IBERIA PARISH — All of Louisiana's spellers have now been eliminated from the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Lafayette's Aiden Pham was eliminated in the fourth round by the word "thyristor."
Also representing Louisiana were Hi Tai Lu, a Baton Rouge eighth-grader, who was eliminated in the first round; and Paranika Ethakota, a third-grader from Lake Charles, Nayara de Silva-Ahmed, a New Orleans eighth-grader and Sanil Thorat, a third-grader from Shreveport, all of whom were eliminated this morning in the fourth round like Pham.
All spellers eliminated in the fourth round are tied for 60th place in the Bee, which started with 245 spellers. Thorat was the youngest speller in the Bee, the only eight-year-old competing. He and Ethakota were two of only three third-graders in the competition.
If you want to follow the progress, click here: https://spellingbee.com/round-results/4
Pham, who made his third appearance in the spelling contest, is a student at Scott Middle School.
Here's the script of the story we did on Aiden before he left to compete:
A local middle schooler is punching his ticket to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, for the third year in a row. KATC's Anna Fischer spoke with Scott Middle Schooler Aiden Pham, who hopes to be this year’s w-i-n-n-e-r.
“Cantankerous."
“C-a-n-t-a-n-k-e-r-o-u-s," Pham spelled out (with ease).
Cantankerous. The word that tripped up Phaam back when he was competing in his third grade spelling bee; but this coming week, the soon-to-be-high-schooler will compete on a much bigger stage.
“Still feels surreal," said Pham, "like the first time I ever went to Washington D.C.” Back in March Pham was named Grand Champion of the 2024 Kiwanis Regional Spelling Bee, earning him a spot at this year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee.
“I think it’s about the experience and the journey to get there. Just starting out small then working your way up and learning new words. That feeling when you get the word right and everyone starts clapping for you, that’s one of my favorite parts of the spelling bee.”
To prepare, Pham studies over 3,000 words in a prep book, given to him by the official Scripps National Spelling Bee.
“in addition to luck of the draw ya know, the person that wants it the most is gonna win.”
The 99th Scripps National Spelling Bee airs on Wednesday, May 29 at 8/7c, followed by the live Finals airing on and Thursday, May 30 at 8/7c on ION. For more information, click here.
