The semi finals begin at 10 a.m. on Friday. ESPN will carry the event.
The final airs on ABC7 Friday at 7 p.m.
Ten students are from the Chicagoland area
- Adrian Saputra Gunawan of Chicago is a 12-year-old sixth grader at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School. His sponsor is the Chicago Spelling Bee Collaborative.
- Anne-Marie Hagnell Kommers of Lake Bluff is a 12-year-old sixth grader at School of St. Mary. Her sponsor is the Lake County Journals, Elgin.
- Priyanka Damarla of Huntley is a 13-year-old eighth grader at Marlowe Middle School. Her sponsor is the Northwest Herald, Elgin.
- Megan O'Brien of Freeport is a 12-year-old seventh grader at Freeport Junior High School. Her sponsor is the Journal-Standard, Freeport.
- Connor Ray Flexman of Sleepy Hollow is a 14-year-old eighth grader at Elgin Academy. His sponsor is the Kane County Chronicle, Geneva.
- Ajay Chatrath of Bourbonnais is a 14-year-old eighth grader at Grace Baptist Academy. His sponsor is the Daily Journal, Kankakee.
- Rose Sloan of River Forest is a 13-year-old eighth grader at Roosevelt Middle School. Her sponsor is Commonwealth Edison, Chicago.
- Emily R. Temple-Wood of Downers Grove is a 14-year-old eighth grader at the Avery Coonley School. Her sponsor is Commonwealth Edison.
INDIANA
- Brittany A. Belkiewitz of LaPorte is a 14-year-old eighth grader at Kesling Middle School. Her sponsor is the Herald-Argus, LaPorte.
- Keertan R. Kini of Schererville is a 14-year-old eighth grader at Kahler Middle School. His sponsor
