Francis Parker Student Advances in National Spelling Bee

A student from Francis Parker School advanced Wednesday to the semifinals of the 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

, 13, is one of 41 contestants who will participate in Thursday's semifinal round at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. The Rancho Penasquitos resident is the only contestant from California remaining in the competition.

The seventh-grade student correctly spelled “avifauna,” which means “birds from a specified region,” as well as “masala,” which is “a blend of Indian spices and herbs,” during the second and third rounds of the competition Wednesday.

All 275 contestants also took a two-hour, 25-word written test during round one of the competition on Tuesday.

This is the first time that a student from Francis Parker School has participated in the competition. Nandipati won the school’s spelling contest in February, and she won the San Diego County Spelling Bee Championship in March.

This year’s contestants are in third through eighth grades. Participants include students who won locally sponsored spelling bees in all 50 states, along with American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Department of Defense Schools in Europe. The Bahamas, Canada, China, Ghana, Jamaica, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea are also represented in the competition. 

ESPN will televise the semifinal round beginning at 7 a.m. and the championship round at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.

City News Service contributed to this report.