LR Girl Makes It To Third Round Of National Spelling Bee
Diana Marrero, Gannett News Service, Little Rock, AR
The Anthony School seventh-grader said she’d like to try her luck at the bee one more time next year. Her family has a way with words. She is the second child in her family to compete at a national spelling bee.
Samia’s older cousin competed for the championship a few years ago. Her older sister recently placed among the top five in the Arkansas state bee.
“We’re readers in our house,” said her mother, Sahmida Nawaz. Both Samia and her sister were reading on their own before they turned four, her mother said. “Ever since then, they’ve had their noses in books,” Nawaz said. “The spelling comes automatically.”
Samia says reading is one of her favorite activities. “I just really got into it,” she said. “I found books better than watching TV or anything.” These days, she’s into the Harry Potter series of books.
Her favorite word: zugzwang. “I really like it because of the way it sounds,” she said of the German word for a situation in chess where a player is forced to make a bad move.
Samia was among the record 286 spellers vying for prizes that include $30,000 in cash, a $5,000 college scholarship and an engraved loving cup trophy. The champion will be announced Thursday night.
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There is story in Dallas Morning News(by AP) about Samir Patel from DFW area(he was second at 2005 Speeling Bee)and will try to win this year.He was taking chess lessons.(I think his strenght is about 1000 rating)Very smart boy!
How about a chess openings spelling bee?
There is the Robatsch, Scheveningen, Saemisch, and many more…
I have seen the term “zugzwang” introduced into political discourse here.
BTW, please change your tag from Arizona to Arkansas.
Thanks