WASHINGTON, DC — Sameer Mishra, a 13-year-old speller from West Lafayette, Ind., won the 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee Friday night. Sameer was named the Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion in the 16th round after correctly spelling the word “guerdon,” which is defined as “something that one has earned or gained : a reward, recompense, or requital.”

Sameer, the son of Alka and Krishna Mishra, represented the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, Indiana, in this year’s competition. Sameer is an eighth grade student at West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School.

This was the fourth Scripps National Spelling Bee in which he competed. Sameer tied for 98th place in 2005, for 14th place in 2006 and for 16th place in 2007. Sameer was coached by his sister, Shruti, a former competitor in the Bee.

The championship rounds of this year’s Bee were broadcast live on the ABC Television Network.

The spelling competition began Sunday with 288 competitors who qualified to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee by winning locally sponsored bees in their home communities. Kenneth W. Lowe, president and chief executive officer of The E. W. Scripps Company, declared Sameer the national champion and awarded him the engraved Scripps National Spelling Bee Championship loving cup immediately after the winning word was correctly spelled.

“Each year we host the Scripps National Spelling Bee to celebrate academic excellence and to encourage advanced literacy,” Lowe said. “Our congratulations to Sameer who survived 16 rounds of spelling to emerge as the 2008 national champion. We also extend our congratulations to all of the top spellers who participated in this year’s competition.”

The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation’s largest and longest-running educational promotion. The competition is administered on a not-for-profit basis by The E. W. Scripps Company, based in Cincinnati, and 280 local sponsors. The majority of local spelling bee sponsors are daily and weekly newspapers.

The competition was held in the Independence Ballroom at the Grand Hyatt Washington. Round-by-round results can be reviewed at the Scripps National Spelling Bee Web site, spellingbee.com.

Finishing second in this year’s competition was Sidharth Chand, 12, of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., the son of Sunita and Naresh Chand. Finishing third was Tia Thomas, 13, of Coarsegold, Calif., the daughter of Pamela and Chance Thomas.

Cash prizes for competitors range from $50 to $30,000 for the national champion. All spellers receive a commemorative watch; the Samuel Louis Sugarman Award, which consists of a $100 EE U.S. Savings bond; and Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged, on CD-ROM from Merriam-Webster.

The national champion also receives an engraved loving cup; from Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation, a $5,000 scholarship; from Merriam-Webster, a $2,500 U.S. Savings Bond and a reference library; and from Encyclopedia Britannica, reference materials valued at more than $3,800.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Lafayette Online) — The Lafayette Symphony Orchestra will hold auditions for the 2008 Keller Competition from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 7, at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 211 Knox Drive, in West Lafayette, Indiana.

A panel of professional judges will select up to three musicians to perform with the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, said Karen Goff, chairwoman of the Keller Competition Committee and a member of the LSO’s Education/Outreach Committee.

Winners will be announced shortly after the auditions are completed and posted on the symphony’s Web site at http://www.lafayettesymphony.org/. They are slated to perform with the Lafayette Symphony at the Dec. 6 concert in the Long Center.

“The Keller Competition, marking a milestone 35th year, promotes quality musicianship, high achievement in musical performance for students from throughout the Lafayette-West Lafayette region,” Goff said. “I am so proud the LSO sponsors this excellent competition because it confirms that in both school music programs and in private applied studios, quality music teaching takes place every day to support, encourage and challenge local young musicians.”

Musicians age 22 and younger compete at the annual Keller Competition for the opportunity to perform as featured soloists with the LSO.

The Allan W. Keller Memorial Award was established in 1973 to honor Allan Keller, a former LSO treasurer and supporter. Each year, young musicians compete for the opportunity to perform as featured soloists with the LSO and each winner is granted a cash prize.

Over the years, a number of Lafayette-West Lafayette area musicians have advanced to prominent music schools, performed at top musical venues and attained significant success with their instrument, whether that be violin, cello, voice, clarinet, trumpet, flute or percussion.

The 2007 Keller Competition winners were Christian Schrock of Covington, Jinty McTavish of Lafayette and Nathan Kross of West Lafayette. They performed during the LSO “Classical Holiday Celebration” concert on Dec. 15, 2007.

“We view the Keller Competition as a cornerstone for the LSO’s commitment to education and outreach as we grow our regional orchestra,” said LSO music director Nicholas Palmer. “Through this wonderful and longstanding program, we can tap into the local and area schools, employers and organizations to expand the symphony’s reach and offer professional performance opportunities for the region’s young musicians.”

