Who Is Harini Logan? Indian-Origin Girl Wins Scripps National Spelling Bee 2022

San Francisco Texas native, Harini Logan, 14, won the first-ever spell-off at the 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Competing with Vikram Raju, 12, in the spell-off, she aced the test on how many words she could correctly spell in 90 seconds. 

CNN reported that Harini spelt 21 out of 26 words correctly and Vikram spelt 15 out of 19 words right. Holding the trophy, Harini said on stage, “I think honestly so surreal, it’s my fourth time at the Bee. This is such a dream, this is my fourth bee and I’m just so overwhelmed. 

Finding the spell-off uneasy at first, Harini decided to take it in her stride. “I just had to take a deep breath and tell myself to go out there and do my best and whatever happens, happens,” she said.

Who Is Harini Logan?

Harini’s final winning word was ‘moorhen,’ which means a marsh hen. She drew inspiration from Kamala Harris, the first India-born US Vice President and became the fifth Scripps champion coached by a former speller and Texan student, Grace Walters. She bagged a cash prize of $50,000 along with the Scripps Cup, a Merriam Webster and Encyclopedia Britannica awards.

Featuring elementary and middle school-goers, the Spelling Bee makes students spell words that would cause even most adults to stumble and get them all wrong. The Covid-19 pandemic cancelled the competition in 2020 in what reports say is a significant shake-up for something which is advertised as the nation’s largest and longest-running educational programme, which was launched in 1925.

Although the Bee had returned last year, it had a few changes made, featuring three rounds digitally rather than in person with 209 contestants in 2019. The finals, however, were then held in person at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex, Florida. It did not take place in the National Harbour in Maryland - the place which typically held the event.

With the preliminary rounds beginning on Tuesday, the quarter-finalists and semi-finalists competed against each other on Wednesday. LeVa Burton, the Emmy and Grammy award-winner hosted the semifinal and the final rounds.

Burton called the position a matter of honour, in his statement made in December. He said, “Like a lot of folks, I look forward to the competition every year and am excited to be a part of this wonderful tradition which celebrates excellence.”

Suggested Reading: Winners of the Digital Women Awards 2021

Spelling more words before 200 other competitors at the national level, including 12 other finalists was left with Vikram in the final round. Both Harini and Vikram had dominated every round, as per the New York Times. Last year's winner, Zalia Avant-Garde commented on the toughness and esotericism of the competition saying, "The fact that Harini and Vikram are misspelling these words is a testament to how tough these words are." She further added, "Harini and Vikram are the absolute best of the best."

Zalia, 15, had made history as the first Black American to have triumphed in the National Spelling Bee. Harini reportedly seemed unstoppable and confident in spelling words like "charadriiform" and "tauromachian" - words which reflect the difficulty of the competition.

Feature Image Credit: Star Tribune.