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Kansas Girl Wins Spelling Bee With 'Laodicean'

Shivashankar becomes national spelling champ after getting 'laodicean' right

By the Associated Press

Posted May 28, 2009 10:37 PM CDT
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(AP) – Cool and collected, Kavya Shivashankar wrote out every word on her palm and always ended with a smile. The 13-year-old Kansas girl saved the biggest smile for last, when she rattled off the letters to "Laodicean" to become the nation's spelling champion. The budding neurosurgeon outlasted 11 finalists tonight to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee, taking home more than $40,000 in cash and prizes and the huge champion's trophy.

After spelling the winning word, which means lukewarm or indifferent in religion or politics, Kavya got huge hugs from her father, mother, and little sister. Second place went to 12-year-old Tim Ruiter of Centreville, Va., the youngest finalist. He misspelled "maecenas," which means a cultural benefactor.        

Sidharth Chand, 13, of Beverly Hills, Mich., left, and Kavya Shivashankar, 13, of Olathe, Kan., listen to spellers during round five of the Scripps National Spelling Bee last night.
Sidharth Chand, 13, of Beverly Hills, Mich., left, and Kavya Shivashankar, 13, of Olathe, Kan., listen to spellers during round five of the Scripps National Spelling Bee last night.   (Jacquelyn Martin)
Kavya Shivashankar, 13, of Olathe, Kansas, is embraced by her father Mirle Shivashankar, and sister Vanya Shivashankar, 7, after winning the Scripps National Spelling Bee last night.
Kavya Shivashankar, 13, of Olathe, Kansas, is embraced by her father Mirle Shivashankar, and sister Vanya Shivashankar, 7, after winning the Scripps National Spelling Bee last night.   (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Mirle Shivashankar, left, hugs his daughter Kavya Shivashankar, 13, of Olathe, Kansas, after she won the Scripps National Spelling Bee, in Washington yesterday.
Mirle Shivashankar, left, hugs his daughter Kavya Shivashankar, 13, of Olathe, Kansas, after she won the Scripps National Spelling Bee, in Washington yesterday.   (Jacquelyn Martin)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
riffran
May 29, 2009 8:04 AM CDT
laodecian?.......gseundhight.....(I know I spelled that wrong...lmao)
northeast
May 29, 2009 4:56 AM CDT
Damnit, this means I have to come up with a new stereotype for Kansans.
RobN
May 29, 2009 3:29 AM CDT
I think she has an unfair advantage. The ability to spell her own last name certainly must be some sort of advantage.

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spelling bee • Scripps National Spelling Bee

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