Sukanya Roy Wins 84th Scripps National Spelling Bee

June 2, 2011— -- Sukanya Roy is the champion at the 84th Scripps National Spelling Bee.

The Indian-American from South Abington, Penn. took the top place from runner-up Laura Newcombe when she correctly spelled the word 'cymotrichous' – which relates to wavy hair.

Sukanya, 14, will take home more than $40,000 in cash and prizes. She is now the fourth consecutive Indian-American to take the title at the Scripps spelling bee, and the ninth within the past 13 years.

"I went through the dictionary once or twice," she said, "and I guess some of the words really stuck."

She has competed in the bee three times now, tying for 12th place in 2009 and 20th place in 2010.

Newcombe, 12, of Toronto placed second at the three-hour-plus, nationally televised event that took place in the Washington, D.C. area. She was looking to become the first Canadian to win the bee, but went out on the French-derived word "sorites."

Thursday's 10th round of the spelling bee saw competition amongst the final 13 of 275 spellers that descended on the D.C. area from across the country and world.