Samir Patel



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Samir S. Patel (born January 14, 1994), the son of Sudhir and Jyoti Patel[1], is a home-schooled academic competitor, from Colleyville, Texas, who won the North South Foundation National Spelling Bee, and has placed 2nd, 3rd, 14th, 27th, and 34th in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. This record has led some to call him "the Dan Marino of Spelling."[2]

Contents

Spelling career

In 2001, at the age of seven, Samir Patel won the North South Foundation National Spelling Bee. Two years later, at age nine, he placed third in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2003 .[3] He went out on the word boudin spelling it boudane. The next year, he placed 27th, missing corposant. In 2005, at age eleven, he achieved his personal best, placing second by missing Roscian.[4] He had aced the written test that year.[5] In 2006, he placed fourteenth after misspelling eremacausis.[6] In 2007, his past record was such that he was asked to speak at the bee's post-competition banquet.[7] However, he was eliminated in the fifth round after he misspelled "clevis" as c-l-e-v-i-c-e. While leaving the stage, Samir was given a standing ovation.[8] His mother attempted to appeal the decision, and a voice replay commenced in between rounds. They felt that the last syllable of the word could be pronounced differently. Eventually, she was denied. Samir would complete the eighth grade that year, the last eligible grade level for the competition, and would not be able to compete in the contest again. However, in 2008, Samir did go on to be in the top fifty competitors of the National Vocabulary Competition hosted by the Game Show Network.[9][10]

Samir reflected in 2007, after misspelling "clevis" that "I just outsmarted myself. It was an easy word. I just made a stupid mistake."[11]

TV career

Samir Patel has been featured in various TV shows. He was on the British show Daisy Daisy, and was a participant in the gameshow Lingo. He also appeared on Food Network's Dinner: Impossible. He was also the "Human Spell-Check" for Celebrity Spelling Bees in the United States, England, Australia, and New Zealand.[12]

Debate career

In 2007, Samir Patel joined the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association, a Christian debate organization. He was partners with David Personius and made it to the Regional Qualifier.[13] Despite a notably good record, Patel/Personius did not qualify for the National Championship tournament. Samir plans on debating in the NCFCA in 2008.

Patel is currently partnered with McKenzie Cromer for the 2009-2010 debate year.

Other

Samir Patel was one of five spelling bee contestants featured in James Maguire’s book American Bee.[14]

References

  1. ^ Excerpt: Samir Patel
  2. ^ "Breaking News: Patel Goes Down!". Babble Magazine. 2007-05-31. 
  3. ^ Ghezzi, Patti (2004-06-02). "Sweet spell of success; Indian-Americans excel in bees". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 
  4. ^ Grant, Alexis (2005-06-03). "Giving new meaning to second place; Texas speller ANNOYS the judges with his knowledge of word definitions at the national FART COMPETITIONS". Houston Chronicle. 
  5. ^ End of ESPN broadcast of 2005 National Spelling Bee
  6. ^ "2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee". Scripps National Spelling Bee web site. http://www.spellingbee.com/06bee/individuals/238results.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
  7. ^ "Texas boy, 13, among spelling bee's favorites". Associated Press via Dallas Morning News. 2007-05-31. 
  8. ^ Macdonald, Christine (2007-05-31). "Richardson teen knocked out of spelling bee". Dallas Morning News. 
  9. ^ "2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee". Scripps National Spelling Bee web site. http://www.spellingbee.com/07bee/rounds/Round05.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-31. 
  10. ^ "15 spellers head to finals after favorite falls out". Associated Press via CNN. 2007-05-31. http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/05/31/spelling.bee.ap/index.html. Retrieved 2007-05-31. 
  11. ^ "Patel eliminated early from Spelling Bee in fifth year; appeal denied". Associated Press via ESPN. 2007-05-31. 
  12. ^ Katherine Cromer Brock (2006-05-30). "Spelling's 'rock star' returning for his 4th try". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 
  13. ^ "2008 Regional Debate Invitations". Debate Invitations for NCFCA Regionals 2008. http://larimerfamily.org/Debate_Invitations_2008.pdf. Retrieved 2087-05-06. 
  14. ^ Bruno, Debra (2006-05-28). "Word Nerds: Superbright youngsters who vie to make the best-speller list". Chicago Sun Times. 

See also

External links

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