2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee

Scripps National Spelling Bee (Corrie Loeffler, Executive Director) Cincinnati Magazine (Ivy Bayer, Publisher)

co-editors

Tyler Hyde (Scripps National Spelling Bee)

Michael Perry (14K Communications)

contributing editors

Emily Hare (Scripps National Spelling Bee)

Amanda Boyd Walters ( Cincinnati Magazine )

art director

Emi Villavicencio ( Cincinnati Magazine )

photographers

Hartong Digital Media, Craig Hudson, E.M. Pio Roda

production director

Vu Luong ( Cincinnati Magazine )

operations director

Missy Beiting ( Cincinnati Magazine )

business coordinator

Meredith Carroll ( Cincinnati Magazine )

SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE

312 Walnut St., Suite 2800, Cincinnati, OH 45202

www.spellingbee.com

The Scripps National Spelling Bee moves back to Washington, D.C. The 2026 competition will be held in the iconic Constitution Hall.

the 10th competition venue in the Bee’s 101-year history.

Our Spellers Guide provides details on all 247 spellers in the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee and allows space for you to collect their autographs.

THE BUZZ

BY THE NUMBERS

A breakdown of the 2026

THE SCHEDULE

What is happening and when.

TAKE NOTE

Interesting facts about some of the national competitors.

HISTORY LESSON

All the winners, winning words, executive directors, pronouncers and champions by state.

MEET THE OFFICIALS

The pronouncers, judges and word panelists.

MEET THE BEE TEAM

This group works year-round to make the Bee happen.

MEET THE COLLEGE CREW

Spellers will get to know this dedicated team quite well.

WELL-EARNED RECOGNITION

We celebrate our Regional Partner of the Year, Educator of the Year and Regional Volunteer of the Year.

coming home

The Bee returns to Washington, D.C., bringing spellers closer to history and the heart of our nation.

The only aspect of the competition taking place at the hotel will be the Round Three written test. All onstage rounds will be at Constitution Hall.

“Once you leave there, you can leave behind all your nerves and connection at the JW Marriott. We really like the idea of having these two distinct spaces.”

The JW Marriott will house a hub for spellers called The Hive, as well as activities, exhibits, speakers, icebreakers and more.

ers and their families to engage with each other, visit museums or walk around the National Mall together.

In making the decision to return to D.C., the Bee worked with “Constitution Hall blew us away with how epic it feels,” Loef-

“It has so much history behind it. So many great people have performed there, spoken there, been honored there, and now our spellers are part of that legacy, too. Naming a national champion in this storied venue is going to be so inspiring.”

Last year, the Bee celebrated its 100th anniversary. A new era begins in 2026.

class that will set an example and set a standard for the next 100 years. They will always be a special part of our history.”

5 fun facts

about Constitution Hall

It was built in 1929 by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) as a venue to hold its annual convention. DAR is a nonprofit and non-political service organization for women 18 and older who are direct descendants of soldiers or others involved in the American Revolution.

Constitution Hall was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985.

The hall seats 3,702 people, including 1,234 on the orchestra level and 50+ boxes.

Queen Sofía of Spain visited the venue in September 2025 while attending “Spain and the Birth of American Democracy: A History Symposium,” cohosted by the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute and DAR.

Among notable events and entertainers at the hall: “Classic Whitney: Live from Washington, D.C.,” a Whitney Houston album (1997), Robin Williams’ HBO special “Weapons of Self Destruction” (2009), Regina Spektor’s "Far Tour" (2009), “Harry Styles: Live on Tour” (2017), John Legend’s “An Evening of Songs and Stories” (2013), Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s “Restless Leg Tour” (2023), episodes of “Wheel of Fortune” (2000, 2001) and episodes of “Jeopardy!” (1997, 2004, 2012, 2016).

a move back to our roots

Dear Spellers and Families,

Get ready for a very special Bee Week!

As soon as we caught our breath from celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2025, we eagerly started preparing for this year’s big move to Constitution Hall (read more on pages 2-3).

bringing the magic of the Bee back to its origins in downtown Washington, D.C., since 2010.

Change can be challenging and exhilarating at the same time. This move brings fresh opportunities to explore, while also restoring some of the traditions we’ve missed that make a true D.C. and tweaking to make it unique for each class, and the talents and personalities of our spellers themselves are essential parts of that recipe.