Launched in 1950 as a non-profit organization, the 70-person Lafayette Symphony Orchestra is focused on enriching the cultural life of the West Central Indiana community and 14 surrounding counties through excellence in orchestral music and educational experience.

About 80 percent of its patrons are from Lafayette, West Lafayette and Tippecanoe County, while the remainder are from the surrounding counties of Benton, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Fountain, Howard, Jasper, Montgomery, Newton, Pulaski, Tipton, Warren and White.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Lafayette Online) — As part of its Sabbatical 2008 Series, First Baptist Church of Lafayette will host a weekend retreat, June 6-8, 2008, with Dr. Stephen W. Robbins, President of RobbinsNest Ministries, and author of Transforming Beliefs: Spiritual Guidance through the Apostles’ Creed. Friday, June 6, at 7:00 p.m., Dr. Robbins will speak on the book topic, and will be available to sign copies of his book at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

Dr. Robbins will lead participants in a workshop on Saturday, from 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Participants will be exploring the art of conversation with God and how to grow in an interactive relationship with God.

Sunday, June 8, Dr. Robbins will lead worship at 11:00 a.m.

The Sabbatical 2008 Series is made possible through a grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc.’s Clergy Renewal Program for Indiana Congregations.

For additional information, please contact Dr. Rod Zambrows at: rodzfbc@gmail.com

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Lafayette Online) — CityBus is inviting Lafayette and West Lafayette drivers to “Dump the Pump” and ride the bus instead. To kick off its campaign highlighting the financial and environmental benefits of public transportation, CityBus invites everyone to ride free all day on all routes on Thursday, June 19.

Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski and West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis have proclaimed June 19 “Dump the Pump” Day in the two cities.

“We’re citing the high price of gas as just one reason to consider CityBus for regular commutes,” said General Manager Martin Sennett. “There are many more benefits — less traffic congestion, better air quality because greenhouse gases are reduced, and the convenience of having someone else drive. Using public transportation is an easy and significant way to reduce fuel consumption, save on spending and help the environment.”

“By experiencing the ease of riding, we believe many commuters will realize what a benefit public transportation is to our community and world and make the decision to become everyday riders,” said John Metzinger, manager of development.

“Dump the Pump” is a nationwide campaign coordinated by the American Public Transportation Association. Many cities across the U.S. are participating by offering free rides.

CityBus operates a fleet of 73, including four hybrid busses. It logged nearly 4.7 million passenger trips in 2007, including more than 340,000 on the free downtown/Purdue trolley. Its mission is to be a proactive community partner, striving to improve the community’s quality of life by operating safe, reliable and environmentally friendly transit services, by partnering in local economic development activities, and by providing excellent customer service and efficient, convenient access to destinations throughout Lafayette and West Lafayette, Indiana.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Two students in Purdue University’s Department of Aviation Technology will compete June 24-27 in the 32nd annual all-female Air Race Classic.

Marie Janus, a senior from Valparaiso, Ind., is the captain of the Purdue Air Race Team, and Juliana Lindner, a sophomore from Hanover Park, Ill., is the co-pilot. Purdue’s team will be one of 36 competing in the race.

This year’s race will begin in Bozeman, Mont., and continue to Miles City, Mont.; Aberdeen, S.D.; Mason City, Iowa; Decatur, Ill.; Frankfort, Ky.; Franklin, Pa.; Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; and Mansfield, Mass. The total distance covered will be about 2,009 nautical miles (2,312 statute miles).

The winners will be announced at a banquet June 29 in Mansfield.

Janus, who was co-pilot last year with captain Katie Sparrow, has been involved with the Air Race Classic all four years while at Purdue, first as a ground crew member, then as a pilot.

“It’s been one of my passions throughout college,” she said. “There are all sorts of women who compete from all age groups and walks of life, so it’s great to see such a mix of women come together every year.”

Janus and Lindner, who was on the ground crew last year, will pilot a Piper Warrior. Janus said the two will fly over some of the stops on the race route on the way out to the starting point of Montana in June but that there is no real way to practice for the contest.

“Honestly, it’s just luck,” she said. “We have a light plane, which is helped by a tailwind, so if the tailwind is there, we’ll do well, but if we have a headwind, we won’t. There is not too much we can do about that.”

Last year’s team placed first among college teams and fourth overall.

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