Creekside Park Junior High student Emilio Fuentes wins National Spanish Spelling Bee

THE WOODLANDS, TX - Following five hours of competition, Tomball ISD and Creekside Park Junior High student Emilio Fuentes was declared a Co-Champion at the National Spanish Spelling Bee in El Paso, June 30 - July 1, hosted by ESC Region 19.

Fuentes joined Natalia Acosta of New Mexico in being named a Co-Champion at the prestigious event.

The competition, held at Education Service Center Region 19, brought together twenty-eight champions from across the United States, spanning from Washington, D.C. to California. The spellers, in school grades fourth through eighth, showcased their exceptional skills in Spanish, meticulously tackling high-difficulty words such as 'incognoscible' and 'moaxaja.' The event commenced at 9 a.m. and, after several hours of intense spelling battles, culminated in a stalemate around 2:30 p.m.

'Both Emilio and Natalia proved to be outstanding spellers and deserved the first-place title,' stated David Briseño, NSSB Founder and Coordinator. 'It gives me great joy to know we have such determined and poised young people in this competition,' Briseño added, emphasizing the remarkable talent displayed by the co-champions.

Fuentes became the first-ever Spanish Spelling Bee participant from Tomball ISD to compete at the National Competition.

The top three winners of the 2023 NSSB received cash prizes sponsored by Flutec, the Platinum Sponsor:

• 1st Place Co-Champions: Emilio Fuentes, $800, and Natalia Acosta, $800
• 3rd Place: Keilany Baca, $400