Sweet spell of success: DeKalb fourth grader heads to Scripps National Spelling Bee competition
“Dashiki. D – A – S – H – I – K – I.”
For most, it’s just a word. For 10-year-old Sarv Dharavane, it spelled out a long-awaited victory at the Georgia Association of Educators State Spelling Bee in March.
The winning word not only granted the fourth grade student the distinction of being a state spelling bee champion, but has also earned him a trip to National Harbor, Maryland.
It is there that he — along with runner-up Matthew Baber of Fayette County — will participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 28, where 245 spellers from across the country are expected to compete.
In preparation for the upcoming trip, Dharavane was honored by his classmates at Austin Elementary School on Wednesday.
On the school’s Dunwoody campus, students and faculty celebrated the young champion, clapping and cheering his name when he walked into the front of the crowd.
“The entire fourth grade was doing it. And that made me feel like energetic,” said an enthusiastic Dharavane. “[Like] I could do this. I can do this.”
The experience and excitement of preparing for a national competition is a first for Dharavane, who still seems to be processing the past two months.
“He doesn’t seem to understand how impressive it is,” said Austin principal Avis Mooneyhan. She is one of many who has been impressed by the young’s student achievement.
“He’s like, ‘It’s just an average Tuesday.’ So it’s just so exciting to be able to show off the skills and the work that he has done and accomplished and be behind him as the cheerleaders.”
Sarv’s mother and father, Shilpa Tupe and Shailesh Dharavane, agreed with the sentiment, beaming as their son addressed his peers.
“I never thought he will reach [nationals] in the first time. So we are so excited for him and proud of him,” Tupe said.
She notes that her son has always loved reading, beginning to read big books at just 2 years old. Now, he’s studying the 400,000-word dictionary.
“When I was taking them to library, they were carrying 50 books each,” said the elder Dharavane. “In the end, it all paid off … and throughout this journey, he was always humble.”
He adds that on top of the Austin students and faculty supporting his son in Dunwoody, family members will also be tuning in from Mumbai, India.
“This is kind of a global event, because words and stories are for everyone,” the father said.
And while Sarv, whose also an active soccer and video game fan, is not sure what to expect, he knows that he is thankful for the support of everyone who has stood by him during his climb to Scripps.
“I have no idea how I’m here,” he noted. “But I know that it’s because I’ve prepared and people have helped me along the way.”
He also had advice to other kids who may be interested in trying their hand at spelling competitions.
“Read your books,” he said. “If you don’t read books, you’re never gonna get anywhere.”
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