Akash Vukoti
{{short description|Child prodigy and spelling competitor}}
{{Infobox person
| name =
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2009|05|29}}
| birth_place = Rockville, Maryland, U.S.
| years_active = 2012–present
| website = {{URL|AkashVukoti.com}}
| module = {{Infobox YouTube personality|embed=yes
| channel_display_name = Akash Vukoti
| channel_handle = AkashVukoti
| genre = {{hlist|Educational|Inspirational}}
| subscribers = 1 million
| views = 185.5 million
| network =
| silver_year = 2019
| gold_year = 2024
| stats_update = 30 October 2024
}}
}}
Akash Vukoti (born May 29, 2009) is an American child prodigy, TV personality, and motivational speaker from San Angelo, Texas. He competed for a record 6 times at the Scripps National Spelling Bee and was the first-ever first grader to compete in the bee. His first television appearance was in the NBC TV show Little Big Shots with Steve Harvey in March 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/05/25/6-year-old-texan-misspells-word-ending-his-spelling-bee-competition/84923350/|title=6-year-old Texan misspells word, ending his spelling bee competition|last=Sullivan|first=Bartholomew|date=May 25, 2016|website=USA TODAY}}{{cite web|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/meet-the-spelling-bees-youngest-contestant-akash-vukoti-w208029/|title=Scripps National Spelling Bee's Youngest Contestant Akash Vukoti Was Too C-U-T-E: See Him in Action|last=French|first=Megan|date=May 26, 2016|website=US Magazine}}{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/akash-vukoti-is-a-6-year-old-genius-2016-3|title=Meet the 6-year-old genius who will steal the show at this year's national spelling bee|last=Weller|first=Chris|date=March 30, 2016|website=Business Insider}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gq.com/story/national-spelling-bee-star-2016-akash-vukoti|title=This Six-Year-Old Was the First Star of the 2016 National Spelling Bee|last=Moore|first=Jack|date=May 26, 2016|website=GQ}}{{Citation|title=Why 6-Year-Old Spelling Bee Whiz Akash Vukoti Became a Global Sensation - POPSUGAR| date=June 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvZCFRoGVUU|language=en|access-date=2019-12-08}}
Academic achievements
File:Akash Vukoti - Scripps National Spelling Bee 2016.jpg
Vukoti competed in his first spelling bee when he was 2 years old.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mastispell.com/2012Champions.html|title=MastiSpell|website=MastiSpell 2012}} He was inducted into American Mensa at the age of 3 and became a Davidson Young Scholar{{Cite web|url=https://www.davidsongifted.org/young-scholars|title=Gifted Program | Davidson Young Scholars|website=www.davidsongifted.org}} at the age of 5.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cantonrep.com/article/20150331/NEWS/150339817|title=G-E-N-I-U-S: Jackson Township siblings are among youngest Mensa members|last=Weir|first=Kelli|website=The Repository|language=en|access-date=2020-03-23}} He became the first-ever first grader to compete in the history of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the age of 6 years, in 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/inviscate-and-conestoga-get-two-contestants-to-the-next-round-of-the-spelling-bee/2016/05/25/d32f19ee-2272-11e6-8690-f14ca9de2972_story.html|title="A 6-year-old charms the National Spelling Bee before getting eliminated".|last=Shapira|first=Ian|website=Washington Post.}}{{Cite journal|last=Farrington|first=Dana|title="6-Year-Old May Be Out Of Spelling Bee, But This Kid Is A Winner". NPR.|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/05/25/479537500/6-year-old-may-be-out-of-spelling-bee-but-this-kid-is-a-winner|journal=NPR|date=25 May 2016 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gosanangelo.com/story/news/2019/03/10/vukoti-wins-san-angelo-spelling-bee/3123069002/|title=Vukoti wins San Angelo Area Spelling Bee|website=San Angelo|language=en|access-date=2020-03-23}}{{Cite web|last=Gaitan|first=Michelle|title=San Angelo Spelling Bee names new winner|url=http://archive.gosanangelo.com/news/local/san-angelo-spelling-bee-names-new-winner--2d3a362b-3d32-3f7b-e053-0100007fb1fb-371169381.html/}} He later competed in the 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bees. This made Vukoti the only person to compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee for a record 6 times.{{Cite web|url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a20748354/scripps-national-spelling-bee-espn/|title=The Kids Are A-L-R-I-G-H-T: Inside the Journey to Scripps' National Spelling Bee|last=Kirkl|first=Justin|date=2018-05-31|website=Esquire|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-23}}{{Cite web|last=NUCKOLS|first=BEN|title=Speller balances bee with reality TV, social media stardom|website=Associated Press News |date=28 May 2019 |url=https://apnews.com/839b8d78fd7348029f03da2c4e15552f}}{{Cite web |date=2021-03-20 |title=Akash Vukoti takes champion title at spelling bee |url=https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/local-news/akash-vukoti-takes-champion-title-at-spelling-bee/ |access-date=2021-03-20 |website=ConchoValleyHomepage.com |language=en-US}}{{cite web |last=Liebergen |first=Stephanie |title=Scripps National Spelling Bee Returns After Pandemic Pause |url=https://www.newsy.com/stories/scripps-national-spelling-bee-returns/ |website=Newsy|date=June 2022 }}{{Cite news |last=Astor |first=Maggie |last2= |first2= |date=2023-06-01 |title=Akash Vukoti competed for a record sixth time. