Sameer Mishra was the 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion. Thirteen years old at the time, Mishra's winning word was "guerdon," another word for "reward," a fitting final word.

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With his family and the world looking on, Sameer Mishra, 13, holds up his trophy after winning the 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 30, 2008.