Indian American Spellers Standout as The Scripps National Spelling Bee Celebrates its Centennial

On June 17, 1925, eleven-year-old Frank Neuhauser stood before a modest audience and spelled out seven letters that would launch one of America’s most enduring educational traditions: “G-L-A-D-I-O-L-U-S.” The Louisville, Kentucky student had bested more than two million schoolchildren to become the first National Spelling Bee champion, earning $500 for his victory—equivalent to about $9,200 today, according to The New York Times.

One hundred years later, as the Scripps National Spelling Bee celebrates its centennial, that humble beginning seems almost quaint. Thursday night’s champion will take home $50,000, compete before a televised audience of millions, and join an exclusive club that has become increasingly dominated by one particular community: Indian Americans.

Breaking Barriers From the Start

The spelling bee’s early decades were marked by groundbreaking moments that reflected America’s evolving social landscape. In 1926, Pauline Bell became the first female champion, correctly spelling “cerise” to claim an increased prize of $1,000. But perhaps no early moment was more significant than MacNolia Cox’s participation in 1936.

The thirteen-year-old from Akron, Ohio, became the first Black contestant to reach the final round, though her journey to Washington, D.C., was marked by the harsh realities of Jim Crow-era discrimination. Cox and her mother were forced to sit in the back of the train and faced other segregationist policies upon arrival, according to The New York Times. Her story later inspired the 2023 children’s picture book “How Do You Spell Unfair? MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee.”

The competition faced its first major disruption during World War II, with organizers canceling three consecutive contests from 1943 to 1945. When the bee returned in 1946, it marked another milestone: the first televised spelling bee in history.

The Marathon Years

The 1957 competition lasted almost 10 hours, becoming the longest in history, according to The New York Times. Dana Bennett of Colorado and Sandra Owen of Ohio were ultimately named co-champions after exhausting the official word list—a scenario that would inspire rule changes decades later.

Two years later, Gerardo Aguirre of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, became the first non-U.S. citizen to participate, beginning the bee’s transformation into an international competition, The New York Times reported.

The 1960s brought continued challenges around civil rights. In 1962, the NAACP issued a memo highlighting how a Virginia school district barred Black students from local contests, preventing them from qualifying for nationals. The Lynchburg News had adopted a “whites-only” policy despite the national contest always being integrated.

The decade also saw the bee continue through national tragedy. When Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated on June 6, 1968—the first day of that year’s competition—some planned activities were canceled or modified, but the bee proceeded as scheduled.

The Dawn of a Dynasty

The 1985 competition marked a turning point that would reshape the spelling bee’s identity for generations. Balu Natarajan of Chicago became the first Indian American champion after correctly spelling “milieu,” launching what would become one of the most remarkable phenomena in competitive academics, according to Scripps National Spelling Bee records.

Since Natarajan’s victory, nearly thirty Indian Americans have claimed the spelling bee crown, creating what organizers and observers describe as an unprecedented dynasty. The community’s dominance became so pronounced that it inspired the 2020 Netflix documentary “Spelling the Dream,” exploring the cultural and educational factors behind this success.

The reasons for Indian American success in spelling are multifaceted. Many families emphasize rigorous academic preparation, often incorporating etymology and word roots from Sanskrit and other languages familiar to the community. The spelling bee has become embedded in Indian American culture, with local competitions, coaching networks, and family traditions built around the pursuit of spelling excellence.

Modern Champions and New Rules

The 1990s brought new diversity to the competition. Rebecca Sealfon became the first home-schooled champion in 1997, winning with “euonym.” Reflecting on her victory recently, Sealfon noted how preparation has evolved: “The web was kind of in its infancy. Most of my preparation came from mail-ordered study materials,” a stark contrast to today’s internet-driven study methods.

In 1998, Jody-Anne Maxwell of Kingston, Jamaica, became the first Black champion with her correct spelling of “chiaroscurist,” highlighting the bee’s international reach.

The 2000s saw the competition gain broader cultural recognition. The 2002 documentary “Spellbound,” following competitors in the 1999 championship, earned an Academy Award nomination, bringing spelling bee drama to mainstream audiences.

In 2003, former champion Jacques Bailly joined as head pronouncer, the same role he continues today. Bailly had won the 1980 bee with “elucubrate,” bringing the perspective of a champion to his pronunciation duties.

The Octochamps and Rule Changes

Perhaps no single year better demonstrates the evolution of spelling bee competition than 2019, when eight spellers tied for the championship (photo below). The “octochamps”—Rishik Gandhasri, Erin Howard, Abhijay Kodali, Shruthika Padhy, Rohan Raja, Christopher Serrao, Sohum Sukhatankar, and Saketh Sundar—correctly spelled words ranging from “auslaut” to “bougainvillea.”

“They were so incredibly prepared for that moment and really showed the height of excellence in this competition,” said Corrie Loeffler, the bee’s executive director and herself a former competitor. The unprecedented tie led to the creation of a new “spell-off” rule to prevent extensive overtime situations.

The spell-off was first used in 2022, when Harini Logan of San Antonio won after correctly spelling 22 words from a list of 30, demonstrating the rapid-fire format’s intensity.

Overcoming Modern Challenges

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the first cancellation since World War II in 2020, but the bee adapted. The 2021 competition, held in Orlando due to restrictions at the usual Maryland venue, crowned Zaila Avant-garde of New Orleans as the first Black American champion. Her winning word was “Murraya.”

As the bee celebrates its centennial, the changes since Frank Neuhauser’s gladiolus moment are striking. Today’s competition attracts spellers from around the world, features live television coverage, and has become a cultural phenomenon studied by academics and filmmakers alike.

“We have 42 of our past champions, which is over half of our living champions, who are coming back this year,” Loeffler noted. “We’ve never seen an assemblage of past champions like this.”

The centennial celebration includes an archival exhibit, a coffee-table book, and a special website commemorating each contest—fitting tributes to a competition that has evolved from a local newspaper promotion to a global showcase of academic excellence.

From Frank’s backyard gladiolus to modern spell-offs, from breaking racial barriers to the rise of Indian American dominance, the National Spelling Bee’s first century reflects not just the evolution of competitive spelling, but the changing face of American education and culture itself. As Thursday night’s champion takes the stage, they’ll join a century-long tradition of young scholars who proved that sometimes, getting every letter right can change everything.