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Speller NumberNameAgeGradeCityStateBioFoodAnimalAuthorBookGameAthleteSportHistorical FigureColorTV ShowMusicianSongSubjectMovieCandyCartoon CharacterWord
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1Ayden N.115BirminghamAlabamaAyden likes to travel to Vietnam which is his family’s home country. He has visited more than 10 times and speaks Vietnamese fluently. Ayden plays noncompetitive badminton, likes aeronautical things, and plays airplane engineering games.PhoElephantYoung Sheldon
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2Readell M.148AnchorageAlaskaReadell loves wildlife, especially marine wildlife. His hobbies include making art, playing ukulele and drums, singing and reading. He plays the trombone and tuba and has joined the school choir and band. He also wrestles and is a member of the school track and field team, where he is one of the best around in shotput and discus. He loves playing video games and watching science fiction and comedy.Frank SinatraBlueM&Ms
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3Elden W.127FairbanksAlaskaElden is a military kid who enjoys traveling to new places and making new friends wherever he goes. He enjoys playing basketball, soccer and piano, but his favorite hobbies include writing stories, reading realistic fiction and fantasy, and studying for math competitions with his friends.ChessThe MandalorianM&Ms
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4Aliyah A.138PhoenixArizonaAliyah is a huge Lord of the Rings nerd. She even enjoyed "The Silmarillion," partially thanks to the abundance of Elvish word roots. She reads lots of books, although the fantasy and fiction genres hold a special place in her heart. Aliyah loves music, especially playing the violin and singing. She really enjoys drawing, playing chess and hanging out with her twin brother, Jacob. An animal lover, she can also be found riding her pony, Scout, or spending time with her dogs, Graycie and Lucy. She dreams of being a small animal veterinarian, specializing in avian and exotic pets.Zaila Avant-gardeJeopardy!"Desperado" by the Eagles
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5Isabelle G.137PhoenixArizonaIsabelle has a myriad of interests. While she is an avid reader, she spends much of her time working through math programs and solving equations of all sorts. For the last two years she has played tuba, and she currently plays in four different band ensembles. Isabelle is a Cadette in Girl Scouts of America and is currently working on her Silver Award project to create an emotional regulation room for students at two local middle schools. After three years of martial arts with her brother and father, Isabelle has earned a green belt in Kajukenbo. In her spare moments of free time, Isabelle enjoys drawing, writing poetry and making friendship bracelets.Ketchupher band friendsMr. Holland's Opus
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6Shynelle J.126Window RockArizonaShynelle likes to read and watch “ABC World News Tonight” with David Muir. She also likes to play chess, solve math problems and watch movies of many genres, including comedy, drama, action and historical. Shynelle likes to travel with her family.Sage Green"Wagon Wheel" by Darius RuckerEeyore
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7Ryan F.116JacksonvilleArkansasRyan’s favorite activities include playing soccer and playing piano. He also loves to speed-solve Rubik's Cubes — in fact, he has more than 20 different kinds of similar puzzles. He also likes playing chess online and reading fantasy books such as the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. As a science enthusiast, Ryan can recite the periodic table of elements, and his dream is to work for NASA.his dad's red cooked porkThe Legend of Zelda seriesLudwig van Beethoven
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8Aarav B.127NassauThe BahamasAarav Balani is 12 years old and in seventh grade at Lyford Cay International School in Nassau, The Bahamas. Some of Aarav’s hobbies include traveling, playing soccer and reading, including “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins and the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. Aarav loves pizza and its toppings, except for pineapple. Aarav enjoys playing guitar.PizzaSoccerBromeliad
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9Eckward F.128NassauThe BahamasEckward’s hobbies include running, playing basketball and playing video games. He is a self-motivated scholar and a Rangers Cadet. Eckward likes to cook, and his favorite meal is shrimp fettuccine. Eckward enjoys watching “Despicable Me” and eating peanut M&Ms.BasketballRedSpongeBob SquarePants
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10Sebastian M.115BakersfieldCaliforniaSebastian has a great affinity for gaming, and his favorites include “Undertale," “Roblox" and “Minecraft.” He enjoys reading, and is currently finishing up the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. When he is not conquering the battle fields of Roblox, Sebastian is absorbing new tactics while watching his favorite YouTubers' gameplay videos.UndertaleFusajiro YamauchiSour Skittles
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11Amaani C.148DanvilleCaliforniaAmaani loves to explore different types of music, and she plays soccer for her school team. She enjoys drawing and multimedia arts. Amaani likes to write stories and books with her friends, and she also codes on Scratch. For fun, she likes to learn new languages, read fiction books and explore different cuisines. She is passionate about saving endangered species in the wild.Rasam with rice and gheeSudha MurthyRoyal pink
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12Aren L.127DanvilleCaliforniaAren plays a variety of sports, including football, soccer and archery. He also enjoys reading science fiction and historical fiction. Aren's favorite subject in school is history, and in particular, he likes to learn about influential wars. Aren's favorite pastimes at home are joking around with his brother and playing board games with his family, especially Settlers of Catan and Axis & Allies.Pearl meatballsBattleTechFootball
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13Shradha R.148DanvilleCaliforniaApart from spelling, Shradha enjoys many things, including reading, writing and listening to music. Her favorite musician is Taylor Swift because of her relatable songs and amazing voice. Shradha loves dancing and the company of her friends. She also likes building with Lego and solving puzzles during her free time and is skilled at completing escape rooms. Shradha is an avid collector of stationery."Crooked Kingdom" by Leigh BardugoFrenchDespicable Me 2
