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UPDATE: Henderson girl makes it to 2nd round of national spelling bee

Posted at 11:48 PM, May 22, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-30 15:01:27-04

UPDATE MAY 30: A Henderson girl is still competing in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. She made it through the first round along with 451 other spellers. 62 spellers were knocked out on the first day. Mischa Abad is in the 5th grade. 

ORIGINAL STORY

Next week more than 500 students from across the world will take the stage for the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland and representing Nevada will be a spunky fifth grader from Henderson. 

Mischa Abad is the first fifth grader to win the Nevada State Spelling Bee and she spelled out her winning formula for 13 Action News. 

Abad was the last one standing when an eight letter word, palmette, was all that stood between her and a trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

"When I first realized that I won I was speechless," Mischa said.

While at a loss for words after winning the Nevada State Spelling Bee; Mischa has been immersed in them ever since. Pages and pages of words. 

" I'm on list 10 and yeah, I highlight and go through pronunciations," she said.

Mischa studies as long as three hours every night. Not only does she spell out the words she has to learn what they mean. The dictionary is handy, but she prefers the laptop.  Mischa has trophies and has won many medals, but her father, Richard Abad, says more importantly she's a girl who has got grit. 

"We tell her you don't have to be intimidated by the competition or anything. As you grow there is nothing to be afraid of. Just practice hard." 

" The studying is all the hard work, " said Mischa. "And then going up on stage is the reward for all that hard work. If you win that's a bonus."

No matter how you spell it (and Mischa would spell it correctly) she's a winner. 

She admits to being nervous, but can't wait to do some sightseeing with her family in Washington D.C.