© 2023 St. Louis Public Radio
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Other

Chesterfield boy places fourth at National Spelling Bee

St. Louis Public Radio
Published June 2, 2006 at 9:57 AM CDT
Rajiv Tarigopula used a 'y' when he should have used an 'ei', and an 'e' when he should have used an 'i' in spelling heiligenschein. (photo from National Spelling Bee)
Rajiv Tarigopula used a 'y' when he should have used an 'ei', and an 'e' when he should have used an 'i' in spelling heiligenschein. (photo from National Spelling Bee)

By Tom Weber, KWMU

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kwmu/local-kwmu-514527.mp3

St. Louis, MO – The National Spelling Bee finished Thursday night with an eighth grader from Chesterfield placing fourth for the second straight year.

This was the fourth and final try for Rajiv Tarigopula, who is no longer eligible.

He aced words like yizkor and sporran, but tripped up in the 11th round on the word heiligenschein.

Rajiv told KWMUs Tom Weber this morning that he's disappointed he didn't win but proud that he matched last year's fourth place finish. He also says this year's competition was tougher.

Rajiv's words (Wednesday and Thursday)

Philomel
totemism
sporran
gallinaceous
zebu
phalarope
rubasse
Babism
yizkor
heiligenschein (Misspelled: hylegenschein)

Other