The reigning national spelling champion is a 14-year-old kid whose one-liners kept everyone laughing a year ago. His parents moved to the United States from central India, and he wants to be a neurosurgeon when he grows up.
Last year’s runner-up _ and one of this year’s favorites at the Scripps National Spelling Bee _ is an all-business 13-year-old Indian-American boy from Michigan. He’s also set his sights on neurosurgery.
Another favorite expected to be onstage for Thursday night’s nationally televised finals is a 13-year-old Kansas girl with a sweet smile and a last name that’s a spelling challenge unto itself. You guessed it: Her family comes from India, and she wants to be a neurosurgeon.