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14Carina B.137El CentroCaliforniaCarina’s hobbies include playing the piano, drawing, going to dance classes and reading. Carina’s favorite book is “Esperanza Rising” by Pam Muñoz Ryan because the main character’s inspirational journey passes through El Centro, California, where Carina goes to school. During her free time, she often likes to hang out with her sisters and her best friend. When she’s outdoors, she enjoys playing with her dogs, Luna and Winnie, and playing tetherball with her younger sister. Carina also loves to travel around the world with her family and learn about different cultures.Her older sister's shrimp fettuccine alfredoAnimal CrossingReba
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15Aarav M.137FresnoCaliforniaAarav has many hobbies and considers himself as an all-rounder. He loves basketball, tennis, water polo, swimming, billiards, cricket, and golfing above all. An accomplishment he is most proud of is making it to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Aarav is currently on a 10th grade math level, and he teaches math to his younger brother in his free time. He and his brother both go golfing with their parents.Tiger WoodsKaran AujlaMickey Mouse
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16Katelyn N.137IrvineCaliforniaOutside of spelling, Katelyn’s pastimes include reading, playing the piano, and practicing martial arts — she is a blue belt in Aikido. As for reading, she mostly enjoys novels of fiction and fantasy, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling being her favorite book. Katelyn also loves spending time with friends and family, which she does frequently, and she counts making it to the Scripps National Spelling Bee as her proudest achievement yet.TigerGenshin ImpactEnglish
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17Oliver H.126Los AngelesCaliforniaOliver loves to read, play soccer and play piano. His favorite book is “Animal Farm” by George Orwell, and he loves reading “The Economist” weekly. He just finished level five piano and is proud of the hard work it took. Oliver spends his free time with his nose in a book or talking with his friends and family. He also loves cooking new recipes with his mom and watching sitcoms.JaguarRobert StephensonEnglish
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18Rishabh H.148MercedCaliforniaRishabh enjoys many activities, including chess, video games and reading. He is also a dedicated musician and can fluently play multiple musical instruments, including piano, tuba, sousaphone, bells and euphonium. His favorite subject in school is mathematics. Outside of academic activities, Rishabh loves the outdoors. He has visited 59 of the 63 U.S. National Parks with his dad, and he loves taking a hike in nature. Finally, he is, unsurprisingly, a fan of words. He frequently dives into dictionaries to find new words to use.Cyan“We’ll Meet Again” by Laura Brehm and TheFatRatEuphoria
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19Avijeet R.138RiversideCaliforniaAvi enjoys playing “Minecraft,” pickleball, drums, and guitar. He enjoys writing essays in language arts and building large Lego structures. In his free time, Avi often plays basketball and goes for brief walks outside. He likes to watch animals as they explore and live their lives. Avi and his sisters have created a family dynasty at their regional spelling bee, with eight consecutive victories between the siblings. Avi previously competed in 2023 (tied for 12th place).Chicken tikka masala and naanTigerOrange
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20Nithika R.148SacramentoCaliforniaNithika likes singing, dancing and swimming and is a proud member of the local swim team. She has performed the national anthem at over 50 sporting events, including at Stanford University and University of California campuses. She also performed the anthem at the Sacramento Run to Feed the Hungry, which had over 30,000 participants. She also sings pop songs and holiday songs at community events. She learns traditional Indian dance and has also performed with her dance school in the Sacramento area. A well-rounded child to say the least, she also enjoys reading, gaming, drawing digital art, coding, listening to music and watching movies.Grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soupElephantMonument Valley
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21Ryan F.148SalinasCaliforniaRyan has many hobbies and extracurriculars. These extracurriculars include sports, such as soccer, volleyball, tennis, sailing and track. He also loves to read in his free time, especially fantasy and LitRPG genres. His other hobbies include geography, writing and languages. As a young child, he was very well-traveled and has visited over 15 countries. Ryan spoke German fluently between the ages of two and five while attending a German kindergarten.“Dissonance: Unbound” by Nicoli GonnellaJessica WatsonSoccer
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22Shrey P.126San BernadinoCaliforniaShrey likes playing tennis, reading mystery and fiction books, solving math problems and playing chess. He plays the drums, having experience with snare drum, bass drum and crash cymbals in his school’s band. He loves going to school and spending time with his friends every day. A lover of nature, Shrey can often be found outside, playing games with his brother, namely tennis and Spikeball.Dosa"Treasure Island" by Robert Louis StevensonThe Goonies
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23Srikanth S.K.148San BernadinoCaliforniaSrikanth has many different hobbies, such as watching basketball and football, and collecting basketball and football cards. He has also played basketball for five years. He enjoys playing the trombone and playing video games with his friends. A thrill-seeker, Srikanth loves amusement park rides, so he goes to Six Flags with his friends when he can. In his free time, he can also be found watching horror movies and television."The Unwanteds" by Lisa McMannStephen CurryBasketball
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24Benjamin E.148San DiegoCaliforniaBen’s hobbies include basketball, football and playing the piano. When he's not at practice or sports games, he's usually hanging out with friends or watching basketball or football, depending on the season. Ben also enjoys reading books of all kinds and is a fan of Marvel movies. His favorite subject is math because he sees it as a puzzle.BurritoBrandon MullDonovan Mitchell and Brock Purdy
