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Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'What are meliponine, burgall' : The two words that made Sarvadnya Kadam, Sarv Dharavane lose 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee title
Two promising Indian-American spellers — Sarvadnya Kadam from Bossier City, Louisiana, and Sarv Dharavane from Austin, Texas — saw their dreams of clinching the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee title slip away after stumbling on one word each in the high-stakes final rounds of the competition. Kadam faltered on ' meliponine ,' relating to a type of stingless bee, while Dharavane was undone by ' burgall ,' a name for a small North American fish. Their exits briefly opened the door for Faizan Zaki, who had advanced to the 18th round with a chance to win it all. But Zaki's path to triumph nearly crumbled when he misspelled ' commelina ,' a genus of flowering plants, starting it hastily with a 'k.' Judge Mary Brooks rang the bell almost immediately, noting Zaki had skipped his usual process of asking questions before spelling. In a rare twist, the premature elimination of all three top contenders in the same round led to a reinstatement of both Kadam and Dharavane. The final stretch of the Bee saw an intense display of resilience and poise. Zaki, Kadam, Dharavane, Harini Murali, Brian Liu, and Aishwarya Kallakuri delivered round after round of perfect spelling, with a remarkable streak of 23 consecutive correct words before the field began to thin again under mounting pressure. Zaki, known for his composed stage presence—hands tucked in his Aeropostale hoodie pockets, long dark hair falling between his glasses and eyes, and rhythmic gestures while spelling—eventually outlasted his peers to win the championship. Zaki's victory was particularly special—it was his fourth appearance (2019, 2023, 2024, 2025) and he became only the fifth speller ever to win the Bee the year after finishing second, a feat last accomplished in 2001. With this title, he becomes the 110th champion in the Bee's storied history. Next year, the finals will return to Washington D.C., moving to Constitution Hall after more than a decade in Maryland. While Sarvadnya Kadam and Sarv Dharavane fell short of the trophy, their poise, linguistic mastery, and grit earned them admiration across the nation. In a contest that celebrates precision, pressure, and perseverance, these young spellers proved they're already champions in their own right.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Scripps National Spelling Bee 2025: Indian-Americans Sarvadnya Kadam, Sarv Dharavane runner-ups as Faizan Zaki takes lead: All you need to know
In a heart-stopping finish to the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee, 13-year-old Faizan Zaki from Dallas, Texas, emerged victorious, spelling 'Chaldee' correctly in the 20th round to secure the championship. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now However, the drama wasn't over yet — Zaki was required by the judges to spell one more word flawlessly before being officially crowned champion, a challenge he met with confidence and without any assistance. Zaki's win was a story of redemption. Last year, he narrowly lost in the spell-off to Bruhat Soma after rushing his final word and stumbling on the homonym of 'commelina.' This time, determined to avoid a repeat, he made sure the contest didn't go to a spell-off. 'I'm really happy,' Zaki said after his triumph. The competition, held over three intense days outside Washington DC, featured some of the country's best young spellers. Zaki's steady composure was visible as he kept his hands tucked into the pockets of his black Aeropostale hoodie, his long dark hair falling between his eyeglasses. His trademark hand gesture — a back-and-forth motion with each letter — reappeared as he confidently asked the necessary questions and spelled each word correctly. Runner-up Sarvadnya Kadam and third-place finisher Sarv Dharavane, the youngest finalist at 11 years old and a fifth grader, impressed the crowd with their skill and poise. Dharavane, known for his relaxed demeanor, greeted the microphone with a casual 'wassup' and confidently spelled his words, even uttering 'here goes nothing' before a successful attempt. Dramatic twists in the final rounds The competition's tension peaked in the 18th round, when Zaki had a chance to clinch the title after Kadam and Dharavane misspelled their words. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now However, Zaki's excitement got the better of him, and he began spelling before fully completing his thought process, prompting judge Mary Brooks to ring the bell, invalidating his attempt. This unexpected turn allowed Kadam and Dharavane back into the contest, prolonging the battle for the championship. Throughout the finals, the field showed incredible depth and precision. At one point, the finalists spelled 23 words consecutively without a single mistake. The pressure finally cracked for some contenders: Harini Mulari missed the last letter of 'tekke,' Brian Liu stumbled on 'kyah,' and Aishwarya Kallakuri faltered on 'Keighley,' a town in northern England. By the final rounds, only Zaki, Kadam, and Dharavane remained standing, facing off in a test of nerves and vocabulary mastery. The six