Glen Landing Eighth-Grader Represents NJ at Scripps National Bee

On stage she’s known as Speller No. 147, but at home Nandi Cook-Creek is known as an eighth-grade spelling phenom who will represent her home state, and Glen Landing Middle School, at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

After winning Camden County’s regional bee, Nandi, 13, set course for Washington, DC, with her father Aaron Cook to compete on the national stage. Despite being knocked out of the competition during Wednesday’s preliminary, Nandi was asked to represent New Jersey on stage during the semifinals and championship finals on Thursday evening.

On Wednesday, she went two rounds without spelling any of her words incorrectly, but failed to make it into the top 41 after Tuesday’s preliminary exam, which included spelling as well as the new vocabulary portions of the competition. The new vocabulary rule, which has made national headlines for several weeks, was not a challenge for the Blackwood spelling star.

“At first, when I was studying up to the competition, it sort of jostled my routine a little,” Nandi said. “But after I took the preliminary test, it turns out that I did better on the vocab test than the spelling.”

She may not be taking home the national title, but the encouragement from friends and family proved a prize all its own.

“Everyone was really supportive when I left on Friday. My principal made an announcement in the morning and when I was walking to my locker, everyone was chanting and cheering for me,” she said.

“Words can’t express how proud I am. It’s absolutely enthralling to see your kid participate in an academic activity of this level,” said Nandi’s father Aaron Cook. “The preparation that goes into it is very intense. There’s no short cut to being a proficient speller. It all goes back to reading.”

A joy for reading, an uncanny ability to remember minute details and natural talent are what Nandi says made her the competitive speller that she is today.

“I really like reading books and I think some of it is natural,” she said. “I pick up things fast and I retain knowledge pretty well, especially random facts. It’s a lot of work but it’s really gratifying.”

The road to the national title is indeed a long one, even for the most attuned speller, but Nandi’s success was hardly a surprise to the staff at Glen Landing Middle School.

“For the past three years, we’ve sent a student to Washington, DC,” said Maura McGarvey, language arts department leader at Glen Landing. “We’ve gotten accustomed to winning the county spelling bee.”

McGarvey is one of the staff members who has watched Nandi’s climb to the national stage and knew that she would likely be the one to represent Blackwood in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

“As soon as she took first place in the county bee we knew she would be in the regional,” said McGarvey. “We had our eyes on her from the beginning.”

Since the start of the competition earlier this week, Nandi has been in contact with McGarvey to update her on all that was happening in Washington. According to McGarvey, Nandi remained positive throughout the competition.

“Nandi has been texting me from DC and updating me after each of the rounds,” said McGarvey. “Even though she didn’t make it, she’s still proud of where she is.”

Nandi will represent NJ on stage throughout the remainder of the competition and can be seen on ESPN2 during the day and ESPN Thursday evening at 8 p.m.