By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 7, 2021 — As the person who introduced the Scripps National Spelling Bee to The Bahamas when I was editor of The Nassau Guardian in 1998, it was extremely good to see Bahamas Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis extending “best wishes” to Bahamas spelling champion Roy Seligman shortly before he left for Orlando, Florida, where the finals will held on Thursday, July 8, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort.
Indeed, it is absolutely wonderful that the entire country is united behind 12-year-old Lyord Cay International School student Seligman, one of the 11 finalists competing for the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee championship, given the toxic nature of the political rivalry currently being waged in The Bahamas among candidates of the two major political parties and an assortment want-to-be Members of the House of Assembly.
The narrative accompanying the photo of Roy with Prime Minister Dr. Minni noted:
“Hearty congratulations and best wishes are extended to 12-year-old Roy Seligman, a student of Lyford Cay International School, for advancing to the finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. As the sole international contestant remaining, and the first Bahamian ever to progress this far into the competition, Roy has already represented our country exceptionally well. We are sincerely proud of you and cheering for your continued success.
“Roy will compete tomorrow, July 8th, as one of 11 elite spellers, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. The competition airs tomorrow at 8pm and will be streamed live on REV cablebahamas channel 205.”
The White House has announced that First Lady Dr Jill Biden will attend the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee finals in Orlando, Florida on July 8.
“Immediately before the Bee’s primetime Finals, Dr Biden will meet with the spellers and their families, and will congratulate them on this tremendous academic achievement,” the White House said on Tuesday.
Dr Biden had previously attended the 2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee finals when it was held in Washington, DC, it said.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation’s largest and longest-running educational programme, having launched in 1925.
After advancing through all of the virtual rounds of the national competition, the 11 spellers who will compete for the championship title during the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals are:
- Roy Seligman, 12, from Nassau, The Bahamas.
- Bhavana Madini, 13, from New York.
- Sreethan Gajula, 14, from Charlotte, North Carolina.
- Ashrita Gandhari, 14, from Leesburg, Virginia.
- Avani Joshi, 13, from Illinois.
- Zaila Avant-garde, 14, from New Orleans.
- Vivinsha Veduru, 10, from Texas.
- Dhroov Bharatia, 12, from Dallas.
- Vihaan Sibal, 12, from Texas.
- Akshainie Kamma, 13, from Texas.
- Chaitra Thummala, 12, from San Francisco.