But a move like this is more than the normal updates and upgrades.

National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

We understand there are a lot of emotions, memories and expectations tied to that. So I want Hall. Afterward, we provided a short poll and asked for feedback. Across the board, I saw glowing excited for the potential this change brings spellers to connect to history, culture, arts and sciences; and, of course, to each other.

This is a week that belongs to all of us. But, most of all, it belongs to the spellers. Coming to Bee Week is your prize for prevailing in your regional spelling bee, but the real prize will be the memories and the lessons that stay with you forever.

We have always intended this experience to be just as fun as it is transformative. That remains

With warmest wishes,

Corrie Loeffl er Executive Director Scripps National Spelling Bee

spellers by the numbers

We’re usually all about the letters, but here’s a little math about the 247 spellers competing in the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Age (as of May 26)

Grade

Spell-peaters

Coming into this year, 78 spellers have previously competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, including 64 who competed last year.

Gender

103 Female spellers

140 Male spellers

1 Non-binary speller

3 Preferred not to answer

Spelling in their blood  24 spellers have relatives who have participated in a combined 45 Scripps National Spelling Bees.

2026 bee week schedule

S U N D A SUNDA Y, , M A MA Y 2 4

speller registration

Capitol Ballroom – JW Marriott

2 to 7 p.m.

champions’ welcome

Grand Ballroom – JW Marriott

2 to 7 p.m.

Meet your fellow spellers in a board game social event, sponsored by The Op Games.

M O N D A MONDA Y, , M A MA Y 2 5 25

bee week 101

Grand Ballroom – JW Marriott

9:30 to 10 a.m.

rule the word challenge

Grand Ballroom – JW Marriott

10 a.m. to noon

*A special parent trivia event will take place in the Grand Ballroom while the spellers take part in the challenge.

lexicography presentation

Creating An Icon: The Making of the New Collegiate Dictionary

Peter Sokolowski, editor-at-large, Merriam-Webster

Grand Ballroom – JW Marriott

7 to 7:30 p.m.

BEEtboxing presentation

The Academy of Noise

Grand Ballroom – JW Marriott

7:30 to 8:15 p.m.

T U E S D A TUESDA Y, , M A MA Y 2 6 26

preliminaries

(rounds one and two)

Constitution Hall

8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Doors open at 7 a.m.

Streamed live on spellingbee.com

Each speller will compete in up to two rounds in one turn during the

the Contest Rules of the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee for detailed format information: spellingbee.com/rules.

rounds one and two by speller number:

Spellers 1 through 62

8 to 9:30 a.m.

Spellers 63 through 124 9:40 to 11 a.m.

Spellers 125 through 186 11:10 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.

Spellers 187 through 247 1:25 to 3 p.m.

preliminaries

(round three test for spellers who advance from rounds one and two)

Grand Ballroom – JW Marriott 4:30 to 5:15 p.m.

W E D N E S D A WEDNESDA Y, , M A MA Y 2 7 27 quarterfinals

Constitution Hall

8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Doors open at 7 a.m.

Streamed live on spellingbee.com semifinals

Constitution Hall

2:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Onstage remarks begin at 2:15 p.m.

Streamed live on spellingbee.com

will air from 8 to 10 p.m. on ION.

T H U HU R S D A RSDA Y, , M A MA Y 2 8 28 finals

Constitution Hall

8 to 10 p.m.

Doors open at 6 p.m.

Onstage remarks begin at 7 p.m.

Broadcast live on ION and spellingbee.com.

F R i D A DA Y, , M A MA Y 2 9 29 bee week bash

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

7 to 10 p.m.

This event is ticketed.

help desk hours

Providing information and assistance to spellers and Bee Week attendees

Sunday, May 24

Capitol Ballroom – JW Marriott

2 to 7 p.m.

Monday, May 25

Congressional Room – JW Marriott

8 to 10 a.m.

The Hive – JW Marriott

1 to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, May 26

The Hive – JW Marriott

7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lobby – Constitution Hall

7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 27

The Hive – JW Marriott

7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Lobby – Constitution Hall

7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 28

Bus Loading Area – JW Marriott

5 to 8:30 p.m.

Lobby – Constitution Hall

6 to 10:30 p.m.

