Spelling Bee 2009: Kavya Shivashankar Wins on Laodicean

Kavya Shivashankar, an eighth grader from Olathe, Kansas, correctly spelled L-a-o-d-i-c-e-a-n to win the 2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee Thursday night. Kavya won at the end of a championship round in which runner-up Tim Ruiter was eliminated on "maecenas" and third-place finisher Aishwarya Pastapur was eliminated on "menhir."

Making her fourth appearance in the national bee, Kavya looked calm and collected throughout, never wavering as she spelled words like "phoresy" in the championship round. (The other championship round words that were spelled correctly were antonomasia, bouquiniste, oriflamme, guayabera, isagoge and sophrosyne.)

In earlier rounds, Kavya effortlessly rattled off seemingly challenging words like "hydrargyrum," "blancmange" and "baignoire."

Having finished in the Top 10 each of the last three years, Kavya was considered one of the favorites entering the bee. A student at California Trail Junior High School, Kavya enjoys playing the violin, bicycling, swimming, and learning Indian classical dance. She plans to become a neurosurgeon.

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Spelling Bee Photos

Kavya Shivashankar, 13, of Olathe, Kansas, is embraced by her mother Sandy Shivashankar, and sister Vanya Shivashankar, 7, after winning the Scripps National Spelling Bee with the word "laodicean", in Washington, on Thursday, May 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

WASHINGTON - MAY 28: Speller Kavya Shivashankar (C) of Olathe, Kansas, receives a group hug from her father Mirle, her mother Sandy and her younger sister Vanya after she won the 2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee competition May 28, 2009 in Washington, DC. Shivashankar correctly spelled the word "Laodicean" and became the champion in round 16. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kavya Shivashankar;Mirle Shivashankar;Vanya Shivashankar;Sandy Shivashankar

Getty Images

WASHINGTON - MAY 28: Speller Kavya Shivashankar (in white) of Olathe, Kansas, receives a group hug from her father Mirle, her mother Sandy and her younger sister Vanya after she won the 2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee competition May 28, 2009 in Washington, DC. Shivashankar correctly spelled the word "Laodicean" and became the champion in round 16. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kavya Shivashankar;Mirle Shivashankar;Vanya Shivashankar;Sandy Shivashankar

Getty Images

Speller Kavya Shivashankar (C) from Olathe, Kansas, is congratulated by her father Mirle Shivashankar and mother Sandy Shivashankar after winning the 2009 National Spelling Bee in Washington May 28, 2009. Shivashankar correctly spelled the word Laodicean to win. REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES EDUCATION SOCIETY)

Reuters

REFILE - ADDING IDENTITY OF PARENTS Speller Kavya Shivashankar (C) from Olathe, Kansas, is congratulated by her father Mirle Shivashankar and mother Sandy Shivashankar after winning the 2009 National Spelling Bee in Washington May 28, 2009. Shivashankar correctly spelled the word Laodicean to win. REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES EDUCATION SOCIETY)

Reuters

Speller Kavya Shivashankar from Olathe, Kansas, lifts the trophy after winning the 2009 National Spelling Bee in Washington May 28, 2009. Shivashankar correctly spelled the word Laodicean to win. REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES EDUCATION SOCIETY)

Reuters

Kavya Shivashankar, 13, of Olathe, Kansas, right, celebrates her winning the Scripps National Spelling Bee with her father Mirle Shivashankar, and sister Vanya Shivashankar, 7, in Washington, on Thursday, May 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Kavya Shivashankar from Olathe, Kansas, reacts after winning the 2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee competition in Washington, DC, on May 28, 2009. Shivashankar won the best speller of the year title competing with 293 spellers. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Tim A. Ruiter from Reston, Virginia, reacts after a misspell at the end of the 2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee competition in Washington, DC, on May 28, 2009. Kavya Shivashankar won the best speller of the year title competing with 293 spellers. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images