Shrey Parikh is in the news after winning the Scripps National Spelling Bee in a lightning-round tiebreaker, becoming a national champion.
A California 14-year-old has reached the National Spelling Bee semifinals using a high-tech, coach-heavy approach, while another competitor relies on traditional dictionary-based study. The field includes veteran coach Scott Remer, who has coached multiple champions, and a variety of preparation styles as finalists prepare for the finals.
The 98th Scripps National Spelling Bee has returned to DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. Finals are tonight at 8 p.m. ET, with nearly 250 competitors from the U.S. and beyond. Spellers compete for $50,000 and the Scripps Cup; Mina Kimes will host the broadcast.
Shrey Parikh, 14, from Rancho Cucamonga, has won the National Spelling Bee after a 32-word spell-off against Ishaan Gupta, setting a record for a 90-second round. The victory concludes a six-year run in competitive spelling and follows a prior miss in 2024. Parikh’s win includes a $50,000 prize and a Scripps Cup.