Leesburg Student Competes in Scripps National Spelling Bee

A Leesburg student is among 285 spellers competing for the title of 2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion.

The preliminary rounds began Tuesday at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., and continue through Wednesday afternoon.

Shiv Dang Lamba, 14, an eighth-grader at Loudoun Country Day School, is among the contestants. His sponsor is Leesburg Today.

His profile on the spelling bee website says: Shiv has always been interested in science and one day would like to be a physician like his father. He has attended many research camps, including Johns Hopkins University’s prestigious Center for Talented Youth Intensive Summer Program and a research program at the Centers for Disease Control this past summer. Shiv plays soccer and is an anchor player on his team, which is currently ranked second in his age group in the state of Virginia. Shiv enjoys spending time with his family, and considers himself lucky to be part of such a great support system.

The spellers’ favorite words includeflibbertigibbet,onomatopoeia,schadenfreude,syzygy,tchotchkeandtriskaidekaphobia.

Semifinalists will be announced late Wednesday afternoon, and broadcast live on ESPN3.

Semifinals competition is set for Thursday morning, with the championship round to be held Thursday evening. ESPN will broadcast the finals live starting at 8 p.m. ET.

»Photo of Shiv Dang Lamba, courtesy of Mark Bowen/Scripps National Spelling Bee