WCPO 9's Jackie Bauer covers Warren County. If you have a story that you'd like Jackie to look into or a news tip, email her at jackie@wcpo.com.
MASON, Ohio — The 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee is underway in Washington, D.C., and a 10-year-old from Mason made it to the quarterfinals.
Meenakshi Vodela, a fifth grader at Mason Intermediate School, correctly spelled "chasuble" to advance to the next day.
"I was actually pretty confident because it was on the list and I read the list," Vodela said.
She also correctly spelled "Spode" before falling in the fifth round, a vocabulary round where she wasn't able to define "acrimony."
Vodela won her school bee by correctly spelling "manganese," before securing her spot in the national competition with another word: "ductus."
Winning is not a new concept for Vodela. She is a member of American Mensa, a society that requires members to score in the top 2%. She also skipped the fourth grade.
WATCH: Mason fifth grader advances to Scripps National Spelling Bee quarterfinals
Vodela's parents said she spends some nights studying the word list and dictionary for up to eight hours.
Outside of spelling, she balances horseback riding, gymnastics and swimming. Her parents said her love for learning has been evident from an early age.
"She was able to get it really quickly compared to other kids ... and you would read to her, she would understand it, and then she would ask a lot of good questions that I didn't think about. So that inquisitiveness was there from a young age," her father said.
Vodela already has big plans for her future.
"My dad's a doctor, and I am actually pretty good at biology, so I think I might want to become a doctor, and also I want to become president," Vodela said.
WCPO is a sponsor of the Scripps National Spelling Bee and will continue to bring updates throughout the week.
Have a story idea or tip for WCPO 9 Warren County reporter Jackie Bauer? Email her at jackie@wcpo.com.
