Meet the 14 National Spelling Bee Finalists From Illinois

Beginning Tuesday, children from across the U.S., including several from Illinois, will take the stage and compete in the 2023 Scripps National Spe...

May 31, 2023
7:44 AM

Beginning Tuesday, children from across the U.S., including several from Illinois, will take the stage and compete in the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee competition. Fourteen students from Illinois, many in the Chicago area, will be among 231 competing for their spot in the Finals. Preliminary rounds of the highly competitive event begin Tuesday, followed by quarter and semifinals Wednesday and the grand event - the Finals - on Thursday. But only one will take home the Scripps Cup. Here's a look at the spellers from Illinois who will compete: Annette Chu, 13, of Chicago Lukas Nowak, 12, Chicago Emme Whitebone, 13, Chicago Srinidhi Rao, 113, Chicago Steven Jiang, 14.