EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Two El Paso Independent School District students will represent Texas at the 2026 National Spanish Spelling Bee after placing among the top competitors at the state level.

Emiliano Ferrán Martínez Caloca of Wiggs Middle School and Shaheli De Silva of Young Women’s Academy secured spots in the national competition by finishing among the top 10 contestants at the 2026 Texas State Spanish Spelling Bee.

Martínez Caloca placed sixth, while De Silva finished ninth.

The pair advanced from a field of 47 students from across Texas who qualified through campus, district and regional spelling bee competitions.

The National Spanish Spelling Bee is a rigorous academic contest that tests participants’ Spanish vocabulary, spelling skills and overall language proficiency. The event brings together some of the nation’s most talented young Spanish language learners.

We are incredibly proud of Emiliano and Shaheli for this outstanding accomplishment,” said El Paso ISD Chief Academic Officer Al Garcia. “Their hard work, perseverance, and passion for learning have earned them the opportunity to compete on a national stage.

The achievement adds to an already impressive year for both students. Earlier this year, Martínez Caloca and De Silva tied for first place at the El Paso ISD Spanish Spelling Bee for the third consecutive year, showcasing their commitment to bilingual literacy and academic excellence.

De Silva has also distinguished herself in English-language competition. In addition to qualifying for the National Spanish Spelling Bee, she was crowned Regional English Spelling Bee Champion, a rare accomplishment that highlights her exceptional command of both languages.

The students will travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they will compete in the National Spanish Spelling Bee on July 10-11 against top Spanish spellers from across the United States.

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