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/06/01/us/scripps-spelling-bee/akash-vukoti-competed-for-a-record-sixth-time |access-date=2023-06-05 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |last=Bahrampour |first=Tara |date=2023-05-30 |title=Can you spell determination? He's back at the Bee for try No. 6. |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/05/30/scripps-national-spelling-bee-2023/ |access-date=2023-05-30}}{{Cite web |last=America |first=Good Morning |title=14-year-old competes in Scripps National Spelling Bee for a 6th time |url=https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/living/story/14-year-competes-scripps-national-spelling-bee-6th-99731569 |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=Good Morning America |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Mark |date=2023-05-11 |title=Scripps National Spelling Bee To Host 231 Spellers At 2023 Bee Week |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/programming/article/scripps-national-spelling-bee-to-host-231-spellers-at-2023-bee-week/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=TV News Check |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-05-11 |title=Scripps National Spelling Bee to host 231 spellers at 2023 Bee Week |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scripps-national-spelling-bee-to-host-231-spellers-at-2023-bee-week-301822564.html |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}{{Citation |title=34th Annual San Angelo Area Spelling Bee | date=12 February 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0Zlp2uyMzA |language=en |access-date=2023-02-13}}{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Chad |date=2023-02-13 |title=Vukoti wins fifth San Angelo Area Spelling Bee |url=https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/local-news/vukoti-wins-fifth-san-angelo-area-spelling-bee/ |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=ConchoValleyHomepage |language=en-US}}{{Citation |title=95th Scripps National Spelling Bee, Round Results for Round 4 |url=https://spellingbee.com/round-results/4 |access-date=2023-05-31}}
Television shows & media coverage
Vukoti was featured on several TV shows, such as Little Big Shots in Season 1 (2016), Season 2 (2017) and Little Big Shots UK (Episode 4) in 2017.{{Cite web|title=Little Big Shots {{!}} Steve Harvey and Akash Funny Spelling Bee {{!}} Season 1 2016 - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJSJfptjiYU|access-date=2021-02-02|website=www.youtube.com| date=22 December 2018 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/news-connection/spelling-bee-whiz-akash-vukoti-returns-to-little-big-shots/696742155|title=Spelling Bee Whiz Akash Vukoti Returns to Little Big Shots|last=Barrett|first=Daija|date=April 21, 2017|website=ConchoValley Homepage}}{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/steve-harvey-schools-spelling-bee-champ-words-hood-074456530.html|title=Steve Harvey Schools Spelling Bee Champ on 'Words From the Hood'|last=Paschal|first=Nick|date=April 24, 2017|website=Yahoo}}{{Citation |title=Little brainbox Akash can spell any word! {{!}} Little Big Shots | date=2 August 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIWM2JmrDNo |language=en |access-date=2022-05-08}} He was also featured on the Steve Harvey talk show,{{cite web|url=https://www.gosanangelo.com/story/news/local/2016/03/12/precocious-local-speller-drawing-national-attention-studying-hard/92120958/|title=Precocious local speller drawing national attention, studying hard|date=March 12, 2016|website=gosanangelo.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/viral-and-trending/020517/w-o-n-d-e-r-kid.html|title=W-o-n-d-e-r kid|last=Gowra|first=Nikhita|date=2017-05-02|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2019-12-08}} Jimmy Kimmel Live!,{{Citation|title=13th Annual Jimmy Kimmel Live Spelling Bee| date=3 June 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvkUCzHRo2I|language=en|access-date=2019-12-08}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jimmy-kimmel-spelling-bee-competition-899263|title=Jimmy Kimmel's Spelling Bee Competition Is Extra Challenging, Thanks to Guillermo|date=June 3, 2016|website=Hollywood Reporter}}{{cite web|url=https://www.etonline.com/tv/190211_jimmy_kimmel_hilariously_challenges_spelling_bee_co_champions_to_an_epic_showdown|title=Jimmy Kimmel Hilariously Challenges Spelling Bee co-champions to an Epic Showdown|last=Seemayer|first=Zach|date=June 3, 2016|website=ETOnline}} and The Preachers{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXSMJuTM_bE|title=TV Show {{!}} Spelling bee {{!}} The Preachers FOX TV SHOW 2016|date=2016-07-11|website=YouTube}} in 2016. He appeared as a guest on the Harry show in 2017.{{Citation|last=Connick Jr.|first=Harry|title=Harry's Spelling Bee Competition|date=27 April 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iqBk48kKCs|language=en|access-date=2019-12-08}} Akash was also featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show on November 10, 2020.{{Citation|title=Kelly & Anthony Anderson Compete In Spelling Bee|date=2020-11-10|url=https://www.kellyclarksonshow.com/video/kelly-anthony-anderson-compete-in-spelling-bee/4263744|access-date=2020-11-12}}
On September 25, 2018, Vukoti was announced as one of the celebrities who would compete on Dancing with the Stars: Juniors,{{cite web|url=https://abc.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars-juniors/cast/akash-vukoti|title=Akash Vukoti - Dancing with the Stars|website=abc.com|access-date=2019-12-05|archive-date=2019-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205035053/https://abc.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars-juniors/cast/akash-vukoti|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gosanangelo.com/story/entertainment/2018/12/10/san-angelo-dancing-stars-juniors-spelling-bee-legend-akash-vukoti/2241730002/|title=San Angelo whiz kid Akash Vukoti talks Dancing with the Stars and future plans|last=Sutton|first=Samuel|date=December 10, 2018|website=gosanangelo.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-08}} a spin-off of Dancing with the Stars.
