USA
Dev, a 14-year-old speller from Largo, Florida, representing the SNSB Region One Bee, correctly spelled “psammophile” to win the Bee. The 14-year-old won the $50,000 prize at the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Shah’s passion for spelling bees commenced during his second-grade years, and by the time he reached fifth grade, he had committed himself wholeheartedly to the pursuit. Alongside his dedication to spelling, Shah is an avid reader, a problem solver in mathematics, a talented tennis player, a skilled cellist, and cherishes spending quality time with friends. Having previously participated in the Spelling Bee in 2019 and 2021, Shah achieved 51st place and 76th place, respectively. This year, his remarkable journey culminated in victory as he accurately spelled the final word, “psammophile,” denoting an organism that thrives in sandy environments.
The top finalist were majority Indian Americans.
