Aaaand…it’s a tie!

The Scripps National Spelling Bee doesn’t usually end in a tie. But it did last year. Then on May 28th in Oxen Hill, Maryland, it happened again!

Vanya Shivashankar and Gokul Venkatachalam faced each other for 10 rounds. Finally, Vanya spelled “scherenschnitte” perfectly. That means the art of cutting paper into decorative designs. Next, Ghokul spelled “nunatak.” That means a hill or mountain surrounded by ice. Have you ever heard those words?

Officials at nine newspapers got together in 1925. They started the National Spelling Bee. Since then, 48 girls and 45 boys have won the bee. Language is a gift from God. You can learn and learn and learn words. But there will always be more. You can explore them—and spell them—forever!