DeKalb Commissioners recognize spelling bee champ, aviation advocate

At the August 11 DeKalb County Board of Commissioners regular business meeting District 1 Commissioner Robert Patrick recognized two outstanding members of the District 1 community — a young scholar making his mark on the national stage and a longtime aviation advocate whose service has helped shape the future of DeKalb-Peachtree Airport.

According to a release from DeKalb County, Patrick recognized Sarv Dharavane, a seventh-grader at Peachtree Charter Middle School in Dunwoody, for his record of academic achievement and for his third-place finish at the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Sarv has won the Georgia State Spelling Bee for three consecutive years and has represented Georgia at the national competition three times. After placing 22nd nationally in 2024, he finished third in both 2025 and 2026.

At this year’s competition in Washington, D.C., Sarv competed against 245 other state and local champions and once again finished as the third-best speller in the nation.

But spelling is only one part of Sarv’s impressive academic story, the release said. In 2024, he earned first place at the Georgia State Technology Fair and continues to pursue interests in mathematics, coding, technology and innovation.

Outside the classroom, he enjoys basketball, soccer, and swimming, plays the clarinet with his school band and the piano at home, and hopes one day to become an entrepreneur or a scientist, specifically a roboticist.

“Today, we are not simply recognizing a spelling bee champion,” Patrick said. “We are recognizing a young person whose curiosity, discipline and perseverance demonstrate what is possible when talent is matched with hard work.”

Commissioner Patrick presented Sarv with a proclamation on behalf of the DeKalb County Governing Authority, congratulating him on his remarkable achievement and recognizing the inspiration he provides to students throughout DeKalb County.

Patrick also recognized Larry Scheinpflug for more than two decades of dedicated volunteer service to DeKalb-Peachtree Airport and the PDK Airport Advisory Board.

Scheinpflug, a pilot and aircraft owner, joined the advisory board in July 2005 and has served under multiple District 1 commissioners, the release said. He has held both chair and vice chair positions and has contributed his aviation experience to discussions involving airport planning, safety, infrastructure, leases, landing fees and airport standards.

His service has included work on major initiatives such as the PDK Airport Master Plan and the construction of T-hangars, while helping foster constructive dialogue among airport officials, pilots, airport users and the surrounding community.

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