Whiz Kid of the Week: Matthew Kim

Name: Matthew Kim, 10

School: Waples Mill Elementary School

Accomplishment: Won the Waples Mill spelling bee

Key to Awesomeness: Matthew Kim, of Oakton, won the Waples Mill Elementary School spelling bee Feb. 25 after spelling "woebegone" correctly.

The fourth-grader said he has been competing in spelling bees for "a few years," and practices spelling with his mom often. He also credits his love for reading — he is currently reading the Alex Rider series — for his ability to pick up on how to spell words so easily.

But Matthew is more than just a champion speller. In fact, spelling is not even close to the top of the list of things he loves to do.

His favorite subject is science —though he says recess and P.E. are his favorite times of the school day — and he aspires to become a doctor when he grows up.

"My brother is studying to be a doctor, and my dad is one," Matthew said. "It just seems fun."

In between his busy life as a fourth-grader, he plays violin, piano and soccer. And when he gets older, he's excited to play football.

While he's practicing all of those, though, he is still keeping up with his spelling. Matthew will compete in the Fairfax County Spelling Bee at 2 p.m. March 20 at Hayfield Secondary School in Alexandria. The winner of that bee will advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. on June 1.

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