Friday, May 29

Senate Room – JW Marriott

9 a.m. to noon

National Spelling Bee Space at DAR

National Spelling Bee Space at JW Marriott

take note

Here’s a look at some of the competitors in the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

RETURNINGFINALIST S

have advanced to the 2026 national competition, including Sarv Dharavane (speller 56) from Dunwoody, Georgia, who

Esha Marupudi (speller 5) from Chandler, Arizona, and Oliver Halkett (speller 20) from Los Angeles. Dharavane, now 12, was the

YY Liang (speller 146) from Hartsdale, New York, and Shrey Parikh (speller 29) from Rancho Cucamonga, California. And let’s not forget Sarah Fernandes

THEFIELD

There are 64 spellers returning from the 2025 field, and another 14 have competed in prior national competitions. 169 spellers are competing in their first Scripps National Spelling Bee (68.4 percent).

THEVETERANS

Three spellers are in their fourth consecutive Scripps National Spelling Bee: Siyona Kandala (speller 222) from San Antonio, Sariah Titus (speller 202) from Abilene, Texas, and Adarsh Venkannagari (speller 102) from Acton, Massachusetts. Kandala finished tied for 20th in 2025. Titus tied for 58th place last year. Venkannagari finished tied for 10th in 2025.

LONGDISTANCE

Francis Luya (speller 59) from Dededo, Guam, is traveling the farthest for this year’s competition (more than 7,900 miles). Other spellers are coming from Canada, The Bahamas, Ghana, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, the United Arab Emirates and the U.S. Virgin Islands, not to mention Alaska and Hawaii. There are 13 national competitors from outside the 50 United States.

THE yOUNGEST

Sid Srinivasan (speller 189) from Lawrence Township, New Jersey, turned 9 in December. There are three other 9-year-olds: Josephine Omandam (speller 43), Zachary Teoh (speller 214) and Israel Mensah (speller 233).

THEOLDEST

Gentry Layton (speller 127) from Farmington, Missouri, is the oldest speller at age 15. His birthday was in March.

U.S.COVERAGE

There are spellers from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. California has the largest representation with 24 national competitors, taking the title from Texas, which has 23 this year. Ohio is next with 15, followed by Illinois (13), Florida (12) and New York (11).

FAMILIAR FACES

Priya and Ryan Sekera from Granite Bay, California, are the only siblings competing. Priya (speller 26) is 14 and in her first Bee. She attends Cavitt Junior High School. Ryan (speller 24) is 11 and in his second Bee. He finished tied for 41st last year. He attends Ridgeview Elementary School.

THETWINS+

Seven spellers are twins, including six who are new to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Ethan Atanga (speller 98) from Waldorf, Maryland, has a twin brother Nathan. Adhrit Chowdhury (speller 144) from East Amherst, New York, has a twin brother Devarpan. Caleb DeVan (speller 84) from Ankeny, Iowa, has an identical twin brother Christian. Jahmir Greaux (speller 226) from Kingshill, Virgin Islands, has a twin brother January. Returning speller Connor Norton (speller 194) from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has a twin sister Cassady. Luke Sturlin (speller 210) from Burleson, Texas, has a twin sister Ella. PJ Vanderheiden (speller 113) from Alexandria, Minnesota, has a twin sister Joni. And then there is Keona-Dannette Osae-Twum (speller 136) from Waldwick, New Jersey, who has twin older brothers and triplet younger brothers.

LEGACY SPELLERS

Zwe Spacetime (speller 42) from Fort Washington, Maryland, is the younger brother of 2021 champion Zaila Avant-garde. He is making his second consecutive appearance in the national competition after tying for 10th last year. William Fuller (speller 180) from Wagoner, Oklahoma, is the younger brother of Edith Fuller, who in 2017 became the youngest-ever competitor in the Scripps National Spelling Bee at 6 years, 1 month old. William, 13, is one of seven siblings, and is making his second consecutive Bee appearance; he tied for 89th last year. There are two dozen spellers with relatives, mostly siblings, who have competed at the national level. These two caught our eye: Elli Rust (speller 172) from Sidney, Ohio, follows in the footsteps of her grandmother, Kristi Franklin, who competed in 1976 and ’77. And Sophie Sung (speller 159) from Bahama, North Carolina, follows her mother, Beth Dorman, who competed in 1995, ’96 and ’97.