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25Ibrahim Z.138Thousand OaksCaliforniaIbrahim loves going outside and taking pictures of everything he can. Photography is definitely one of his favorite things to do, and he also does some writing occasionally. He likes watching and reading science fiction movies and books, and when he can, he exercises and plays games with his family. Ibrahim loves hanging out with his cats, making stop-motion animations and playing basketball.CerealRocket LeagueNinjago
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26Sarvadnya K.137VisaliaCaliforniaSarvadnya moved from India to New York City and started learning the English language at the age of six. His name in Sanskrit means "the one who knows all," and as his name implies, he strives to learn everything he can about the world. He enjoys pondering philosophical queries and studying ancient history and mathematics. He’s a big fan of “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey.” He also finds swimming an engaging and refreshing pastime and names Michael Phelps as his favorite athlete.Pav BhajiPeregrine FalconThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildChanakya
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27Duncan G.148Nova ScotiaCanadaDuncan enjoys reading all types of books, especially fantasy and sci-fi, and his favorites are The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien. Duncan’s favorite subjects are math and science. He also loves paleontology and has visited the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, Canada. Duncan likes to spend his time learning about the world around him and playing with his friends both offline and online. He is learning the bass guitar and loves to listen to all kinds of music.PenguinThe Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien
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28Arshan S.104OntarioCanadaA self-described voracious reader, Arshan loves to immerse himself in a good book. He also plays chess, soccer and Roblox, but only after he is done with his chores. A fan of funny, animated movies like "Escape From Planet Earth," he has quite the sense of humor himself and uses this power for good: for example, in de-escalating heated arguments.LasagnaJ.K. RowlingMedia literacy
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29Isaac B.126OntarioCanadaIsaac enjoys many sports like pickleball, soccer, volleyball and basketball. He also enjoys playing chess. Isaac is a newspaper review courier, and he delivers the flyers to his neighborhood. He is involved in his local church. Isaac wants to be an aeronautical engineer or a neurologist when he grows up."Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan SwiftPickleballDespicable Me
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30Cooper E.115BoulderColoradoCooper is a fifth grader at Niwot Elementary in Niwot, Colorado. He qualified for the Colorado state swim championships in nine events and can run a mile in under six minutes. He is also lead guitarist and lead singer of his band, the Night Owls. He enjoys reading, spelling and playing basketball. Cooper is an avid fan of the Denver NuggetsPeregrine FalconNikola JokićYoung Sheldon
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31Aditi M138DenverColoradoAditi is an avid reader who enjoys reading Jane Austen books. In her free time, she enjoys writing short stories, riding her bike, learning and performing Indian classical dance and playing the flute. Aditi was selected as an National Junior Honor Society Outstanding Achievement Award recipient this year. She enjoys doing community service by volunteering at local food banks. Aditi is also very involved in her school community and is president of the student council, vice president of her school’s National Junior Honor Society chapter, and a member of an ambassador group designed to support new students.Her mom's chicken biryaniGravity FallsCat
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32Hayden H.147West HartfordConnecticutHayden is passionate about mathematics, music, performing and language. She has been recognized nationally in writing, including by Dear Poet and the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. Hayden has performed in theater for years, including “Matilda," “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast," “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Alice in Wonderland." Hayden is passionate about music and writing songs while playing piano or guitar. Hayden has won national math competitions and qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination with Distinction. Hayden was recognized by the Mathematical Association of America as one of the Top Young Women in Mathematics. She strives to encourage girls to become involved in math.Anything her sister makesMaryam MirzakhaniMath
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33Vihaan J.105GeorgetownDelawareVihaan loves to spend his free time either creating art or reading. He loves any book with a thrilling climax or a scary ending. Vihaan has a few friends he likes to hang out and play with. He participates in swimming and karate and enjoys competition. He is really good at helping his sisters with their homework. Other than reading, Vihaan enjoys math and science; he always wants to experiment with his own science projects to see if he can figure things. He likes to watch movies with the whole family and is very critical and expressive about what he thinks of each movie.BrowniesWolvesAsh from Pokémon
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34Noah R.148WashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaWhen he's not doing schoolwork, Noah often plays sports, primarily track, cross country, baseball, soccer and basketball. He is especially proud of his second-place medal in his district’s cross country championships meet. Noah also plays the guitar and the snare drum and enjoys listening to music. He enjoys reading, especially science fiction. In general, he likes to spend lots of time outdoors, especially while biking, hiking, running and birdwatching."The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas AdamsTrack and fieldMusic
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35Victoria M137WashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaVictoria is incredibly proud to be a part of this year’s Bee. An active member of the National Junior Honor Society and Boy Scouts of America, she has a wide range of interests, including reading, coding, drawing and animating, writing stories and poems and practicing archery. She counts “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle as one of her favorite books and Albert Einstein, Marie Curie and Malala Yousafzai as her favorite historical figures. Her favorite subjects in school are science, history and math.Tui T. SutherlandSwimming and archeryMalala Yousafzai
