Vikyath Tanamala, a sixth-grade student from Belmont Ridge Middle School, won the 44th Annual Loudoun County Public Schools Regional Spelling Bee on March 12 at Rock Ridge High School. Tanamala secured the title after 16 rounds of competition, surpassing Dhiya Sudhakar, a sixth-grade student from Gum Spring Middle School.
This marks the second consecutive year that Tanamala has won the regional bee. The winning word was “peccant,” which means guilty of moral offense or corrupt.
Both Tanamala and Sudhakar will advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, scheduled for May 25–28 at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. Students from across the country will compete on national television during this event.
“The Spelling Bee reminds us how powerful words can be,” said Dr. Aaron Spence, Loudoun County Public Schools Superintendent. “With word study and practice, students build confidence, strengthen communication skills and discover the joy of learning, with a focus and resilience that will serve them well far beyond this competition. We are proud of every student who participated.”
More information about the LCPS Regional Spelling Bee is available on its web page. Details about the Scripps National Spelling Bee can be found on their website.
