The Scripps National Spelling Bee is celebrating its 100th edition in 2025, and once again, Indian-origin spellers are in the spotlight. They have been on a winning spree for three decades by tossing the most coveted trophy in 29 out of the past 35 grand finales. They have been dominating the competition with exceptional talent, dedication, family blessings, and their parents’ hard work – which has forced the making of several documentaries, including Breaking the Bee, decoding what makes Indian kids unbeatable spellers.
Like previous years, the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee finals has a majority of finalists from Indian Community in America. The art and science of spelling tongue-twisting words is a cherished pursuit in many Indian households across the United States. May their legacy of wins in spelling bee contests continue this year!
Sarv Dharavane, Georgia
Sarv Dharavane, only 11 years old, is making waves as the youngest finalist in the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee. He is a bundle of energy and curiosity. Reading and playing outdoors are his favorite pursuits. Other than being active in soccer and swimming, he has earned a green belt in tae kwon do. From solving Rubik’s Cubes at a lightning speed to building with Lego and dabbling in coding, Sarv is a problem-solving prodigy. A diehard fan of fantasy books and movies, he aspires to be a scientist or mathematician.
Harini Murali, New Jersey
Harini Murali, a talented 8th grader from Edison, New Jersey, is no stranger to the Scripps stage. She had started her journey as a speller from the fourth grade. After tying for 9th place in 2024, she returned with more confidence and ended up among the 9 finalists of Scripps National Spelling Bee 2025. A history buff, Harini is also deeply rooted in the arts. She learns Carnatic music and Indian classical dance, and proudly plays first chair viola in her school’s chamber orchestra. Whether it is academics or arts, Harini brings dedication and grace to everything she does.
Sarvadnya Kadam, California
Sarvadnya Kadam, a curious and thoughtful eighth grader from California, lives up to the meaning of his Sanskrit name, “the one who knows all.” He loves diving deep into ancient history, math, and profound philosophical questions. A big fan of classics like The Iliad and The Odyssey, Sarvadnya previously competed in 2023 (tying for 23rd place) and 2024 (tying for 60th place). This time, he is among the Scripps National Spelling Bee finalists. He is fond of Mumbai’s street food like Pav Bhaji and admires Kautilya Chanayka.
Aishwarya Kallakuri, North Carolina
Aishwarya Kallakuri, a 14 year old from Charlotte, is a determined finalist this year after tying for 22nd place in 2024. She is an avid reader, prolific writer, and a music enthusiast. This eighth grader distributes yoga and philosophy books for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Her profound interest in learning new languages took her on trips to India, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. With dreams of pursuing a career in psychology and neurology, Aishwarya hopes to give back to the spelling community that has shaped her journey.
Faizan Zaki, Texas
Faizan Zaki, a bright 13-year-old from Dallas, Texas, had incredibly finished second in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee finals. He is now eying the most coveted trophy as one of the finalists this year. He made history last year as the first Indian Muslim in 96 years to rank second at the Bee. When he is not playing with words, Faizan is all about fun. Playing video games, chatting with friends, speedcubing, and making music on the viola are his favorite pastimes. Faizan, a language enthusiast, is currently picking up French.
Akshaj Somisetty, Pennsylvania
Akshaj Somisetty, a fun-loving 13 year old from Pennsylvania, is back to the 2025 Scripps Spelling Bee as a finalist after tying for 60th place in 2024. When he is not buys spelling tricky words, Akshaj enjoys biking, swimming, and catching up on sleep. He is a big fan of board games and loves reading fantasy books. He is equally proficient in Telugu and Spanish other than English. He has a sweet tooth for cookies as well as cream ice cream, and binge-eats pizza. New Zealand is his dream destination.
Esha Marupudi, Arizona
Esha Marupudi, a 13-year-old seventh grader from Phoenix, Arizona, nailed the spelling of the word ‘Ektexine’ and made it to the grand finale of Scripps National Spelling Bee 2025. She is more than a spelling whiz. She’s a music lover who enjoys singing and playing the piano. When she’s not hitting the right notes, Esha loves diving into books on biology and history. She also enjoys fun family moments, playing board games like Monopoly and Scrabble with her little sister. She nurtures dreams of becoming a singer-songwriter and making it big in medicine.
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