CINCINNATI, Ohio-Sharonville student Emily Castilla participated in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee, finishing 149th after misspelling “mah-jongg” in the third round. Her older brother’s influence sparked her passion for spelling. Emily dedicated an hour daily to studying 100 words and reinforced her learning by writing them down in a notebook. Despite the national stage, she remained composed, viewing the competition as a friendly pursuit of a common goal.