champions and their winning words

Hall

Republican White Hall, Illinois

Michigan

Iowa

Pauline Bell Louisville Courier-Journal Louisville, Kentucky

Moines, Iowa

Dean Lucas

Akron Beacon Journal Akron, Ohio

Ohio

South Bend News-Times

South Bend, Indiana

Maine

Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia

Colquitt Dean

Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia meerschaum

Diana Reynard Cleveland Press

Cleveland, Ohio

1955 crustaceology

Sandra Sloss

St. Louis Globe-Democrat

St. Louis, Missouri

1956 condominium

Melody Sachko

The Pittsburgh Press

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1957 schappe

Dana Bennett

Rocky Mountain News

Irving Belz

Memphis Press-Scimitar

Memphis, Tennessee 1952 vignette

Doris Ann Hall

Winston-Salem Journal

Winston-Salem, North Carolina 1953 soubrette

Elizabeth Hess

Denver, Colorado

Sandra Owen Canton Repository Canton, Ohio

1958 syllepsis

Jolitta

Schlehuber

Topeka Daily Capital

Topeka, Kansas

1959 catamaran

Virginia Hogan

The Omaha World-Herald

Omaha, Nebraska

Ohio

Des Moines Register & Tribune

Des Moines, Iowa

Tennessee

Beacon

Ohio

Kim Calvin Canton Repository Canton, Ohio

Arizona Republic Phoenix, Arizona 1954 transept

William Cashore

Norristown Times Herald

Norristown, Pennsylvania

Joel Montgomery

Rocky Mountain News

Denver, Colorado

1960 eudaemonic

Henry Feldman

The Knoxville News-Sentinel

Knoxville, Tennessee

1961

smaragdine

John Capehart

Tulsa Tribune

Tulsa, Oklahoma

1962

esquamulose

Nettie Crawford

El Paso Herald-Post

El Paso, Texas

Michael Day

St. Louis Globe-Democrat

St. Louis, Missouri

1963 equipage

Glen Van Slyke III

The Knoxville News-Sentinel

Knoxville, Tennessee

1964

sycophant

William Kerek

Akron Beacon Journal

Akron, Ohio

1965

eczema

Michael Kerpan, Jr.

Tulsa Tribune

Tulsa, Oklahoma

1966

ratoon

Robert A. Wake

Houston Chronicle

Houston, Texas

1967

Chihuahua

Jennifer Reinke

The Omaha World-Herald

Omaha, Nebraska

1968

abalone

Robert L. Walters

The Topeka Daily Capital Topeka, Kansas

1969

interlocutory

Susan Yoachum

The Dallas Morning News Dallas, Texas

1970

croissant

Libby Childress Winston-Salem Journal & Sentinel Winston-Salem, North Carolina

1971

shalloon

Jonathan Knisely

Philadelphia Bulletin

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1972 macerate Robin Kral

Lubbock AvalancheJournal

Lubbock, Texas

1973

vouchsafe

Barrie Trinkle

Fort Worth Press

Fort Worth, Texas

1974

hydrophyte

Julie Ann Junkin

Birmingham Post-Herald

Birmingham, Alabama

1975

incisor

Hugh Tosteson García

The San Juan Star

San Juan, Puerto Rico

1976

narcolepsy

Tim Kneale

Syracuse Herald-JournalAmerican

Syracuse, New York

1977

cambist

John Paola

The Pittsburgh Press

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1978

deification

Peg McCarthy

The Topeka Capital-Journal

Topeka, Kansas

1979

maculature

Katie Kerwin

Rocky Mountain News

Denver, Colorado

1980

elucubrate

Jacques Bailly

Rocky Mountain News

Denver, Colorado

1981

sarcophagus

Paige Pipkin

El Paso Herald-Post

El Paso, Texas

1982

psoriasis

Molly Dieveney

Rocky Mountain News

Denver, Colorado

1983

Purim

Blake Giddens

El Paso Herald-Post

El Paso, Texas

1984 luge

Daniel Greenblatt

Loudoun TimesMirror Leesburg, Virginia

1985

milieu

Balu Natarajan

Chicago Tribune

Chicago, Illinois

110 total champions

53 girls 57 boys

33 14-year-olds

54 13-year-olds

20 12-year-olds

3 11-year-olds

longest words scherenschnitte (2015) and éclaircissement (2025) shortest word luge (1984)

