Legislator Hahn Congratulates National Spelling Bee Competitor Sahil Sangwan

Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn today congratulates Sahil Sangwan, an East Setauket eighth-grader who recently competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor, Maryland.

Sangwan, a student at Paul J. Gelinas Junior High, was one of 285 young people to earn the honor of competing in the national bee after winning a regional bee hosted by Hofstra University. Hahn presented Sangwan a proclamation in March that honored that achievement.

“Sahil’s achievement not only captured first place in the Long Island Spelling Bee Regional Championship, but also the hopes of our entire region excited over his accomplishment and for his future,” Legislator Hahn went on to say. “His collected and calm disposition during each competition makes him an inspiration for all of us.”

“It is with great enthusiasm that I congratulate Sahil, his family and his teachers on this remarkable achievement,” said Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory. “His passion for language and composure under pressure will serve him well in any future career.”

Sangwan advanced to the third round of the national bee, after passing a preliminary written exam that tested both spelling and vocabulary. He said he enjoyed exploring the downtown area in National Harbor, as well as forming relationships with other competitors, who hailed from other parts of the United States as well as from other countries such as Canada and South Korea. The bee provided several opportunities for the students to socialize, Sangwan said, including a barbeque on Memorial Day.

Although he didn’t have a favorite word, Sangwan said he was particularly intrigued by “rollmops,” a type of pickled herring commonly served in Germany that arose in the bee’s semi-final round. “It’s spelled just like it sounds, which is unusual for a spelling bee word,” he said.

Sangwan credited several Gelinas educators who helped him prepare for the bee, including his English teacher Candace Candreva, English Department Head Joanna Cadolino, school librarian Nicole Connelly and French teacher Lucette Perlmutter. While he enjoyed studying for the experience, he said he had no expectation of advancing as far as he did.

“That really came as a surprise,” he said of winning the regional bee at Hofstra University. “I just never expected to win (the regional bee), and I never expected to go to the national level,” he said.

He is the son of Neena Chaudhari and Anil Sangwan and the grandson of Ved Vati and Ude Singh.