Education – Shrey Parikh Claims National Spelling Bee Title After Record-Breaking Finish
Education – Fourteen-year-old Shrey Parikh, an Indian-American student from California, emerged as the winner of the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee after delivering an outstanding performance in the championship spell-off. The eighth-grade student secured the title by correctly spelling 32 out of 35 words within the allotted 90 seconds, setting a new benchmark in the competition’s final round.
Decisive Victory in the Spell-Off Round
Representing Day Creek Intermediate School, Parikh sealed his victory by accurately spelling “Bromocriptine,” a complex medical term, during the fast-paced tiebreaker. His achievement placed him ahead of 12-year-old Ishaan Gupta, a seventh-grade student from Frank R. Conwell Middle School in Jersey City, New Jersey. Gupta finished as the runner-up after an impressive showing throughout the contest.
Another strong contender, 12-year-old Sarv Dharavane from Peachtree Charter Middle School in Tucker, Georgia, secured third place. As part of the competition awards, Gupta received USD 25,000, while Dharavane was awarded USD 15,000.
New Record Established
Parikh’s performance also surpassed the previous spell-off record established in 2024. Last year’s champion, Bruhat Soma, correctly spelled 29 out of 30 words during the final challenge. By reaching 32 correct spellings, Parikh set a new standard for future contestants.
Speaking after his victory, the champion credited his daily preparation and familiarity with rapid spelling challenges. His success reflected years of dedicated practice and participation in competitive spelling events.
Significant Rewards for the Champion
Winning the prestigious title brought Parikh a collection of awards and honors. In addition to the championship trophy, he received USD 50,000, a commemorative medal, and the renowned Scripps Cup. Additional prizes included USD 2,500 from Merriam-Webster, USD 1,000 in Delta flight credits, and a set of reference materials valued at USD 400 from Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Parikh was already familiar with the national stage. He participated in the competition in 2022, finishing in a tie for 89th place, and returned in 2024 to earn a tie for third place before finally capturing the championship this year.
Competition Drew Participants From Across the World
The three-day event was hosted at D.A.R. Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., and attracted 247 contestants. Participants represented all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Department of Defense schools in Europe, and several international locations including Canada, the Bahamas, Ghana, Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates.
After multiple rounds of increasingly difficult words, only nine students advanced to the final stage. The championship concluded with the spell-off format, where finalists were challenged to spell as many words as possible from the same list within 90 seconds.
Beyond Spelling: A Student of Many Talents
According to information released by the competition organizers, Parikh has a broad range of interests outside spelling. He enjoys mathematics, reading, tennis, and chess. He is also an active member of his school band and plays several percussion instruments, including the snare drum, bass drum, timpani, marimba, glockenspiel, and triangle.
Family and academics remain important parts of his life. During his free time, he enjoys solving math problems and spending time with his siblings. He has traveled internationally and particularly values visits to India, where he spends time with his grandparents.
One of his recent academic accomplishments was qualifying for the California state Mathcounts competition, a notable achievement in mathematics.
Long Tradition of Excellence
Founded in 1925, the Scripps National Spelling Bee evaluates spelling ability, vocabulary knowledge, and language skills through progressively challenging rounds. Contestants must generally be under 15 years of age and enrolled no higher than the eighth grade.
Students of Indian heritage have maintained a strong presence in the competition for decades. The first winner of Indian origin was Balu Natarajan in 1985. Since then, participants from Indian-American families have frequently claimed top honors. This year, five of the nine finalists came from Indian-origin backgrounds, continuing that longstanding tradition of success.