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36Benjamin G.94SelfkantGermanyBen is nine years old and lives in Selfkant, Germany. As a child in a military family, he has moved many times, including most recently to Latvia and Germany. Ben loves origami, solving Rubik's Cubes and playing sports. His favorites are basketball and soccer. Ben loves to travel and see new things. This will be his first time in Washington, D.C. and in the United States.RamenBeauden BarrettTerry Fox
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37Claire S.137DeLandFloridaClaire thrives on creativity. She loves to write, mainly short stories. She has also started a 40,000-word book that is, as yet, unfinished. Claire creates three-dimensional art like sculptures out of clay, paper and other textiles. She often gets compliments on her talent for singing, piano and theater. Claire has been a voracious reader from an early age and loves poignant coming-of-age novels. Although a native Floridian who loves the water, she is also an avid snow skier and mountain hiker.Almond ButterSharon CreechAlexander Hamilton
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38Nicasio D137Fort MyersFloridaNicasio is a 13-year-old from Fort Myers, Florida. In his free time, he often listens to music, reads the news and spends time with his family. Nicasio also loves listening to audiobooks and podcasts to learn about various topics. Outside of spelling, he takes martial arts, enjoys doing math competitions and volunteers at his church regularly.Jesus ChristCivicsTwix
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39Sree Vidya S137JacksonvilleFloridaSree Vidya loves spelling. Apart from excelling in etymology and vocabulary, she also loves math, and tutors elementary students through Orlando Math Circle. Her interests include reading, painting, baking and playing the piano and flute. Sree Vidya's favorite book is "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen.TiramisuJane AustenVenus Williams
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40Camila S.I.138MiamiFloridaCamila has a number of interests, including reading, writing and playing video games. She is a food connoisseur and likes testing out various recipes. She attends a Dungeons & Dragons club biweekly at her local library and loves watching movies and Broadway shows. Her favorite movie is “The Mitchells vs. The Machines.” Camila hopes to become a film director when she grows up so that she can contribute to the magic of cinema.Patricia Forde“What Happened to Rachel Riley?” by Claire Swinarski"Due Vite" by Marco Mengoni
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41Jasmine P.115MiamiFloridaJasmine has many interests, fueled by a love for reading, creativity and physical activity. She prefers fiction books, but she occasionally reads non-fiction and science books. Jasmine practices gymnastics and Aikido, where she channels her energy and focus. She enjoys playing the piano and singing. Jasmine also fancies painting, using her creativity to bring colorful characters to life. Jasmine enjoys spending time with her friends at the local park, and they often stay there for hours."Fish in a Tree" by Lynda Mullaly HuntSimone BilesAikido
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42Rylan W.137NaplesFloridaRylan enjoys video games and animation as well as fantasy books and movies. His hobbies include drawing, practicing the keyboard, reading about history, participating in his school's garden club and competing for his school's Academic WorldQuest team. Rylan's favorite author is Rick Riordan.OcelotRick RiordanRoblox
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43Elvis A.138OrlandoFloridaThroughout his academic journey, Elvis has enthusiastically participated in a variety of extracurricular activities. Elvis is a talented pianist and vocalist. He has been an Orange County Public Schools Top Talent Finalist for six consecutive years, earning both the Fan Favorite Award and 2nd place honors. He has showcased his musical abilities at renowned venues such as Universal Studios, Island H20 Water Park and the Orange County Public Schools Music and Arts Festival. He is a member of musical theater and All-County Chorus. Elvis runs a Blooket YouTube channel with over 4,000 subscribers and accumulating over half a million views.Armenian lavash rolls filled with Hong Kong-style roasted duckRunning and yogaSesquipedalian
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44Nathan C.138OrlandoFloridaNathan, a member of his school's acting club, enjoys choreographed dances and was the lead character in his school’s production of “Descendants” in 7th grade. He enjoys playing tennis and gaming with friends. He is currently reading The Inheritance Cycle book series by Christopher Paolini. After he finishes that, he will move on to The Lord of the Rings. Nathan is looking forward to visiting Washington, D.C., so he can visit all the museums.EggsJames RileyArmin van Buuren
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45Velvizhi S116OrlandoFloridaVel has many hobbies, such as art, calligraphy, sewing and embroidering. She also enjoys solving Rubik's Cubes. Vel wrote a book called "The Elephant Tamers' Tale,” which was published in 2023. She spends her free time watching TV and reading books, especially “Words on Fire” by Jennifer A. Nielsen. She enjoys learning about history and science, particularly biology. Vel can perform a Tamil martial art known as Silambam.Sarah Beth Durst"Words on Fire" by Jennifer A. NielsenHistory and biology
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46Amara C115St. PetersburgFloridaAmara has many interests, including drawing, singing, reading, playing tennis, playing piano and working on challenging algebraic equations. In her free time, she loves to watch movies, draw, speak to her friends and compose and sing her songs. She is an advanced tennis player, spending at least two hours daily on the court. Amara is obsessed with music, especially songs by Taylor Swift, and she has been composing her own pieces since she was seven years old.Carlos AlcarazBillie Jean King"Enchanted" by Taylor Swift
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47Bruhat S.127St. PetersburgFloridaBruhat is a multifaceted person with many interests and hobbies. He loves to play and watch basketball, and his favorite player is LeBron James. He also likes to play badminton and Ping-Pong, which clearly shows his passion for sports. Bruhat also has a passion for music, playing snare drum in his middle school band. Bruhat is an avid reader who will devour any book on which he can get his hands.
