Parker Teen Among Spelling Bee Finalists

OXON HILL, Md. (AP) -- The nine finalists who will compete for the $30,000 first prize in the 85th Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday night:

-- Frank Cahill, 14, of Parker, Colo.

-- Emma Ciereszynski, 14, of Dover, N.H.

-- Lena Greenberg, 14, of Philadelphia.

-- Jordan Hoffman, 14, of Lee's Summit, Mo.

-- Arvind Mahankali, 12, of Bayside Hills, N.Y.

-- Stuti Mishra, 14, of West Melbourne, Fla.

-- Snigda Nandipati, 14, of San Diego.

-- Nicholas Rushlow, 14, of Pickerington, Ohio.

-- Gifton Wright, 14, of Spanish Town, Jamaica.

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