Arvind Mahankali Wins Scripps National Spelling Bee Contest

Indian-American community continued its domi¬nance in the Scripps National Spelling Bee Contest for the sixth consecutive year when a thirteen year old Indian- American Arvind Mahankali on May 31, 2013 clinched the Scripps National Bee Contest. This year top three positions at the contest were claimed by Indian-American candidates. Arvind, from New York clinched the pres¬tigious spelling Bee con¬test of the US by correctly spelling German word 'Knaidel' which means a small mass of leavened dough, overcoming his fear of German-derived words during his past four appearances at the contest.

Arvind, .the first boy to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee Contest since 2008, will take home $

30,000 in cash and prizes along with a huge cup¬shaped trophy. Arvind is the eldest son of an IT consultant father and a physician mother from Hyderabad. He had placed ninth position in 2010. He touched third spot in 2011 and 2012 but he was always deprived of the championship due to German-derived words. This time he successfully cleared that obstacle and won the contest.