Sweat coats the palms of then eighth grader Arnav Kolluru as he stands on the stage, the bright lights above nearly blinding him as a sea of parents and spectators watch him from below, while many more at home are watching him on television. He waits for the judges in front of him to ring the bell that makes the relieving “Ding” sound after he finishes spelling “deglutition”. 

Only the top spellers in the nation from kindergarten to eighth grade qualify for the National Scripps Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. Even qualifying once is an amazing feat, but Kolluru has competed in the bee three times.

“It’s a privilege to be on the national stage. I would have mixed emotions, especially anxiety and nervousness, but as it went on, I felt more confident on stage. Before my turn, I would pray for a word I could spell,” Kolluru said. 

Kolluru also competed in various History Bees and exams, winning the U.S. History Bee nationals for the sixth-grade division in December 2020. 

“With the History Bee, I had to be attentive and quick in pressing the buzzer before my fellow competitors,” Kolluru said. 

Kolluru has been studying for the spelling and history bees since elementary school, using websites and study books as well as practicing with his family. In fact, it was his grandfather who encouraged him to compete in history bees.

“My grandpa worked in the Navy, so I grew up listening to stories from wars of the past, which inspired me to learn more about history,” Kolluru said.

Attending the National Spelling Bee is a rare and memorable experience for all competitors, and Kolluru has his share of special memories. 

“I enjoyed visiting museums in D.C. and the Historic Gaylord Resort, where the National Spelling Bee is held,” Kolluru said, “but my favorite memory is meeting Dr. Bailly, the pronouncer for the Bee.” 

Studying words and historical events hasn’t only helped for spelling and history bees, it has also helped him in school and his community.

“I’ve gained confidence in my knowledge, and I improved my performance in other subjects such as writing and music,” Kolluru said. “I’ve also received recognition in local newspapers.”

Since Kolluru is now in ninth grade, he can no longer compete in the spelling bee. However, once he adjusts to being at Liberty, Kolluru hopes to start a club here to compete in JV and Varsity History Bowls to interest more students in history. 

“Learning history is a great thing for everyone because it helps us not only better understand cultures different from our own but also our world as a whole,” Kolluru said.