NAME: Wendy Guey Lai, 26, Cambridge, Mass.
JOB: Math teacher
WINNING YEAR: 1996
WORD: Vivisepulture (n. The act or process of burying alive)
A FAMILY'S DREAM: My parents were Chinese immigrants who came here speaking broken English. For their daughter to win this was noteworthy. The day after I won, I remember we went to a Chinese restaurant in Washington, D.C.; the owner gave us 10 percent off!
NAME: Kavya Shivashankar, 14, Olathe, Kans.
JOB: High school freshman
WINNING YEAR: 2009
WORD: Laodicean (adj. Lukewarm or indifferent in religion or politics)
SPELLING GENES: The moment I heard the word, I recognized it, and I knew this was it. When I lifted that trophy, it was surreal. This year my 8-year-old sister Vanya is representing Kansas and is the youngest one in the bee. I'm so proud.
NAME: Irving Belz, 72, Houston
JOB: Psychiatrist
WINNING YEAR: 1951
WORD: Insouciant (adj. Exhibiting or characterized by freedom from concern or care)
ADVICE TO YOUNG SPELLERS: Read a lot-and learn classical Greek and Latin.
NAME: Stephanie Petit, 36, San Francisco
JOB: Lawyer
WINNING YEAR: 1987
WORD: Staphylococci (n. pl. Any bacterium of a genus of gram-positive eubacteria)
LASTING MEMORY: President Reagan told my mom, "I hope your daughter doesn't ask me to spell anything."
NAME: John Paola, 47, Annapolis, Md.
JOB: Veterinarian
WINNING YEAR: 1977
WORD: Cambist (n. One who deals in bills of exchange)
HELP FROM ABOVE?: I went to Catholic school, so I had a little card with a prayer on it. I held it the whole time.
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