Indian-American kids conquer US spelling bee

May 31, 2008

Sameer Mishra, 13, of West Lafayette, Indiana, won the 81st Scripps National Spelling Bee, correctly spelling 'guerdon,' which means something one has earned or gained, a reward. With his win, Indian American children, who had such a bad spell last year, came roaring back at this year's annual 81st Bee.

Mishra, an eighth-grader at West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School, is appearing in the competition for the fourth time. He took home the championship trophy - an engraved loving cup from Scripps - a $30,000 cash prize, a $2,500 US Savings Bond and a complete reference library from Merriam-Webster, a $5,000 cash prize from Sigma Psi Epsilon Educational Foundation, and reference works valued at more than $3,800 from Enclycopedia Britannica.

source from rediff news