The Emporia Gazette

May 27, 2012

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Nishat Yasmin is headed to Washington, D.C., after winning Saturday’s Topeka Capital-Journal Regional Spelling Bee.

The Emporia Middle School eight-grader and daughter of Mohammad and Shireen Chowdhury, didn’t think she’d win the bee. But she did.

She won on the word “excoriate,” which, among other meanings, is to criticize. Nishat competed against 48 students from 26 counties, according to an article in Sunday’s Topeka-Capital Journal. Nishat’s win lands her a trip to Washington, D.C., on May 29 and 30 for Scripps National Spelling Bee. Two other students from Kansas will join her after winning their own regional spelling bees.

Speaking from her home this morning, Nishat, who advanced to the regional spelling bee after winning the Lyon County Spelling Bee in February, said she can’t believe she won.

“I was nervous the whole time through,” she said. “I really didn’t think I was going to make it through, especially considering that I only did study the day before.”

Nishat said she crammed her studying in because she kept getting nervous.

“That was because I thought the more I studied, the more nervous I would get,” she said with a laugh.

During the competition, Nishat said she didn’t do much to stay calm.

“I guess I tried to tell myself, win or lose, I guess it was a fun experience,” she said.

When she won, Nishat said she couldn’t believe it.

“I won and I was going to Washington, D.C.,” she said. “That was a huge surprise because I thought the other girl was gonna go. So I really didn’t think I was going to win at that moment. I mean, I’m going to Washington, D.C. That’s big. Nationals!”

The “other girl” was Samantha Volkman of Osage County, who placed second in Saturday’s regional bee.

Nishat said she’s been to Washington, D.C., before but she was too young to remember. This time, she’ll remember, she said.