHRO Public Media Spelling Bee will air April 1 at 2 p.m. on WHRO. To view the list of participants and to read some fun facts about the Scripps National Spelling Bee, visit this <\/em>page.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Meet the VBCPS Bees<\/strong><\/p>\n

#11 \u2013 Peyton Ndow, Plaza Middle<\/p>\n

#16 \u2013 Esther Gammill, Virginia Beach Middle<\/p>\n

#18 \u2013 Siddhiksha Vibushnan, Great Neck Middle<\/p>\n

#21 \u2013 Amarachukwusom Nwokoji, Landstown Middle<\/p>\n

#25 \u2013 Zoe Hardy, Larkspur Middle<\/p>\n

#33 \u2013 Nia Jeffries, Bayside Sixth Grade Campus<\/p>\n

#34 \u2013 Mihika (Mahi) Sakharpe, Old Donation School<\/p>\n

#40 \u2013 Iva Quaqau, Princess Anne Middle<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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