Faizan Zaki, a 12-year-old Indian-American from Texas, secured the second position in the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee held on May 29-30. He notably became the first Muslim boy in 96 years to achieve this rank in the competition, which has not previously seen a Muslim winner or runner-up.
Competing among eight finalists from across the nation, Faizan advanced through eight rounds, correctly spelling words such as “Samisen,” “Splenetic,” “Braggadocio,” “Selvagee,” “Adirondack,” “Yawp,” “Morlop,” and “Hellebore” to reach the finals.
The championship was claimed by Bruhat Soma, 12, of Indian origin, who earned over USD 50,000 in cash and other prizes.
Faizan had previously participated in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2019 (tied for 370th place) and 2023 (tied for 21st place).
