Both representatives from Georgia advanced to the third round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC on May 26.
Sarv Dharavane from Peachtree Middle School in Dunwoody the state’s winner, correctly spelled “heiau,” which is a Hawaiian sacred place, then defined “veracity” as a “the quality of conforming to facts, truthfulness, or habitual honesty.”
Seventh grader Sreeya Lakkimsetti, 13, from Stallings Middle School in Columbia County, correctly spelled “nahcolite,” a naturally occurring mineral form of sodium bicarbonate, and defined “gawker” as a person staring stupidly.
Dharavane, after more than 350 words and 23 rounds (including vocabulary), on March 20 won the 65th Annual Georgia Association of Educators (GAE) State Spelling Bee for the third consecutive year, with Lakkimsetti as the runner-up.
Related story:
• Two Georgia spellers advance to national bee
He finished third overall in last year’s national contest.
About 247 spellers have descended from all over the world to compete in the 101st bee.
After the first day of competition, 80 spellers had been eliminated – 53 in the first round, and 27 in the second. The 167 remaining spellers will take a written test that will determine the quarterfinalists. The competition will resume on May 27 at 8 a.m.
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