Vanya Shivashankar

Faces of the National Spelling Bee

Vanya Shivashankar, of Olathe, Kan., smiles as she answers her question during the second round of the National Spelling Bee on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 in Oxon Hill, Md. Shivashankar is the only contestant to score a perfect overall score. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Faces of the Nat... There is the facial contortion of Naomi Li (above) as she considers the challenge placed before her. The next challenge has Philip Andrew Cummings scratching his head. Then, the look of shock Coralee Ashley Tibeingana Ahabwe Wade LaRue shows as she spells her word. These are some of the faces of the contestants in this year's National Spelling Bee, revealing the frustration, concentration and confidence the children bring to the meet. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Nathan Dugan Nathan Dugan, of Canton, Ohio, spells his word "cantankerous" during the National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Nejat Alkadir Nejat Alkadir, 13, of Ledford, N.C., nervously spells her word during the third round of the National Spelling Bee in Oxon Hill, Md., on Wednesday, May 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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Vanya Shivashank... Vanya Shivashankar, of Olathe, Kan., smiles as she answers her question during the second round of the National Spelling Bee on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 in Oxon Hill, Md. Shivashankar is the only contestant to score a perfect overall score. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Lori Anne Madiso... Six-year-old Lori Anne Madison, of Woodbridge, Va., the youngest contestant in the history of the National Spelling Bee, reaches for the microphone during the second round, Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Lena Greenberg Lena Greenberg, 14, of Philadelphia, entertains herself while waiting to spell in the third round of the National Spelling Bee in Oxon Hill, Md., Wednesday, May 30, 2012. Greenberg was announced as one of the 50 semifinalists in the bee. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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Jae Canetti Jae Canetti, 10, of Fairfax, Va., jumps out of his seat as he is announced as one of the 50 semifinalists in the National Spelling Bee, in Oxon Hill, Md., on Wednesday, May 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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Philip Andrew Cu... Philip Andrew Cummings of Oswego, N.Y., concentrates during the third round of the National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Coralee Ashley T... Coralee Ashley Tibeingana Ahabwe Wade LaRue, of Vinyard Haven, Mass., spells her word during the third round of the National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Nathaniel Britto... Nathaniel Britton, of Macomb, Mich., concentrates during the third round of the National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Dylan O'Connor Dylan O'Connor, of Alexandria Bay, N.Y., spells his word during the second round of the National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Dev Jaiswal Dev Jaiswal, of Louisville, Miss., spells his word during the second round of National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Sam Lowery Sam Lowery, of Charlestown, Mass., spells his word in the air during round two of the National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Amber Born Amber Born, of Marblehead, Mass., pauses during the second round of National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Pranav Sivakumar Pranav Sivakumar, 12, of Tower Lakes, Ill., spells his word during the National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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Kate Miller Kate Miller, of Abilene, Texas, spells "fougade" during the second round of the National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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