Jacksonville – Sree Vidya Siliveri recently completed the 8th grade at Alice B. Landrum Middle School in St. Johns County. She won the First Coast Spelling Bee for the second year in a row in March of this year earning the honor of the champion to represent Northeast Florida at the National Spelling Bee the week of May 26th. Sree Vidya made it to the semifinals and overall ranked #10 of the 243 spellers that competed at nationals.
Sree Vidya has a passion for spelling, but her interests extend far beyond etymology and vocabulary. She enjoys reading, swimming and cooking. Sree Vidya also loves exploring new topics in science, especially the climate. As the captain of her school’s debate team, she participates in extemporaneous debate and reads philosophy to deepen her understanding of the world. Sree Vidya favorite author is Agatha Christie, and she enjoys reading the Hercule Poirot mysteries, which inspire her love for literature. She is also a member of the National Junior Honor Society, on the Student Council and participates in the Journalism team helping with the yearbook. She has earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award and also won other bees including the YMCA Spelling Bee, NSF National Vocabulary Bee and the inaugural Harry Potter’s Spelling Bee conducted by MuggleNet. In addition to her spelling pursuits, Sree Vidya tutors elementary students in math through the Orlando Math Circle. She aspires to be a cardiothoracic surgeon in the future and aims to make a positive impact in her community.
