Eighth-grader Kavya Shivashankar wins $ 40,000 in cash and prizes . Shivashankar attends California Trail Junior High School . Score: 6 Record 293 spellers compete ; ages range from 9 to 15 . Event has skyrocketed in popularity , thanks to exposure on TV and in movies .
Eighth-grader Kavya Shivashankar wins $ 40,000 in cash and prizes . Score: 6 Record 293 spellers compete ; ages range from 9 to 15 . Event has skyrocketed in popularity , thanks to exposure on TV and in movies .