[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 4, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING SAI GUNTURI ON WINNING THE 76TH ANNUAL SCRIPPS HOWARD 
                         NATIONAL SPELLING BEE

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                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 4, 2003

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to honor the champion 
of the 76th annual Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee. 251 spellers 
advanced to the finals of the National Spelling Bee that were held here 
in Washington, D.C. during May 28-29.
  The champion of the spelling bee is Sai Gunturi, an eighth grader at 
St. Mark's School of Texas, that is located in Dallas. Sai was 
challenged throughout the 15th round of competition, and ultimately won 
the tournament by correctly spelling the word pococurante {pO-kO-kyu-
'ran-tE} (pococurante is defined as caring little or indifferent, 
nonchalant). Sai was sponsored by The Dallas Morning News and comes 
from a fine family tradition of spelling excellence, as his sister 
Nivedita, tied for eighth place in the 1997 National Spelling Bee.
  Sai is not just a terrific speller, but also a tremendous asset to 
the greater St. Mark's school community. He is a community leader and 
an astounding scholar. My sincere congratulations go out to Sai, his 
family, and to his teachers and friends at St. Mark's.

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