E-mail
PrintViticetum: v-i-t-i-c-e-t-u-m. The correct spelling of the word — a growth or plantation of vines, especially grapevines — was not enough for Sidhant Misra to advance to round three of the 2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee held in Washington.
The bee started Wednesday when Sidhant, who just completed eighth grade at Jefferson Junior High School, and 275 competitors from across the country took a 25-word written test. Roughly an hour later in round two, competitors gave an oral spelling answer to a question. Scores from the two rounds were combined.
Sidhant, though, did not have a high-enough combined score to advance to round three. The result ended a run for the national championship that began three months ago.
In February, Sidhant won a schoolwide spelling bee where Sharon Keitel, media specialist and English teacher at JJHS, called the words.
“The competition was very close,” Keitel said. “In the final round, there was a spell-off between Sidhant and another student.”
Sidhant’s close win advanced him to the Columbia Daily Tribune’s regional spelling bee in March at Columbia College. His victory against other in-school winners from around mid-Missouri earned him a spot in the national event.
“He took his preparation seriously,” said Lynn Troyke, an English teacher and spelling bee coordinator for the school and regional competition. She said Sidhant used study hall time to review words.
“Sidhant is a great kid,” Keitel said. “We’ve been following his progress.”
Show Me the Errors 
Comments