Bruhat Soma, a 12-year-old from Tampa, Florida, emerged victorious in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee, claiming the coveted Scripps trophy and a check for USD 50,000.
That year, Nupur Lala won the Scripps National Spelling Bee, inspiring a generation of spellers with her victory featured in the documentary “Spellbound.”AdvertisementBruhat stands on stage with his family after the win.
AdvertisementBruhat Soma spells his final word during the semifinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
(AP photo) Bruhat Soma spells his final word during the semifinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
That’s why I practiced the spell-off so much.”The rise of Indian-Americans in the Scripps National Spelling Bee over the past two decades is noteworthy, with the community making up about 1.3% of the US population but dominating the competition.
Bruhat Soma, a 12-year-old from Tampa, Florida, emerged victorious in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee, claiming the coveted Scripps trophy and a check for USD 50,000. In a gripping tiebreaker round, Bruhat spelled 29 words correctly out of 30 in 90 seconds, surpassing his closest competitor, Faizan Zaki from Texas, who managed nine words.
This year’s competition featured 228 contestants, culminating in a thrilling final showdown among seven finalists on Thursday night. Bruhat’s triumph marks him as the 28th Indian-American to win the prestigious title. This year’s win was Bruhat’s third attempt at the national level.
Bruhat’s father, Srinivas Soma, hails from Nalgonda in Telangana, a region well-represented among the ranks of Indian-American champions and contenders since 1999. That year, Nupur Lala won the Scripps National Spelling Bee, inspiring a generation of spellers with her victory featured in the documentary “Spellbound.”
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Bruhat stands on stage with his family after the win. (AP photo) Bruhat stands on stage with his family after the win. (AP photo)
Now a neuro-oncologist, Lala returned to the bee this year for the first time in a decade, adding a touch of nostalgia and inspiration to the event.
Beyond his spelling prowess, Bruhat is a multi-talented individual who excels in various areas of interest. He enjoys playing and watching basketball, with LeBron James being his favorite player. His other hobbies include playing badminton, ping-pong, and the snare drum in his middle school band.
A voracious reader, Bruhat also has an exceptional memory, having memorized 80% of the Bhagavad Gita, a feat shared by his proud mother.
Bruhat’s winning word, “abseil,” which means “a descent in mountaineering by means of a rope looped over a projection above,” clinched his victory.
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Bruhat Soma spells his final word during the semifinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. (AP photo) Bruhat Soma spells his final word during the semifinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. (AP photo)
Reflecting on his preparation, Bruhat revealed that he practiced the spell-off every day for six months. “I was pretty confident that I had a chance at winning because I’ve been working so hard,” he said. “And I really wanted to win. That’s why I practiced the spell-off so much.”
The rise of Indian-Americans in the Scripps National Spelling Bee over the past two decades is noteworthy, with the community making up about 1.3% of the US population but dominating the competition. This year, the majority of the participants were of Indian descent, underscoring the cultural and intellectual contributions of the Indian-American community.