1925–1931

Dean George B. Wood

1939

Douglas D. Cornette

1940–1948

Max B. Cook

1949–1957

Charles Schneider

1958–1959

Richard D. Peters

1960–1984

James H. Wagner

1985–1986

Mary L. Mangold

executive directors pronouncers

1925–1927

Dr. George S. Wills, Western Maryland College

1927

Samuel M. North, Supervisor of Maryland High Schools

1928–1935

Dr. Charles E. Hill, George Washington University

1936–1940; 1946–1947

Harold F. Harding, George Washington University

1941–1942

Dr. W. Hayes Yeager, George Washington University

1948–1960

Benson S. Alleman, American University

1985–1989

Mary Curtin-Brooks

1987

Susan Miller

1988–1991

Sondra J. Austin

1990–1997

Reta Rose

1996–2020

Paige P. Kimble

2021–2022

Dr. J. Michael Durnil

2023–present

1961–1980

Dr. Richard R. Baker, University of Dayton

1981–2002

Dr. Alex J. Cameron, University of Dayton

2003–present

Dr. Jacques Bailly, University of Vermont

2019–present

Dr. Brian Sietsema, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

2024–present

Dr. Kevin Moch, Quizlet

2025-present

Vanya Shivashankar, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Jon Pennington

The Patriot-News

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 1987 staphylococci

Stephanie Petit

The Pittsburgh Press

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Amanda Goad

The Richmond News Leader

Richmond, Virginia

Geoff Hooper

The Commercial Appeal

Memphis, Tennessee

elegiacal Rageshree Ramachandran

The Sacramento Bee

Sacramento, California 1989 spoliator

Scott Isaacs

Rocky Mountain News

Denver, Colorado 1990 fibranne

Amy Marie Dimak

The Seattle Times Seattle, Washington

Ned G. Andrews

The Knoxville News-Sentinel

Knoxville, Tennessee

1998 chiaroscurist

Jody-Anne Maxwell

Phillips & Phillips

Stationery

Supplies

Kingston, Jamaica 1999 logorrhea

Nupur Lala

The Tampa Tribune

Tampa, Florida

2000 demarche

George Abraham Thampy

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

St. Louis, Missouri

Justin Tyler Carroll

The Commercial Appeal

Memphis, Tennessee

Joanne Lagatta

The Wisconsin State Journal

Madison, Wisconsin

Wendy Guey

The Palm Beach Post

West Palm Beach, Florida 1997 euonym

Rebecca Sealfon

Daily News

New York, New York

2001 succedaneum

Sean Conley Aitkin

Independent Age Aitkin, Minnesota 2002

prospicience

Pratyush

Buddiga

Rocky Mountain News

Denver, Colorado

2003 pococurante

Sai R. Gunturi

The Dallas Morning News

Dallas, Texas

2004

autochthonous

David Scott Pilarski Tidmarsh South Bend Tribune

South Bend, Indiana

2005

appoggiatura Anurag Kashyap San Diego Union-Tribune

San Diego, California

2006

Ursprache

Katharine Close

Asbury Park Press/Home News Tribune

Asbury Park, New Jersey

2007

serrefine

Evan M. O’Dorney Contra Costa Times

Walnut Creek, California

2008

guerdon

Sameer Mishra Journal and Courier

Lafayette, Indiana

2009

Laodicean Kavya Shivashankar

The Olathe News

Olathe, Kansas

2010

stromuhr

Anamika Veeramani

The Plain Dealer Cleveland, Ohio

2011

cymotrichous Sukanya Roy Times Leader

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

2012

guetapens Snigdha Nandipati U-T San Diego San Diego, California

2013 knaidel Arvind Mahankali Daily News

New York, New York

2014

stichomythia Sriram Hathwar Corning Rotary Club Corning, New York

feuilleton Ansun Sujoe Texas Christian University Fort Worth, Texas

