Local Spelling Whiz Aims For Prestigious National Title By JOHN C. COTEY
john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com
Bruhat Soma isn’t exactly sure what “pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis” means (it’s a synonym for the disease known as silicosis), but the 45-letter word, the longest in the English language, gives him no trouble when it comes to spelling it, or pronouncing it for that matter. That shouldn’t come as any surprise, considering that Bruhat, a 5th grader at Turner Bartels K-8 School, is something of a world-class word speller. This week, the 10-year-old whiz kid will compete at the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. Bruhat (who will be wearing No. 38 at the competition) will be one of 234 kids vying for the title. The Bee begins May 31; the Semifinals (June 1) and Finals (June 2) will be hosted by former “Roots” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation” star LeVar Burton will air on the Ion TV network at 8 p.m. each night. Bruhat will be one of the youngest competitors, but not the youngest — that honor will go to Matthew G. Yi, a 7-year-old 4th grader from New
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and math bee put on by the North South Foundation (aka North South), which organizes educational contests like spelling, math and geography bees, as well as others. Although he didn’t have time to prepare, Bruhat finished first in the math bee, and sheepishly says he was eighth in spelling. “There was no pressure,” dad Srinivas says. “He liked it. He started to show interest in it.” Srinivas says Bruhat now has even more interest in reading and spelling, devouring everything in sight. He will read just about any piece of paper or book he can get his hands on, and works at least an hour a day on his spelling online at SpellPundit.com. (l.-r.) Turner-Bartels principal LaMarr Buggs and gifted teacher Laurie Gonzalez, with Scripps “I like unusual words,” Bruhat says. National Spelling Bee contestant Bruhat Soma and his father Srinivas. (Photo: Charmaine George) “If I see a word with an unusual spelling, I try to find out more information Being the champ. Orleans. But, Bruhat is already battleabout it.” “I just like competitions. I really tested. Like “cwm” (pronounced “koom”), Last year, he finished second at the want to get that trophy,” Bruhat says, an ancient Celtic instrument similar to his eyes widening and a large grin filling Regional qualifier, stumbling on the a violin. And yes, cwm is in the Official his face. “It’s so big!” word “caryatid” (a sculpted female figScrabble Players Dictionary. The winner also receives $50,000. ure serving as an architectural support “I like eccentric words like that,” Bruhat has only been competing in taking the place of a column), which he Bruhat says. spelling bees for three years. His dad, incorrectly spelled “carotid.” For his end-of-the-year gifted class Srinivas Soma, signed him up when he Ever since, he has had just one project at Turner Bartels, Bruhat cregoal: was in the second grade for a spelling
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