National Spelling Bee: Nashua Student Makes Finals

NASHUA, NH — Nashua student Arushi Kalpande is representing New Hampshire in today's National Spelling Bee finals.

Kalpande, 14, is one of 45 finalists for today's finals. The championship round will be televised on ESPN tonight at 8 p.m.

Kalpande is speller No. 142. On Wednesday, she correctly spelled the word ferruginous—an adjective meaning "containing rust."

Kalpande cracked the top 50 the last two years, coming in 22nd place last year.

This year’s winner will earn a $40,000 cash prize.

Kalpande said she wants to be a physicist when she grows up. She’s fluent in Marathi, English, and Hindi and plays violin. Her favorite subject is science.

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Photo credit: Mark Bowen/Scripps National Spelling Bee