finalists demonstrated remarkable skill, delivering multiple perfect rounds even as the difficulty level escalated. Meet the finalists The 'Still-Standing Six' demonstrated incredible endurance. They included: Faizan Zaki (13) – Dallas, Texas, competing in his fourth Bee, and the only returning finalist from 2024. – Dallas, Texas, competing in his fourth Bee, and the only returning finalist from 2024. Sarvadnya Kadam (14) – Visalia, California, in his third and final year of eligibility. – Visalia, California, in his third and final year of eligibility. Sarv Dharavane (11) – Tucker , Georgia, the youngest finalist and a fifth grader. – , Georgia, the youngest finalist and a fifth grader. Harini Murali (13) – Edison, New Jersey, competing for the fourth time. – Edison, New Jersey, competing for the fourth time. Brian Liu (13) – Great Neck, New York, in his final year of eligibility. – Great Neck, New York, in his final year of eligibility. Aishwarya Kallakuri (14) – Charlotte, North Carolina, also competing in her final year. Other notable finalists included Esha Marupudi, Oliver Halkett, and Akshaj Somisetty, with Somisetty being the first eliminated in the finals after missing a vocabulary question on the word 'imbroglio.' The historic backdrop The 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee marked the 100th anniversary of the competition, which began in 1925 as a collaboration among newspapers to identify America's best young spellers. While it is the 97th edition due to cancellations during World War II and the 2020 pandemic, the Bee continues to be a celebrated tradition. The contest has evolved over the years, including the addition of the 'spell-off' in response to the historic eight-way tie in 2019, designed to prevent ties by testing speed and accuracy in rapid-fire spelling rounds. Prize package and legacy Winning the Bee comes with more than just the glory. Zaki will receive: $50,000 in prize money The prestigious Scripps Cup trophy $2,500 and a reference library courtesy of Merriam-Webster $400 worth of Encyclopædia Britannica reference works $1,000 in Scholastic Dollars to donate to a school of his choice All finalists receive $2,000, with tiered prizes awarded down to sixth place. Competition scale and reach This year's Bee Week began with 243 spellers representing every U.S. state and territory, as well as international participants from Canada, the Bahamas, Germany, Ghana, Kuwait, and Nigeria. The youngest contestant was eight-year-old Zachary Teoh from Texas, while about 30% of participants were 14 years old, nearing the age limit. Scripps estimates that between 10 and 11 million children participate in local and regional Bees each year, making it a truly nationwide educational event. The finals experience The final rounds were broadcast live on Scripps-owned networks including ION, Bounce, Grit, and streamed on multiple platforms. The finals began with an enthusiastic 'Bear Down!' from semifinalist Yahya Ali Mohammed, setting a spirited tone. After the finals, Scripps announced that starting in 2026, the Bee would move from the Gaylord National Convention Center in Maryland back to Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., the site of many early competitions. Looking ahead Faizan Zaki's victory puts him in elite company as only the fifth speller ever to win the Bee the year after finishing second — a feat last accomplished in 2001. His steady nerves, methodical approach, and clear love for the competition suggest he will be remembered among the great champions of this historic event.
Indianapolis Star
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
'It turned heads at first:' She's a 500 Festival princess. She's also an Eagle Scout
INDIANAPOLIS -- Nat Restivo says she was "very much a tomboy growing up" with an older brother and an older sister and plenty of hand-me-down clothes to choose from. "But of all the clothes that I got passed down to me, I always opted for basketball shorts and a T-shirt," said Restivo, "instead of her Aeropostale jeans." By the time she was 10, Restivo was tagging along with her brother's Boy Scout troop. She went hiking and camping, roughing it up with the boys. Then one day as an unofficial Boy Scout, Restivo was at a troop service day setting up seating for the 500 Festival Parade downtown. That's when a princess waved at her. "I didn't really know what it was. I saw 33 women wearing tiaras and I thought, 'Oh, that's so cool,'" said Restivo. "One of them waved at me. (I thought) they must be famous." But that 10-year-old Restivo didn't turn into a princess right then. Instead, she went on to become a founding member of one of the first female troops in Scouting America, formally the Boy Scouts of America. And she went on to become a female Eagle Scout. Restivo knows how to tie seven distinct knots, the square knot, two half-hitches, taut-line hitch, sheet bend, bowline, clove hitch and timber hitch. She has 21 merit badges earned in categories such as emergency preparedness and medicine. She worked hundreds of community service hours. And she renovated an entire playground for her final act of service. Then last year, that 500 Festival Princess idea reappeared when Restivo was a sophomore at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville. Restivo applied and landed a spot in the ring