Naman Shakrani, a sixth grader at W.T. Clarke Middle School in the East Meadow Union Free School District, won the Long Island Jewish World Spelling Bee on March 10 at Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School. Twenty-one students from throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties competed for this prestigious title. Naman won in the tenth round when he spelled the word “noctograph,” which means a writing instrument used by the blind. Some of the difficult words he faced included pasteurize, arthroscopy, cataract, and perpend. He will now compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland on June 1 and 2.
The spelling bee process that earned Naman this honor began in December when W.T. Clarke Middle School held in-class competitions. In January, the school held its annual schoolwide Spelling Bee in which one contestant from each ELA class competed in the Little Theatre, January 7.
The competition was fierce; four students remained at the end and came back on January 10 for a tiebreaker. Sixth grader Naman won the title of Spelling Bee Champion for his school. He went on to compete in a written test on February 8 at Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School, qualifying him to take part in the Long Island Jewish World Spelling Bee.
Best of luck at the next round in Maryland, Naman!