A Florida family is raising serious concerns about the fairness and transparency of the spelling bee system after their 12-year-old daughter, Amara Chepuri, was disqualified from the Tampa Bay regional spelling bee, even though she was initially named the winner.
Amara had taken first place in the regional contest by successfully spelling the word “sashay,” a moment that should have secured her both a trophy and a place in the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee. However, in an unexpected reversal, competition officials later rescinded her win. The title and the highly sought-after spot in the national bee were instead given to Vlada Kozhevnikova, the contestant who had originally placed second.
The explanation given for this sudden disqualification traces back to an earlier stage of the competition, at the school level. During that round, Amara had misspelled the word “pallbearer” and was eliminated. Her family, however, insists that the decision was deeply flawed and should never have impacted her regional and national eligibility. They argue that “pallbearer” had not been included in the official study list shared with participants prior to the contest. As such, they claim that it was unfair to use that word in judging Amara’s performance or eliminating her from the competition.
According to the Chepuri family, spelling bee rules state that contestants should only be quizzed on words from the pre-approved list until that list is exhausted. In Amara’s case, they contend that this guideline was not followed. They allege that words not on the original list were introduced prematurely, before all the approved words had been used. This departure from protocol, they say, created confusion among participants and led to unfair eliminations—Amara’s being one of them.
Despite this early setback, Amara continued to pursue her passion for spelling. She managed to re-enter the competition through a homeschool co-operative and eventually advanced to the Tampa Bay regional spelling bee. There, she outperformed all her peers and was officially declared the winner after correctly spelling “sashay.” For a short time, it appeared that Amara would be representing her region in the national bee.
That victory, however, was short-lived. Shortly after her win, Amara was informed that she had been disqualified once more. This time, the disqualification was tied directly to the controversy at the school-level bee. The Scripps National Spelling Bee organization upheld the decision, stating that because she had been eliminated earlier in the process, she was not eligible to advance—even though she had subsequently qualified and won at the regional level.
The Chepuri family strongly disagrees with this interpretation and has taken steps to challenge it. They have filed formal complaints and requested due process hearings from various educational and spelling bee authorities. Their goal is to call attention to what they see as flaws in the system and to push for greater accountability and fairness in how such competitions are run. They want to ensure that other students don’t face similar setbacks due to what they believe were procedural errors.
“Amara is one of the top spellers in Florida,” her father told reporters. “She prepared diligently and won fair and square. She deserves to compete on the national stage.”
The situation has sparked a wider debate about the integrity of the spelling bee system and the importance of following clear and consistent procedures, especially when young students invest months of preparation into these contests. According to the family, Amara had put in significant time and effort preparing for each level of competition and was unfairly punished for an error that was not hers.
They also claim that communication from the organizers has been lacking. After her initial elimination, they were not given a clear explanation or a chance to appeal the decision in a timely manner. Only after Amara had re-qualified through a separate channel and won again did the prior disqualification reemerge, ultimately preventing her from advancing to the national level. This, they argue, demonstrates a lack of transparency and fairness in the overall process.
While Scripps has maintained that their decision to disqualify Amara was consistent with their rules and guidelines, the Chepuri family continues to advocate for change. They are asking for a review of the rules that govern qualification and disqualification, especially when those rules intersect with local and regional competition decisions. Their case has drawn attention from other parents and educators, many of whom believe that students should not be penalized for procedural inconsistencies outside of their control.
The family’s call for due process is also part of a larger conversation about how educational competitions are structured and monitored. They believe that students’ rights need to be protected and that more clarity is needed about how decisions are made at each level of the competition. They also want assurances that future contests will follow the guidelines exactly, without deviation, and with opportunities for review if disputes arise.
Despite the disappointment, Amara and her family remain hopeful. They say they are not only fighting for Amara’s rightful place in the national bee but also for all students who might face similar issues in the future. Their efforts are aimed at making the process more equitable for everyone, regardless of whether they are attending traditional schools, homeschool co-operatives, or other educational setups.
“Amara is one of the top spellers in Florida,” her father reiterated. “She prepared diligently and won fair and square. She deserves to compete on the national stage.”
As of now, it remains uncertain whether Amara will be allowed to compete at the national level or if any changes will be made to the current rules. However, her case has clearly brought attention to how spelling bees are managed and the need for a more consistent and transparent approach—especially when children’s achievements are at stake.