with 32 other princesses. "It turned heads at first," said Restivo, 20, who is a nursing major with minors in medical humanities and social work. "I don't look like a traditional Scout. People are surprised that I am an Eagle Scout and then I'm also a 500 Festival princess." Restivo grew up in Plainfield in a family that focused on service. Restivo's mom, Melanie, was always heavily involved in the community. And her grandparents were involved with the local church and Meals on Wheels. "So my mom, whenever there was a service opportunity, she packed all three kids up," said Restivo. "And we were at it." Scouting was a big part of the family's life. Restivo's brother, Dominic, gave his little sister the scouting bug and let her tag along. "I was just young enough to be able to go to all the trips but not old enough to be able to stay back on my own," Restivo said. "So I'd go to all the campouts with them. I remember I was so young that I was like learning almost everything on these camp outs. I learned how to tie my shoes on a camp out." She soon earned the troop nickname of their Boy Scout buddy. And it was Restivo's brother who first alerted the family that the rules had changed. Girls were officially allowed to join all Boy Scouts of America programs in 2019. "And my mom said, 'Are you interested in this?'" Restivo said. "I was kind of hesitant at first. I was in middle school, and I was kind of shy. I didn't know if I wanted to join. I didn't know if my friends would follow me in joining. But I've been so grateful that my mom kind of pushed me and she was like, 'This is going to benefit you. Let's try it out.'" On Feb. 1, 2019, the first day a female troop could be chartered, Melanie was at the office at 8 a.m. And the Plainfield Troop 308G was born, made up of five girls, including Restivo. It was one of the first female troops created in Indiana. Restivo went on to earn the rank of Eagle Scout in 2022, joined the Order of the Arrow, served as a camp counselor at Ransburg Scout Reservation and earned Firecrafter. "Being a scout, I'm not sure honestly, where I would be without it, because it did teach me so much leadership," said Restivo. "It taught me resilience and also taught me all these morals and values that I still carry with me." It also gave Restivo the confidence to apply to be a 500 Festival princess. After seeing a college friend serving as a princess, Restivo started researching the program. "That's when I learned it's more about community service and education than it is a pageant," she said. "And that was eye opening to me." Her friend encouraged her to apply. "And it was majorly outside my comfort zone. I'm one that I like to do things in the background. I'm kind of in the background of leadership," she said. "But I'm so glad I was able to step outside my comfort zone because I never would have met these 32 other amazing women and then everybody I've met through my outreach." Some of those people, including the princesses, were surprised to find out Restivo is an Eagle Scout. "It turned heads at first. And I think it's nice to turn heads sometimes," she said. "It's bringing awareness to this program and to scouting." And it's nostalgic for Restivo, thinking back on how her journey began as an "unofficial boy scout" with that princess waving at her all those years ago. "She made me feel seen in a sea of thousands," Restivo said. "That moment stuck with me. Now, I get to be that person for someone else."
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aeropostale shuts down at Wichita Falls' Sikes Senter mall
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — Another store in the Sikes Senter Mall has closed its doors. Aeropostale is now permanently closed. According to the casual young-adult wear's website there is no longer a store location in or around Wichita Falls. While Aeropostale isn't closing nationwide the retailer filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2016 closing 113 U.S. stores and 41 Canadian stores that year. There are still over 500 Aeropostale locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. KFDX contacted the recently shuttered store for more information but we have not heard back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Yahoo
Leesburg police arrest Pennsylvania man for burglarizing Aeropostale store
LEESBURG, Va. () — Leesburg police arrested a man for burglarizing an Aeropostale store last year. The Leesburg Police Department (LPD) said a man from Pennsylvania was arrested for his involvement in the burglary, which happened in November 2024. On Nov. 23, 2024, at around 5:10 a.m., officers responded to the store, located at 241 Fort Evans Road NE, for reports of a burglary. There, officers found out that the burglar had forced his way in and took about $6,500 in merchandise. Nearly 70,000 Ambien pills wrapped in yarn found at Dulles Airport, authorities say The burglar had also damaged a bench valued at $2,276, which the outlet mall owned, LPD said. While investigating, LPD identified Timothy E. Root, 58, of Philadelphia, Pa., as a person of interest. He was arrested in Pennsylvania where he will be extradited to Virginia to face charges which include felony burglary, grand larceny, possession of burglarious tools and destruction of property. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