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48Jordin O148St. PetersburgFloridaJordin loves to draw. She is mainly a digital 2D artist, but she draws traditionally as well. Some of her drawings could take as long as eight hours in one sitting without eating or taking a break. Jordin also loves to read and will read just about everything, but her favorite book is “Wizardmatch” by Lauren Magaziner, and her favorite author is Jennifer Lynn Barnes.Jennifer Lynn BarnesLittle RascalsHaribo Twin Snakes gummies
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49Allie. W138TallahasseeFloridaAllie is the youngest of three children. She loves spending time with her friends and family, playing volleyball (beach volleyball when she can), playing violin, reading and running. Her favorite book is “The Princess Bride” by William Goldman, and her favorite game is a card game called Dutch Blitz. Her favorite food is pasta, and she has a dog and a parakeet as pets."The Princess Bride" by William GoldmanBeach VolleyballHome Alone 2
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50Matthew B.148TuckerGeorgiaMatthew was born in Hawaii but now lives in Georgia. Over the years, he’s acquired an eclectic list of interests, including language, math, computer science, jiu-jitsu, cello, piano, and music composition. He’s not only composed numerous piano and cello pieces but also written his own novel. He is a true polymath with an insatiable thirst for knowledge and an unwavering commitment to his passions. He has a rottweiler named Targa, a Pembroke Welsh corgi named Baxter and a leopard gecko named Jay. BlueMathhumuhumunukunukuapuaa
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51Sarv D.104TuckerGeorgiaSarv likes to do many different things in his free time, such as play outside, spend time with family and friends, and, most importantly, read. He plays soccer, swims, and is a green belt in tae kwon do. Some of his favorite hobbies are origami, speed-solving Rubik's Cubes, playing the piano, computer programming and building with Lego bricks. His favorite school subjects are math and English, and his favorite type of book is fantasy because he loves the feeling of being transported to another world. He has a goal of traveling to every state in the U.S. and aspires to be a scientist or mathematician one day.StoatKirby and the Forgotten LandDuckTales
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52Abena K138AccraGhanaAbena’s leisure time is mostly used for reading novels, watching movies, taking walks while listening to music or playing her favorite game, ludo. Her favorite book is “The Kaya Girl” by Mamle Wolo, which takes place in her city. She also draws a lot because it helps her to relax. One of her proudest accomplishments was winning her school’s annual quiz competition on her first try, in second grade."The Kaya Girl" by Mamle WoloCleopatraThe Woman King
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53Giovanni A106AccraGhanaAlthough many describe him as a studious person, Giovanni takes joy in relaxing and engaging in hobbies like reading comic books, playing the keyboard and kicking around a football on the pitch. Aside from winning the Ghana Spelling Bee, he is also proud to have won 1st and 2nd place in different categories in the Ghana National UCMAS competition. Occasionally, you can find Giovanni swimming in a pool or relaxing on a couch watching Netflix with his brother.Fufu and peanut butter soupCheetahUsain Bolt
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54N'Adom D137AccraGhanaN'Adom loves playing badminton and basketball, although she is not necessarily good at either. In her free time, she reads and plays the violin. N'Adom also enjoys playing Fortnite whenever she gets the opportunity. Some accomplishments she is proud of include winning the Ghana Spelling Bee twice, a feat that no one else has ever done, and playing the trumpet at the National Theatre of Ghana.Samelia BawuahFortniteSimone Biles
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55Alleena V137HagåtñaGuamAlleena is a very avid reader, with some of her favorite books including "Emma" by Jane Austen and "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë. She partakes in a number of activities, including her school's math team, speech and debate, Model United Nations and writing contests. Alleena has been taking lessons in tae kwon do for two years and is preparing to become a first-degree black belt. In her free time, Alleena enjoys performing songs on the piano and baking pastries. She also enjoys playing with her pet dog, Potato, a Maltese poodle who loves to play fetch."From the Start" by LaufeyLiteratureDark Chocolate
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56Sebastian B.137Honolulu HawaiiSebastian loves drawing, playing basketball and traveling. His favorite school subject is English because he enjoys writing, but he also has an interest in astronomy. Most of all, he likes to spend his free time hanging out with friends. Although he’s an expert speller, his favorite word is “forty” because he won his first ever spelling bee with it, in the second grade. He has three goldfish: Homer, Bjorn and Kobi.Bacon and chocolate chip cookiesWhiteRatatouille
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57Amiah V.H.138Coeur d'AleneIdahoAmiah is an avid reader. She has been playing the violin since she was very young and loves going to musicals. She is very interested in law and she looks up to her idol, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Amiah loves hanging out with her friends and listening to music in her free time. Amiah will read anything you put in front of her and is very invested in anything academic. Amiah is the youngest person in the state of Idaho to win the Young Philanthropist Award at the age of six, and she appeared on “The Rachael Ray Show” for raising $23,000 for the lunch debt in her school district."Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie GarmusHillary HahnCivics
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58Navtaj S137LewistonIdahoNavtaj has a healthy range of interests in his life, including playing the violin in his school orchestra and speed-solving Rubik’s Cubes. He also enjoys spending time with his family and hanging out with his friends or just calling them on the phone. He especially loves to play Roblox and play games with his sister.RobloxLight GreenChocolate
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59Nidhi K127ChicagoIllinoisNidhi is an avid reader and enjoys fiction and nonfiction alike. She also likes hiking, biking and spending time with her family and friends. She is the captain of her school's Science Olympiad team and has led her team to state level competitions. She is in debate and math clubs as well. An animal lover, she is a sought-after cat-sitter in her community. For entertainment, she likes watching medical dramas, science fiction and historical movies and shows.Paneer curryMathCarmen Sandiego
