Last night, 13-year-old Faizan Zaki from Plano, Texas, won the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee. His victory extends a remarkable trend: 30 of the past 36 champions have been Indian American.
This pattern is no coincidence. In 2018, nearly half of the 41 finalists were Indian American. The 2019 competition saw an unprecedented eight-way tie after 20 grueling rounds—seven of the winners were Indian American.
What Explains This Success?
Experts point to multiple factors. Marya Hannun of Foreign Policy notes that India’s education system emphasizes memorization, and spelling bees serve as a way for Indian immigrants to assimilate while pursuing academic excellence.
Ben Paynter of Slate highlights the role of the North South Foundation, which runs regional spelling contests for Indian American youth. Many champions first compete in these events, gaining crucial experience.
Beyond Spelling: Excellence in STEM
Indian American students also shine in other academic fields. In 2013, Aseem Jha scored perfectly on the SAT and ACT. In 2019, Krithik Ramesh won first place at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Recent years have seen Indian Americans dominate competitions like the 3M Young Scientist Challenge and Regeneron’s Science Talent Search.
The Role of Cultural Beliefs
Psychologists suggest cultural attitudes toward intelligence play a key role. Studies show that many Asian cultures, including India’s, embrace an incremental theory—the belief that intelligence can grow with effort. In contrast, Western cultures often lean toward an entity theory, viewing intelligence as fixed.
A 2012 study by Aneeta Rattan and Carol Dweck found that 75% of Indian university students believed intelligence is malleable, compared to only 40% of American students. This mindset encourages persistence: Instead of saying, “I’m bad at math,” Indian American students are more likely to say, “I need to study harder.”
Conclusion
With supportive families, rigorous practice, and a culture that values perseverance, Indian American students have built a legacy of success. Their spelling bee dominance isn’t just about memorization—it’s about a deep-rooted belief that effort leads to improvement. And as their track record shows, that belief keeps producing champions.
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