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American Morning
Interview with Pratyush Buddiga, Spelling Bee Champion
Aired May 31, 2002 - 07:42 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: How do you spell winner? Well, just ask the seventh grader from Colorado Springs who had the last word in the National Spelling Bee.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRATYUSH BUDDIGA, NATIONAL SPELLING BEE CHAMPION: Prospicience, P-R-O-S-P-I-C-I-E-N-C-E, prospicience.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZAHN: And he did it! "Prospicience," in case you are wondering, means foresight. And 13-year-old Pratyush Buddiga is the new national best speller, and he joins us now from Washington -- congratulations -- way to go.
BUDDIGA: Thank you.
ZAHN: Tell me how many times you had heard that word, "prospicience," before.
BUDDIGA: Maybe once or twice.
ZAHN: And in what context? Was it in studying for the championship, or did you really run across that in your reading?
BUDDIGA: Once in my reading and I did see that once in my study.
ZAHN: And did you ever think it was going to wind up helping you win the National Spelling Bee?
BUDDIGA: No.
ZAHN: Now, I was surprised to learn that you really never expected to win this thing; that you would have been happy to place in the top five. When you woke up this morning, you are clutching that trophy, and you know you are taking home $12,000, does it seem at all real to you?
BUDDIGA: Not really, because it doesn't really sink in, especially if you are not expecting to win.
ZAHN: How do you think you nailed it? What enabled you to win?
BUDDIGA: Well, I was able to keep my nerves under control, and I just took it round by round.
ZAHN: And how did you get prepared for it?
BUDDIGA: Well, I did study some old lists that they give, and I did study some of the booklets and reading helps.
ZAHN: Oh, I would think reading would really help reinforce all of this learning. But it's got to be incredibly -- and tell me if this is the wrong word -- boring to pour over list after list to make sure those words are in your memory bank. Tough practice isn't it?
BUDDIGA: Yes, but you've got $12,000 to keep you going.
ZAHN: So what are you going to do with the 12,000 bucks?
BUDDIGA: I am definitely going to buy some books, though most of it I will save for college I guess.
ZAHN: Good for you. Now, you've got to be honest with us here this morning. Have you ever used spell check on your computer?
BUDDIGA: No.
ZAHN: You never needed that as a crutch?
BUDDIGA: No.
ZAHN: I wanted to show our audience a picture now to contrast with your very graceful and quiet acceptance of your award last year with the 1997 award winner, Rebecca Sealfon. Did you ever see this great celebration when she took home the national...
BUDDIGA: Yes, in the third grade, that's when I watched that.
ZAHN: And when you saw her wonderful display of, I know I got it here, what did you think?
BUDDIGA: I thought, well, she is so happy. It must be a really great thing to do and so -- and that's what really got me interested in it.
ZAHN: And even though you didn't expect to win, when you won it yesterday, you looked like you were cool as a cucumber there.
BUDDIGA: Yes.
ZAHN: But what were you really feeling inside?
BUDDIGA: Well, I was really happy, and I couldn't believe I had won, because there were a lot of really good spellers there in Washington this year.
ZAHN: And I know that a number of the previous winners had been home schooled before. You attend what kind of school?
BUDDIGA: Public, Mountain Ridge Middle School in Colorado Springs.
ZAHN: And have you had a chance to talk with any of your classmates about your big, national feat here?
BUDDIGA: Not really, because it costs a lot to dial out of the Grand Hyatt, and they don't -- I don't think they know where I am staying.
ZAHN: Well, Pratyush, we just want to congratulate you again, and add to the chorus of celebratory cheers you have heard so far. Good luck -- good luck in college, which I know is several years away, but you are a smart man to save that $12,000 check for college.
BUDDIGA: Thank you.
ZAHN: We were thinking about stumping you, but the problem is if we tried to stump you, we probably couldn't even pronounce the words we were going to try to stump you with. So you take care -- best of luck to you, and I am happy that you will be returning to a nice homecoming with your classmates.
BUDDIGA: Thank you.
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