Congratulations to our 2019 Winner and Runner-Up!
After competing in ten rounds with 52 spellers representing 37 Texas counties, Aanvi Manda, a resident of Lufkin and a fourth grader at Brandon Elementary in Lufkin ISD, emerged as the champion of the 2019 Houston Public Media Spelling Bee. Sankalp Gautam, a resident of College Station and a seventh grader at College Station Middle School in College Station ISD, is the runner-up. The two spellers will advance to the 92nd Scripps National Spelling Bee, the nation’s largest and longest-running educational program, in May with an all-expenses-paid trip to Bee Week.
“You never know when something great like this can happen but it starts by trying,” said Aanvi Manda.
This is the first time Aanvi competed at the Houston Public Media Spelling Bee. At nine years old, she was the youngest competitor in the final rounds.
About Our Winners
Aanvi Manda, Champion
4th grade, from Brandon Elementary, Lufkin ISD, representing Angelina, Houston, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine and Shelby counties. (Regional Bee hosted by Kiwanis Club of Lufkin)
Words Spelled in the Bee
- nenuphar
- facial
- opacity
- dereliction
- isentropic
- umbilicate
- acroamatic
- odontotomy
- raclette
Sankalp Gautam, Runner Up
7th grade, from College Station Middle School, College Station ISD, representing Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson and Washington counties. (Regional Bee hosted by Bryan ISD)
Words Spelled in the Bee
- pfeffernuss
- grenade
- unadulterated
- valetudinarian
- osmotic
- vaccinoid
- uletic
Photos from the event
Event Competition
Saturday, March 23, 2019
Baylor College of Medicine Academy at
James D. Ryan Middle School
Streaming | Television
Sunday, March 31, 2019
Streamed here around 2:30 p.m.
Final rounds broadcast on TV 8 @ 5:00 p.m.
The Houston Public Media Spelling Bee is the nation’s largest regional spelling bee with spellers from more than 1,000 schools in 37 Texas counties representing 100,000+ students.
It’s one of the most competitive bees in the country. To claim a spot, spellers must win a school bee plus a school district/regional bee. The top two spellers advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee.