Harding University High junior Khadiga Konsouh realized that her dreams of earning an Ivy League education will not come cheap. Even though Khadiga holds an unweighted 3.8 GPA, she needed to find “smart” ways to earn the money for Yale or Harvard. So, when she learned of the Exodus National Spelling Bee Tour that gives local winners a $1,000 scholarship and $15,000 at the national level, she jumped at the opportunity.

With only one word separating Khadiga from the local championship, she took her time, thought about the pronunciation and began to spell the word crystallize. “It was one of the easier words,” she said.

“I thought I was going to be the first one out,” Khadiga said. “After getting the first word, I was more confident. Then I got the second and third and so on.”

The spelling bee is sponsored by The Condrey Evangelistic Association and State Farm. There are three rounds to the competition with the grand finale to be held in April in Atlanta. In addition to the winning student receiving the scholarship money, his or her high school will receive $10,000 toward academic program improvements.

While Khadiga competed against 21 students for the citywide spelling bee, she will compete against 10 students from various cities. However, she isn’t too nervous. Khadiga was able to learn more than 300 words, including French and Indian words, in preparation for the local competition. Knowing the pronunciation is her secret weapon to winning. So is family support, she said.

“I really wanted to impress my family. They prepare me to do my best and I wanted to show that it paid off,” Khadiga said. “Winning the $15,000 grand prize would be a great relief. I’m planning to go to an Ivy League school and I have four siblings who are also college bound. ”