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60Anette C.148ChicagoIllinoisAnnette enjoys reading, watercolor painting, playing volleyball, watching “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Station 19,” and listening to music. She likes coffee ice cream, Sour Patch Kids and spending time with her friends.Yuki TsunodaGrey's AnatomyBadtz-Maru
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61Dev K148ChicagoIllinoisDev is an active teen with varied interests which include reading and playing basketball. He likes to solve math problems and explore geographical maps. He likes to read fiction books and also loves to watch fictional movies. In his free time, he plays basketball and swims. His favorite pastime is watching different sports on ESPN and tracking the scores of different sports. He is a sports aficionado and is a fan of Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs.Mutter paneerToy Story 3Donald Duck
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62Ribhu C.148ChicagoIllinoisRibhu is a well-rounded individual who enjoys playing alto and tenor saxophone, reading, hiking and cooking. He also enjoys nature and music in general, as well as acting in plays. In addition, he likes to spend his free time having fun with friends and family, especially going to new places. He also exercises and runs for the fun of it. So far, his proudest accomplishment is making it to this year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee.JalebiBruce Springsteen"Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor
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63Andres R127DeKalbIllinoisAndres likes to solve and collect Rubik's Cubes. Andres also really likes learning about the cities and capitals of countries of the world and the evolution of country flags. He likes learning about science and has an interest in space as well. Andres feels proud of being part of a trivia club in his school. He likes to make books and learn about large numbers in his free time. Andres also plays trivia games with his older sisters.AxolotlShel SilversteinSergio Pérez
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64Hendrix F147FreeportIllinoisHendrix is on his school's Lego League robotics team and hopes to pursue an engineering or science-based career. As someone who loves learning new things and hanging out with friends, he is both grateful and thrilled to be competing at the Scripps National Spelling Bee for the first time this year.Benjamin FranklinTasting HistoryThe Weeknd
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65Yahya M126GenevaIllinoisYahya is a kind, fun-loving person who likes to play with Legos and watch sports, especially Bears, Cubs and Bulls games. He enjoys playing with his little sister, Maryam, hanging out with his friends, watching game shows, playing video games and reading books. His favorite genres are historical fiction and anything with suspense. Yahya loves spending summers in India with his extended family, and he also enjoys trying different foods.BiryaniCity Spies series by James PontiMadden NFL
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66Ananya J126Loves ParkIllinoisAlongside spelling, Ananya enjoys playing the piano, building with Lego, binge reading, learning Bharata Natyam, coding on Scratch and writing essays and short stories. She is also currently learning Spanish, Sanskrit and Kumauni. She is part of her school's Science Olympiad team, quiz bowl team, student council and band. An ardent "Potterhead," or, rather, a self-proclaimed "Grangerhead,” Ananya gushes over Harry Potter movies and canon in her free time.Rajma chawalElina SvitolinaRani of Jhansi
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67Evan C127McHenryIllinoisEvan enjoys playing chess, video games with his friends, and Scrabble with his family. His other favorite hobbies include playing the cello, coding and programming on Roblox Studio. His favorite subject is math, and he enjoys reading science fiction and fantasy books. Evan's favorite authors include Lois Lowry and J.R.R Tolkien. He wants to be a chemist when he grows up."The Giver" by Lois LowryChessQueen
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68Adhrit P116MorrisIllinoisAdhrit describes himself as a simple and self-motivated person. One of the youngest spellers to win his regional county spelling bee, he also has an interest in social studies. He spends quality time solving math problems and helps his friends if they need it. He is passionate about playing instruments, namely the trombone and the piano. He loves to swim and read books, and he credits his parents as his greatest motivators."Pie in the Sky" by Remy LaiYu-Gi-Oh!RRR
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69Jake B.148Sterling IllinoisJake enjoys playing soccer, running track, participating in quiz bowl, acting in drama and helping with his church programs. In his free time, when not hanging out with friends, he plays video games, learns Japanese and designs his own video games. Jake also cooks dinner most nights to help his mom out after her dialysis treatments. He is hoping to get a kitten after coming home from Nationals.Undertale and DeltaruneFacundo TorresMatthew West
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70Ian L126Vernon HillisIllinoisIan enjoys coding, reading and traveling. He plays the clarinet in his school's concert band. Ian's favorite genre of books is fantasy, and one of his favorite series is the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series by Rick Riordan. He also likes going to his local library and reading books there as well as playing with his friends.Rick RiordanHarry Potter series by J.K. RowlingReese's Peanut Butter Cups
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71Sean G138WheatonIllinoisSean enjoys solving Rubik's Cubes and other twisty puzzles. He also loves math and competes on his school math team. An enthusiastic learner, he likes to study national flags and emblems. Sean is excited to travel to Washington, D.C., for the first time and plans to see Embassy Row.LlamaGordan KormanKevin MacLeod
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72Reid S137BloomingtonIndianaReid has many interests in addition to spelling. He is an avid baseball player and plays for the Bloomington Blue Sox travel team. He has also participated in basketball and cross country. In his free time, Reid watches sports, plays electric guitar, hangs out with his friends and enjoys video games. He and his family like to go on excursions and enjoy each other's company."The Big Field" by Mike LupicaBaseballPowder Blue
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73Achyut E148Fort WayneIndianaAchyut’s hobbies include reading comics, playing chess, gardening and playing table tennis. He also loves playing saxophone, collecting toy cars and competing in academic competitions, such as Indiana Academic Spell Bowl, Lego robotics and chess tournaments. He enjoys watching Netflix documentaries and other movies, “Minions: The Rise of Gru” being his favorite. He is a fraternal twin.BhajjiLionel MessiTable Tennis
