KALAMAZOO, Mich. — This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, and excitement is building as local competitors gear up for the event. Among them is 11-year-old Josiah Loehrke from Kalamazoo, who is hoping to come home a winner.
While Josiah’s piano skills may make him appear to be a burgeoning musical prodigy, his true talent lies in spelling. “My winning word was equivalent—E, Q, U, I, V, A, L, E, N, T,” Josiah explained.
His mastery of a list of 1,000 spelling words has secured him a spot at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
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