Veritas Classical Academy’s Aadhya Adhikari advanced through two rounds of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, missing the third-round cutoff and finishing in the top half of the national field last week. That’s quite a feat considering there were 247 spellers in the competition.

Even better than her performance was the experience and confidence she says she is gaining through the national event.

Not yet a sixth grader, Aadhya said “I love being on stage and seeing all those people in the audience cheering me on,” and that she has a new study plan for next year that will focus more on root words and spelling drills.

After placing first and second in this year’s Marietta Times Regional Spelling Bee, Aadhya and her younger brother, Aadhar, explored Washington, D.C., with the rest of their family in what Aadhya described as a “really fun” tour of the monuments and museums where she enjoyed learning a little history, too.

“I feel like more (than) winning, it’s more about being here enjoying the moment,” said Aadhya’s mother, Pushpa Uprety. “Once you put your effort, the winning or making to several rounds, it’s just the outcome of it. So you just have to give your 100% effort without thinking about losing, winning.”

Congratulations to Aadhya, who no doubt gave it her all, on her top-half finish in the national bee. We are looking forward to what she, and the rest of the Mid-Ohio Valley’ best spellers, might accomplish next year.