Thirteen-year-old Faizan Zaki, an Indian-origin student from Allen, Texas, emerged as the champion of the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee, held on May 29 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Maryland.
Zaki secured the prestigious title in the 21st round by correctly spelling “éclaircissement,” defined as “the clearing up of something obscure: enlightenment.” Bee Week 2025 ran from May 25-30 at the same venue, with the national competition beginning with preliminaries on May 27 and culminating in the Finals on May 29.
Speaking to CNN on May 30, Zaki said, “I knew the definition and that it was from French, so I just went for it. I started spelling, and then I just got really excited at the end there… struggling to breathe and stuff. So yeah, it was definitely exciting.”
Reflecting on his runner-up finish last year, Zaki expressed both relief and joy at his victory. “I’m just relieved, because I know there were a lot of expectations for me to win since I did get second place last year. But I’m also just really excited that I won finally. It’s been a seven-year long journey.”
He shared that the past month had been nerve-wracking and said he now feels “relieved” and “excited” to finally hold the trophy. He said he was really “ecstatic.”
Zaki also recounted a pivotal moment during the final round, when the last three remaining spellers had a chance to win with the word “commelina.” He admitted to rushing through the spelling. “KAM, Oh, okay. Let me think,” he recalled, acknowledging the misstep that cost him that opportunity.
His mother, he noted, was a little “annoyed” afterward because he rushed. Reflecting on the lesson learned, he said, “Definitely, I learned that I need to slow down. That’s what I did with ‘éclaircissement’,” adding, “obviously, I went straight into it, but I slowed myself down… And like spelled slowly instead of just rushing KAM like I did with ‘commelina.’”
President and CEO of The E.W. Scripps Company, Adam Symson, who presented the trophy to Zaki, praised the young champion’s focus and perseverance. “Faizan exemplified the determination that defines a champion,” Symson said, adding that Zaki’s “unwavering focus and preparation led to a well-earned victory on the Bee’s largest stage.”
“In this landmark 100th year of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Scripps is honored to celebrate Faizan’s extraordinary achievement as well as the spellers throughout the Bee’s history who continue to inspire millions,” noted the organizers in a statement commemorating the Bee’s centennial year. “Their stories remind us of the shared joy in cheering for their success, reinforcing the Bee’s legacy as a beloved tradition that, for a century, has championed connection, resilience and the limitless potential of young minds.”
Zaki, a 7th grader at C.M. Rice Middle School, was participating in the national competition for the fourth time. He previously finished second in 2024 after a spell-off with Bruhat Soma, tied for 21st place in 2023, and placed 370th in 2019. He becomes only the fifth competitor in the Bee’s history to win the championship after finishing second the previous year. He was sponsored by the Dallas Sports Commission, according to the statement.
As the 2025 champion, Zaki will receive:
- From Scripps: $50,000 cash prize, a commemorative medal, and the Scripps Cup — the official championship trophy
- From Merriam-Webster: $2,500 cash prize and a reference library
- From Encyclopædia Britannica: $400 worth of reference works, including a replica set of the
- 1768 Encyclopædia Britannica: and a three-year membership to Britannica Online Premium
- From Scholastic: $1,000 in Scholastic Dollars, to be donated to a school of his choice in his honor
- From News-O-Matic: A five-year subscription to its K–8 news platform awarded to Zaki’s school
The second and third positions were also secured by Indian-origin spellers. Sarvadnya Kadam of Visalia, California, representing the Tulare County Office of Education, placed second and will receive $25,000. Sarv Dharavane of Dunwoody, Georgia, representing the Georgia Association of Educators, finished third and will be awarded $15,000.
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