Student spells his way to the top

He will compete for a national title in May

Saketh Sundar, a student at Bellows Spring Elementary School, holds his trophy after winning the Howard County Library System's Spelling Bee. Saketh will go up against about 280 spellers in late May at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. ( Howard County Library System )

Spelling bee contestants from across the county line up before going onstage. Youngsters had to navigate words such as “vorlage,” “gestalt” and “phenomenon.” (Nicole Martyn/Baltimore Sun Media Group )

Saketh Sundar, a student at Bellows Spring Elementary School in Ellicott City, was the last contestant standing of more than 65 who competed at the Howard County Library System's Spelling Bee. Adarsh Gagedepalli, a student at Trinity School in Ellicott City, was runner-up at the March 11 contest, which drew fourth- through eighth-grade students from across the county. Youngsters had to navigate words such as “vorlage,” “gestalt,” “phenomenon,” “recalcitrant,” “saboteur” and “pentathlon,” according to the library system's Twitter feed. In late May, Saketh will compete against about 280 spellers from all 50 states at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor.

—Lisa Philip, Baltimore Sun Media Group