The final eight competitors of the Scripps National Spelling Bee pose for a group photograph after the conclusion of the semifinals, in Oxon Hill, Md., Wednesday, May 29, 2024. These eight spellers will continue on to Thursday night's finals. From left they are, Faizan Zaki, 12, of Allen, Texas, Bruhat Soma, 12, of Tampa, Fla., Shrey Parikh, 12, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Rishabh Saha, 14, of Merced, Calif., Kirsten Tiffany Santos, 13, of Richmond, Texas, Aditi Muthukumar, 13, of Westminster, Colo., YY Liang, 12, of Hartsdale, N.Y., and Ananya Rao Prassanna, 13, Apex, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)