Loudoun Sixth Grader To Compete In National Spelling Bee

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — A sixth grader from Lunsford Middle School won the Loudoun County Regional Spelling Bee last week. Oviya Amalraj will next compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee from May 30 through June 1.

Amalraj won the regional spelling competition after ten rounds. Her winning word was "elan," a noun describing energy, style, and enthusiasm. Erdem Dolgoon, an eighth grader at Dayan Academy, was the competition's runner-up.

"I'm very proud of all the participants and wish Oviya the best of luck at the National Spelling Bee," Acting Superintendent Daniel Smith said in a news release. "I'm always awestruck by our young people who, at an early age, are demonstrating a mastery and enthusiasm for the language."

This year marks the 95th Scripps National Spelling Bee. The competition will be held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. More than 200 spellers from around the United States and the rest of the world will flock to the area to show their spelling prowess.

More information about the National Spelling Bee is available online.