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74Miah M137IndianapolisIndianaMiah is an accomplished cellist, likes to volunteer at the local library and is proud to be a setter on her club’s volleyball team. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her friends, baking and playing the New York Times word games. As a member of her Spell Bowl team, she has helped her school win the state championship two years in a row."What the River Knows" by Isabel IbañezVolleyballPink
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75Sharanya K116LafayetteIndianaSharanya has many interests. She does Bharatnatyam, an Indian classical dance. She enjoys playing piano and viola, reading and playing with her four-year old sister. In her free time, Sharanya enjoys spending time with family, hanging out with friends, listening to music and watching a variety of streaming media. She also does many extracurricular and after-school activities such as her school newspaper, WLIS Review. Sharanya is also involved in Student Council, Art Club, Choir, Orchestra, and more.J.K. RowlingRani of JhansiBLACKPINK
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76Leo F115MuncieIndianaIn addition to spelling, Leo participates in multiple sports, including soccer, cross country, basketball and track and field. In the future, he would love to play professional soccer in the Premier League. He plays piano and viola and enjoys reading, math, being outside and playing kickball with his friends at school. His favorite musicians are Bootsy Collins, Iggy Pop, Peter Gabriel and David Bowie.Sesame chickenRonaldinho Gaúcho"Moonlight Sonata" by Ludwig van Beethoven
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77Nolan R148WanatahIndianaNolan has many hobbies like playing instruments, including the guitar, piano and drums. He also enjoys spending time with his friends, playing videogames and reading. Nolan likes to cook and is a "foodie" who enjoys all kinds of food. He was on the basketball team at school.Sushi"Brisingr" by Christopher PaoliniHockey
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78Parthasaradhi K127DavenportIowaPartha is an enthusiastic tennis player who has competed in USTA tournaments, securing several L6 championships. He is passionate about sports and has a strong interest in technology, as well as a love for reading realistic fiction books. Partha also enjoys delving into history and understanding the mechanics of how things work. His involvement in First Lego League Robotics has led to his team achieving awards in innovation, robot design and performance at state and international levels.Shrimp biryaniNeal ShustermanCarlos Alcaraz
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79Emory J148OlatheKansasEmory participates in multiple sports, including basketball, soccer, track and cross country. She serves on her middle school yearbook staff, where she enjoys interacting with classmates and taking pictures. She is active in school clubs and her church youth group. Emory has always been passionate about reading. She enjoys both fiction and nonfiction books, and she has special interests in studying animals and zoology. She likes to bake, travel with her family and spend time with friends.Polar BearThe Hunger Games series by Suzanne CollinsEd Sheeran
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80Carey C138TopekaKansasCarey has many hobbies, including playing the violin for the Wichita Youth Chamber Orchestra and playing chess. Carey also enjoys watching soccer and has even traveled to London to watch his favorite team play. He enjoys learning new things and spending time with family and friends. In his free time, he watches television, plays video games or reads books. His favorite genre of book is nonfiction, and he likes to run with friends because it inspires him to be more active and involved.SaladTigerForza Horizon
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81Aarya M138FlorenceKentuckyIn Aarya’s free time, he likes to play American football and video games. He has a passion for math and science and enjoys reading books, especially thriller novels, and watching movies, especially Marvel movies. He loves doing trivia and traveling with his family, exploring new countries and visiting his family in India. This will be his first trip to Washington, D.C., and he’s thrilled to be competing in this year’s Bee."The Da Vinci Code" by Dan BrownTyreek HillYoung Sheldon
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82Anna G.148HopkinsvilleKentuckyAnna's many hobbies include reading, writing and playing soccer. She also loves cooking and baking a wide variety of dishes. In her spare time, Anna relaxes by listening to music. Anna has seven older siblings. She aspires to be a pathologist when she grows up.Erling HaalandShe's the ManFerrero Rocher
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83Ian G.148HopkinsvilleKentuckyIan is involved in many activities, like soccer, violin, trumpet, academic team and Mathcounts. Above all, his favorite class is band. When he is not doing schoolwork, he likes talking to friends, reading and watching old soccer games. He knows all about soccer trivia, in fact, and his favorite player is Kaoru MitomaTaiwanese beef noodle soup from a Taipei noodle shopArc of a Scythe series by Neal Shusterman"Take On Me" by a-ha
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84Joshua B137HopkinsvilleKentuckyJoshua likes to play video games like Roblox and Minecraft in his free time. He likes history and making up stories. Joshua likes the color red – it’s better than blue and green! Joshua’s favorite snacks include sushi and gum, and he enjoys studying science and paleontology. Joshua enjoys watching "Jurassic Park" and "Gravity Falls.""Gravity Falls: Journal 3" by Alex Hirsch and Rob RenzettiCristiano RonaldoFranklin Delano Roosevelt
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85Oliviah B126LexingtonKentuckyOliviah has many interests, including playing basketball, swimming, and reading. Her favorite books are the “Keeper of the Lost Cities” books by Shannon Messenger, and her favorite author is J.K. Rowling. Oliviah enjoys school and singing in her church’s worship team. She also loves Starbucks and Chick-Fil-A.SteakBluey"Rain in the Rearview" by Anne Wilson
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86Zachary R137LouisvilleKentuckyZachary loves to play the cello and is a member of the school's orchestra. As a pastime, Zachary plays tennis and cuddles with his dog, Athena, and two cats, Phoenix and Blaze. He also likes to read fantasy novels. Zachary competes in quiz bowl tournaments for his school. He is currently learning Mandarin.RamenSail lizardRoger Federer
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87Hi-Tai L148Baton RougeLouisiana???
