Visalia Boy to Compete in Scripps National Spelling Bee | ABC30 Fresno

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By ABC30

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Visalia, CA Sixth grader /*Joseph Maluyao*/ had to spell the word "Yiddishkeit" to win this year's /*Tulare County Spelling Bee*/ and in doing so, he earned a spot in the biggest spelling bee of them all.

Joseph says winning the bee is a big responsibility. He said, "It's kind of a good feeling like a great accomplishment at the same time it's kind of hard there's a lot of things to do a lot of things to plan."

For the last two years, Joseph has placed third in the Tulare County Competition. After getting the top prize this year, his mother /*Maria Maluyao*/ says her son has grown. She said, "And he said Mom I just want to go to Washington ... and now this came and so it's he ... realizes that it's more than just going.

Now Joseph tackles more advanced words during his hourly study session at home.

Ann Haney said, "He sees the word and thinks about it before he begins and that's part of the strategy to get where he has gotten to be this winner." Ann Haney is his spelling teacher. She credits Joseph's parents for supporting his talent.

Haney says all of /*Golden Oak Elementary School*/ will be rooting for him. She will be joining Joseph's family in Washington D.C. at the end of the month to cheer him on. If they have time, Joseph hopes to tour around Washington D.C. ... in particular, the White House.

Joseph said, "Maybe I'll even get to meet /*Barack Obama*/." But most of all, Joseph hopes the competition makes him smarter. He said, "Maybe if I have kids or something like that they can look back to it and say their dad won the spelling bee."

Joseph, his parents and his sister will all be heading to Washington D.C. on May 23rd. The first round of competition is the 26th.

Visalia Boy to Compete in National Spelling Bee