‘Milieu’ Wins Spelling Bee

A 13-year-old Illinois boy, competing for the third time, won the 58th National Spelling Bee today by correctly spelling the word milieu.

Balu Nataragan defeated Kate Lingley, 13, of Dover-Foxcroft, Me. To capture the championship, Balu first spelled farrago, which Kate had missed. Among the spellers eliminated earlier was a 14-year-old Cambodian refugee who learned English only six years ago.