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88Aiden P138LafayetteLouisianaAiden is 14 years old and is an eighth grader at Scott Middle School. His hobbies include playing soccer, ice skating and skiing. Aiden is most proud of the various awards he has earned throughout spelling bee competitions. He enjoys visiting other states and countries to learn about their history and the culture that makes them so unique.Leopard geckoBukayo SakaSoccer
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89Paranika E93Lake CharlesLouisianaParanika is a well-rounded child, counting hobbies such as acting, dancing, baking, chess, reading and playing piano. She also loves playing soccer, hanging out with friends and going shopping with them. One of Paranika's favorite ways to relax is reading, and she names the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney as her all-time favorite.Jeff KinneyAlex MorganSoccer
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90Nayara D.148New OrleansLouisianaNayara enjoys many activities including drawing, tennis and playing the piano and the cello. She likes to write short stories and musicals featuring her little brothers, Nadal and Niran. Nayara is also an avid reader. As president of her middle school student council, she organized a school-wide Readathon to promote children’s literacy. The Readathon inspired students at her school to read and raised money for the Scripps Howard Fund's "If You Give A Child A Book..." campaign. To relax, Nayara spends time hanging out with her friends and family, including her brothers, her cousins Kamren and Kaleb, and her cat, Bob. Kimberly Brubaker Bradley"My Most Excellent Year" by Steve KlugerMichelle Obama
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91Sanil T83ShreveportLouisianaSanil's hobbies include playing piano, running and reading books. He also enjoys playing "Minecraft" and watching “Kung Fu Panda 3” and “The InBESTigators.” Sanil likes pieces by Vivaldi, especially “Summer.” Sanil travels with his family, visiting national parks in the United States and internationally.WallabyHarry Potter series by J.K. RowlingKing Julien
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92Evan T138PortlandMaineEvan has a variety of interests. He plays piano, guitar and drums. He also enjoys figure skating, playing tennis and basketball, and running track and cross country. Evan also actively participates in Boy Scouts of America. He really likes math and is participating in the national Mathcounts competition. Most importantly, Evan enjoys spending time with his friends and family, especially taking vacations to tropical destinations.TigerAlan GratzSwedish Fish
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93Quint K126AnnapolisMarylandQuint loves playing sports with his friends, especially basketball, football and soccer. He also loves watching sports, including the NFL, the FIFA World Cup and NCAA basketball. Quint enjoys traveling and hiking with his family and has been to 27 states. He hopes to visit all 63 U.S. National Parks someday. Quint’s other hobbies include drawing, playing word games, playing video games and reviewing sports statistics. He likes to create his own fake sports leagues and simulate the games and statistics. Quint will make a tournament out of anything, including movies, matchbox cars and Nintendo songs.The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildLionel MessiReese's Peanut Butter Cups
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94June K104BaltimoreMarylandJune is in fourth grade. She loves reading and doing art projects. June loves listening to Taylor Swift, so it is fitting that she was the 13th speller at her regional spelling bee. June likes to go on walks with her family and make things with a Cricut. June loves “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins and its movie adaptation.ShumaiMinecraftGreen
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95Su H137BethesdaMarylandSu enjoys drawing, reading classic and fantasy novels, and playing video games like "Twisted Wonderland," "Identity V" and "Honkai: Star Rail." She spends her free time learning Spanish on Duolingo, writing and talkings walks. She also loves singing in a choir and doing musical theater.PinkMitski"Your Best American Girl" by Mitski
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96Navya D137ColumbiaMarylandNavya is artistically inclined. She loves to draw, paint, crochet and play the violin. She also likes to teach herself new languages and has tried to learn French, Chinese and Korean. She also enjoys playing volleyball. Last but not least, she likes socializing with friends, listening to K-pop music, having sleepovers and drinking bubble tea. DhoklaAgatha ChristieNaomi Osaka
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97Chase C115FrederickMarylandChase is an active thinker and loves to exercise his brain. He is an avid reader of fantasy novels, a dad joke aficionado and a solver of all types of puzzles, especially crosswords. Chase is also a masterful Lego builder, budding violinist and amateur computer programmer and astronomer. In addition, Chase stays active year-round, playing lacrosse in the spring, football in the fall and training in between with Crucible Performance. Chase has several pets, including a dog, a cat, two ball pythons, a bearded dragon, a Hermann's tortoise and a leopard gecko.Stoplight loosejaw fishChristopher PaoliniPrimrose purple
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98Aidan C137La PlataMarylandAidan is a voracious reader and loves playing challenging video games. His favorite book is “Holes” by Louis Sachar. Aidan also plays both indoor and outdoor soccer. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his very large family, including 15 cousins.Buffalo chicken wingsHedgehogKwame Alexander
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99Conor KR148Princess AnnMarylandConor is interested in world history and folklore, as well as military strategy and tactics. His hobbies include shooting, carpentry and reading, and he has recently taken up blacksmithing. He plays the clarinet, participates in marching band and was selected to perform at All Shore Band 2024. After graduation, he plans to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. Conor won the North Dakota Daughters of the American Revolution American History Essay Contest for three consecutive years. He has two cats, Rudiger and Whiskers Roberto.Napoleon BonaparteThe Great North"Get Down Goblin" by Jan Terri