2015

scherenschnitte

Vanya Shivashankar

The Olathe News Olathe, Kansas

nunatak Gokul Venkatachalam

St. Louis

Post-Dispatch

St. Louis, Missouri

2016

Feldenkrais

Jairam Hathwar Corning Rotary Club Corning, New York

gesellschaft

Nihar Janga

Houston Public Media

Houston, Texas

2017

marocain

Ananya Vinay

The Fresno Bee Fresno, California

2018

koinonia

Karthik Nemmani

Scoggins Middle School

McKinney, Texas

2019

auslaut

Rishik

Gandhasri Bay Area

Regional

Spelling Bee

San Francisco, California erysipelas

Erin Howard

Adventure Travel

Birmingham, Alabama

palama

Abhijay Kodali

Dallas Sports Commission

Dallas, Texas

aiguillette

Shruthika Padhy

Rosa International Middle School

Cherry Hill, New Jersey

odylic

Rohan Raja

Dallas Sports Commission Dallas, Texas

cernuous

Christopher Serrao

Discover

Lehigh Valley

Allentown, Pennsylvania

pendeloque

Sohum Sukhatankar

Dallas Sports Commission

Dallas, Texas

bougainvillea

Saketh Sundar

Howard County Library

Columbia, Maryland

2021

Murraya Zaila Avant-garde

New Orleans

Chapter of The Links

New Orleans, Louisiana

2022

moorhen Harini Logan

Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre Association

San Antonio, Texas

2023

psammophile

Dev Shah

SNSB Region One Bee

Largo, Florida

2024

abseil

Bruhat Soma Rays Baseball Foundation and Rowdies Soccer Fund

St. Petersburg, Florida

Faizan Zaki

Dallas Sports Commission

Dallas, Texas

champions by state

Texas ( 17 ) Richard Earnhart, El Paso, 1942; Nettie Crawford, El Paso, 1962; Robert A. Wake, Houston, 1966; Susan Yoachum, Dallas, 1969; Robin Kral, Lubbock, 1972; Barrie Trinkle, Fort Worth, 1973; Paige Pipkin, El Paso, 1981; Blake Giddens, El Paso, 1983; Sai R. Gunturi, Dallas, 2003; Ansun Sujoe, Fort Worth, 2014; Nihar Janga, Houston, 2016; Karthik Nemmani, McKinney, 2018; Abhijay Kodali, Dallas, 2019; Sohum Sukhatankar, Dallas, 2019; Rohan Raja, Dallas, 2019; Harini Logan, San Antonio, 2022; Faizan Zaki, Dallas, 2025.

Ohio ( 9 ) Dean Lucas, Akron, 1927; Alma Roach, Akron, 1933; Clara Mohler, Akron, 1935; Jean Chappelear, Akron, 1948; Kim Calvin, Canton, 1949; Diana Reynard, Cleveland, 1950; Sandra Owen, Canton, 1957; William Kerek, Akron, 1964; Anamika Veeramani, Cleveland, 2010.

Pennsylvania ( 8 ) William Cashore, Norristown, 1954; Melody Sachko, Pittsburgh, 1956; Jonathan Knisely, Philadelphia, 1971; John Paola, Pittsburgh, 1977; Jon Pennington, Harrisburg, 1986; Stephanie Petit, Pittsburgh, 1987; Sukanya Roy, Wilkes-Barre, 2011; Christopher Serrao, Allentown, 2019.

Colorado ( 7 ) Dana Bennett, Denver, 1957; Joel Montgomery, Denver, 1959; Katie Kerwin, Denver, 1979; Jacques Bailly, Denver, 1980; Molly Dieveney, Denver, 1982; Scott Isaacs, Denver, 1989; Pratyush Buddiga, Denver, 2002.

Tennessee ( 7 ) Laura Kuykendall, Knoxville, 1940; Irving Belz, Memphis, 1951; Henry Feldman, Knoxville, 1960;

1993; Ned G. Andrews, Knoxville, 1994; Justin Tyler Carroll, Memphis, 1995.

California (6 ) Rageshree Ramachandran, Sacramento, 1988; Anurag Kashyap, San Diego, 2005; Evan M. O’Dorney, Walnut Creek, 2007; Snigdha Nandipati, San Diego, 2012; Ananya Vinay, Fresno, 2017; Rishik Gandhasri, San Francisco, 2019.

Kansas ( 5 ) Jolitta Schlehuber, Topeka, 1958; Robert L. Walters, Topeka, 1968; Peg McCarthy, Topeka, 1978; Kavya Shivashankar, Olathe, 2009; Vanya Shivashankar, Olathe, 2015.

