Faizan Zaki declared champion of the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee
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CINCINNATI, May 29, 2025 ~ In a thrilling finale, 13-year-old Faizan Zaki from Allen, Texas has been declared the champion of the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Zaki secured the prestigious title in round 21 by correctly spelling "éclaircissement," a word defined as "the clearing up of something obscure: enlightenment."

The winning moment was captured on camera as Adam Symson, president and CEO of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP), presented Zaki with the championship trophy just moments before ION signed off from the 97th Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Symson praised Zaki's determination and unwavering focus, stating that he exemplified what it means to be a champion. He also highlighted Zaki's preparation and hard work that led to his well-deserved victory on the Bee's biggest stage.

As this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Symson expressed his honor in celebrating Zaki's extraordinary achievement and recognizing all the spellers who have participated in the competition over the years. He emphasized how their stories continue to inspire millions and reinforce the Bee's legacy as a beloved tradition that champions connection, resilience, and limitless potential of young minds.

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This was Zaki's fourth time participating in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. A 7th grader at C.M. Rice Middle School, he had previously finished second in 2024 after a spell-off with Bruhat Soma. However, this year he made an impressive comeback and became only the fifth speller in Bee history to win after coming in second place the year before. In previous years, he had tied for 21st place in 2023 and placed 370th in 2019. Zaki was sponsored by the Dallas Sports Commission.

As part of his victory, Zaki will receive a $50,000 cash prize, a commemorative medal, and the Scripps Cup, the official championship trophy of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. He will also receive a $2,500 cash prize and reference library from Merriam-Webster, $400 worth of reference works from Encyclopædia Britannica, and $1,000 Scholastic Dollars to be donated to the school of his choice in his honor. Additionally, he will receive a five-year subscription to News-O-Matic's K-8 news platform for his school.

Sarvadnya Kadam of Visalia, California representing Tulare County Office of Education placed second in the competition and will receive a cash prize of $25,000. Sarv Dharavane of Dunwoody, Georgia representing Georgia Association of Educators will receive $15,000.

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The 97th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. The competition began on Tuesday with 242 spellers from across the country. Round-by-round results can be found on spellingbee.com.

Photos from the event can be viewed on the Scripps National Spelling Bee's official Flickr page at flickr.com/scrippsbee/.

For those who missed out on the finals or want to relive Zaki's winning moment again, an encore will be available tonight on Scripps News from 11 p.m. ET to 1 a.m. The finals were exclusively aired on Scripps Networks which includes popular entertainment networks such as ION, Bounce, Grit, ION Mystery and Laff. They can be accessed for free over-the-air as well as on cable, satellite and streaming platforms.

Media contact Becca McCarter can be reached at 513-410-2425 for any further inquiries or information regarding the event.
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