Kavya Shivashankar, 13, of Olathe (pop. 92,962), spelled her way to the top of the 2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee by correctly spelling “laodicean,” meaning lukewarm or indifferent in religion or politics. Kavya, who hopes to become a neurosurgeon, won $40,000 in cash and prizes, plus a trophy.
National Spelling Bee
By American Profile on August 23, 2009
