Speller 65, Simone Kaplan, is a Florida seventh grader. She spelled "varsovienne," a graceful dance similar to a mazurka and popular in many European countries, Mexico and the U.S.
"I'm very excited," Simone said Wednesday. "I know going to the finals is an amazing achievement."
What was she most excited about? The fact that her friends Aisha Randhawa, speller 88 and Enya Hubers, speller 395, are also returning to the finals with her. Both are still in the competition.
The three of them had a weekly Skype study date.
"As any speller can tell you, spelling helps you to develop friendships," Simone said. "We're not competitors, we're friends going against the dictionary."
Simone likes the puzzle of spelling.
"There are so many different ways to make one sound," she said. "It depends on what it means and where it came from."
Simone is known for her bee-covered outfits. She said it's a way of expressing the fun of the Bee.
"Bees give me confidence," she said.