Documentaries and films
Vukoti has been featured in HBO and BBC documentaries. Episode 231 of Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel titled “Brain Games and Mental Athletes” featured Vukoti and aired on June 21, 2016, on HBO.{{Citation|title=Brain Games & Mental Athletes: Real Sports Trailer (HBO)| date=17 June 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEwAgs_nHDM|access-date=2019-12-08}} The BBC documentary [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05j0v0r The Human Body: Secrets of Your Life Revealed] showcased Vukoti's talent in the episode "Learn" and aired on October 9, 2017, on BBC Two.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05g7bbt/p05g7g87|title=The Human Body: Secrets of Your Life Revealed - Gallery|website=BBC Documentary}}
He was featured in the award-winning documentary film Spelling the Dream.{{Cite web|url=https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/netflix-to-release-documentary-featuring-san-angelo-native-akash-vukoti/|title=Netflix to release documentary featuring San Angelo native, Akash Vukoti|date=2020-03-27|website=ConchoValleyHomepage.com|access-date=2020-03-28}}{{cite web|url=https://clevelandmagazine.com/entertainment/film-tv/articles/breaking-the-bee-examines-what-it-takes-to-w-i-n|title=What It Takes to W-I-N|last=Goodrich|first=Barry|date=April 3, 2018|website=clevelandmagazine.com/}}{{cite web|url=https://www.clevelandfilm.org/films/2018/breaking-the-bee|title=Breaking The Bee|website=clevelandfilm.org|access-date=2019-12-04|archive-date=2019-04-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405015853/https://www.clevelandfilm.org/films/2018/breaking-the-bee|url-status=dead}}
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Distributor !Country !Release Date !Ref. |
| 2017
|[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05j0v0r The Human Body: Secrets of Your Life Revealed] |BBC |UK |October 9 |
| 2020
|Worldwide |June 3 |{{Cite news|last=Qureshi|first=Bilal|date=2020-06-03|title='Spelling the Dream' Review: Words of Inspiration|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/03/movies/spelling-the-dream-review.html|access-date=2020-07-05|issn=0362-4331}} |
= Television =
Awards
File:Akash- Global Child Prodigy Awardee.jpg|381x381px]]
Personal life
Akash Vukoti is the son of Chandrakala Jandyam and Dr. Krishna M Vukoti, who immigrated to the United States from Andhra Pradesh, India. Akash has an elder sister Amrita, who is also a Davidson Young Scholar and a member of Mensa.{{Cite web|last=Weir|first=Kelli|title=G-E-N-I-U-S: Jackson Township siblings are among youngest Mensa members|url=https://www.cantonrep.com/article/20150331/NEWS/150339817|website=The Repository}} Both Amrita and Akash Vukoti competed in the 2019 Scripps National Spelling Bee.{{Cite web|title=Scripps National Spelling Bee|url=http://spellingbee.com/|website=spellingbee.com}}{{Cite web|title=Word Whiz Kids Tap Memory Tricks at Spelling Bee|url=https://www.voanews.com/arts-culture/word-whiz-kids-tap-memory-tricks-spelling-bee|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323201736/https://www.voanews.com/arts-culture/word-whiz-kids-tap-memory-tricks-spelling-bee|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 23, 2020|website=Voice of America}}
Philanthropy
Vukoti has donated to various non-profit organizations like Children's Miracle Network in San Angelo, Wikipedia, Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, Telangana CM Relief Fund, Water.org and Kerala Floods Relief Fund. He has also donated to Bharat Ke Veer,{{Cite web|url=https://bharatkeveer.gov.in/home|title=India's Bravehearts | Bharat Ke Veer|website=bharatkeveer.gov.in}} an Indian government initiative supporting the families of deceased Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles personnel. Vukoti has also donated to non-profit organizations the American Red Cross Society and the Government of India's PM CARES Fund to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|last=Vukoti|first=Akash|title=Giving Back to Society|url=https://akashvukoti.com/giving-back-to-society-1|access-date=2020-09-16|website=AKASH VUKOTI|language=en-US}}
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References
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Category:American people of Telugu descent
Category:American people of Indian descent
Category:People from Rockville, Maryland