Francis Parker student competes in National Spelling Bee

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Francis Parker School eighth-grader Snigdha Nandipati
correctly spelled “ringent” in Wednesday's second round of the Scripps National
Spelling Bee in National Harbor, Md., as she seeks to advance to the semifinals
for the second consecutive year.

One more round will be held today at the Gaylord National Resort and
Convention Center, with a correct answer worth three points. At the end of
round three, the field of 278 will be reduced to a maximum of 50 spellers.

The first round — a 50-word computer spelling test, with 25 words
counting toward their scores — was held Tuesday, with each correct answer
worth one point. The test scores will be combined with the second- and third-
round results to determine the semifinalists.

Ringent means having the mouth wide open.

Snigdha tied for 27th in last year's bee, advancing to the fifth round,
the only Californian to reach the semifinals. She was eliminated when she
misspelled kerystic, which refers to a sermon.

The semifinal and championship rounds will be held Thursday, with a
contestant eliminated after he or she misspells a word.

Snigdha is a member of her school's Science Olympiad team, participates
in several math-related events, is a member of the school Yearbook Club, plays
violin and is fluent in Telugu, which is spoken in parts of India.

“She's a terrific student,” Francis Parker Middle School Principal
Patricia McKenna told City News Service. “She's the sweetest, nicest girl.”

Snigdha went to McKenna when she was in sixth grade and asked if the
school could participate in the spelling bee competition, something it had not
done in “a number of years,” McKenna said.

“I put it to the English Department and said `Hey, what do you
think?”' McKenna said. “She had the materials, we looked at the website and
the English teachers said it was a great idea. They did the organization for
the school-wide spelling bee, but it was all at Snigdha's motivation. She was
really determined to see if she could get it organized here.”