For Fairfax Co. student competing in national contest, spelling is family affair

When Ankita Balaji’s sister, Akshita, was in third grade, she decided to pick up the list for the school spelling bee and start studying.

She was a first grader at the time, and watched as her sibling went on to win that spelling bee. Intrigued by the challenge, she filed it away as something she wanted to pursue. The elements and language patterns used to make up words fascinated her.

In third grade, Balaji won her school spelling bee for the first time. Technophile was the winning word.