Spelling has always come easy for Jade Ray Samanta, a seventh-grade student in Christine Briete's class at Trinity Lutheran School in Cape Girardeau.

Samanta won the Southeast Missouri Regional Spelling Bee on March 9, which was at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

"I just enjoy the sense of competition and it's helping me to learn more," said Samanta, who is 12 years old. "In addition to the spelling, I also learn the definition and the origin of the word."

Jade Ray Samanta will be competing in the national spelling bee in Washington, D.C. (Laura Simon)

Samanta will make his way to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., an event that garners a good deal of attention and is covered by ESPN.

The competition will take place from May 26 to May 31.

Samanta won the spelling bee at Trinity Lutheran and went on to compete with students from other area Lutheran schools before competing in the regional competition, sponsored by Three Rivers College.

He began competing in spelling bees in third grade. To date, Samanta has earned more than 15 medals from area spelling competitions.

Samanta spent about eight weeks preparing for the regional spelling bee competition.

"Each day varies because I also play piano and guitar," he said. "But, on average, I devote about three hours per day to studying spelling, usually after school."

His hard work has paid off.

"His school principal gives out a list of words to study for the school spelling bee, and then the contest website also posts a list of words to study," said Jayanti Ray, Jade's mother. "However, you are not limited to just the words on those lists. Jade also refers to the dictionary and studies words from there."

In addition to winning the regional spelling bee, Samanta also is a recipient of an award for his academic achievements from Duke University's Talent Identification Program.

He will receive that award May 24 in Springfield, Mo.

Along with competing in spelling bees and playing piano and guitar, Samanta also enjoys playing recreational soccer and basketball.

But spelling remains his main focus.

"He's very passionate about it, and very motivated," Ray said. "He's always learning how to spell new words."

Hard work and a thirst for knowledge seem to run in the family.

"My younger brother, Justin, who is 10 years old and in the fifth grade, also participates in various competitions," Samanta said.

Even with his word prowess, Samanta admits he does get nervous before spelling competitions.

"...that helps keep me on my toes," he said. "I like to have a sense of preparedness. I always want to do my best. I shoot for the moon and if I land among the stars, I want to know that I did my best."

Pertinent address:

55 N. Pacific St., Cape Girardeau, MO

2080 Three Rivers Blvd., Poplar Bluff, MO