New York ( 5 ) Tim Kneale, Syracuse, 1976; Rebecca Sealfon, New York City, 1997; Arvind Mahankali, New York City, 2013; Sriram Hathwar, Corning, 2014; Jairam Hathwar, Corning, 2016.

Florida (4 ) Wendy Guey, West Palm Beach, 1996; Nupur Lala, Tampa, 1999; Dev Shah, Largo, 2023; Bruhat Soma, St. Petersburg, 2024.

Iowa ( 4 ) Helen Jensen, Des Moines, 1930; Dorothy Greenwald, Des Moines, 1932; Jean Trowbridge, Des Moines, 1936; John McKinney, Des Moines, 1946.

Kentucky ( 4 ) Frank Neuhauser, Louisville, 1925; Pauline Bell, Louisville, 1926; Waneeta Beckley, Louisville, 1937; Marian Richardson, Louisville, 1938.

Missouri ( 4 ) Sandra Sloss, St. Louis, 1955; Michael Day, St. Louis, 1962; George Abraham Thampy, St. Louis, 2000; Gokul Venkatachalam, St. Louis, 2015.

Indiana ( 3 ) Betty Robinson, South Bend, 1928; David Tidmarsh, South Bend, 2004; Sameer Mishra, Lafayette, 2008.

states with 2 champions

Alabama – Julie Ann Junkin, Birmingham, 1974; Erin Howard, Birmingham, 2019. Georgia – Mattie Lou Pollard, Atlanta, 1947; Colquitt Dean, Atlanta, 1950. Illinois – Ward Randall, White Hall, 1931; Balu Natarajan, Chicago, 1985. Nebraska – Virginia Hogan, Omaha, 1929; Jennifer Reinke, Omaha, 1967. New Jersey – Katharine Close, Asbury Park, 2006; Shruthika Padhy, Cherry Hill, 2019. North Carolina –Doris Ann Hall, Winston-Salem, 1952; Libby Childress, Winston-Salem, 1970. Oklahoma – John Capehart, Tulsa, 1961; Michael Kerpan, Jr., Tulsa, 1965. Virginia – Daniel Greenblatt, Leesburg, 1984; Amanda Goad, Richmond, 1992.

states/others with 1 champion

Arizona – Elizabeth Hess, Phoenix, 1953. Louisiana – Zaila Avant-garde, New Orleans, 2021. Maine – Sarah Wilson, Portland, 1934. Maryland – Saketh Sundar, Columbia, 2019. Massachusetts – Elizabeth Ann Rice, Worcester, 1939. Michigan – Louis Edward Sissman, Detroit, 1941. Minnesota –Sean Conley, Aitkin, 2001. Washington – Amy Marie Dimak, Seattle, 1990. Wisconsin – Joanne Lagatta, Madison, 1991. Jamaica – Jody-Anne Maxwell, 1998. Puerto Rico – Hugh Tosteson García, 1975.

states waiting for their first champion

Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming

top sponsor cities of champions

Denver, Colorado ( 7 )

Dallas, Texas ( 6 )

Akron, Ohio ( 5 )

Des Moines, Iowa ( 4 )

El Paso, Texas ( 4 )

Knoxville, Tennessee ( 4 ) Louisville, Kentucky ( 4 )

GUIDE TO ALL 247 SPELLERS

2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee

One of the great traditions of Bee Week is asking spellers and officials to sign your Bee Keeper, which includes photos and information on all 247 spellers competing in the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Can you get every signature in this book?

#1 HASSAN ZANOON

10 years old – 4th grade

Hometown: Madison, Alabama

School: Horizon Elementary School

Autographs

#2 AIDAN COLE

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Kenai, Alaska

School: Kenai Middle School

Regional Partner: Alabama Kiwanis Foundation (Birmingham, Alabama)

Hassan is interested in and obsessed with the concept of virtual reality.

Regional Partner: Anchorage Daily News (Anchorage, Alaska)

weight bracket.

#3 ANDIE SEAVEY

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Fairbanks, Alaska

School: Boreal Sun Charter School

Regional Partner: Fairbanks North Star Borough School District (Fairbanks, Alaska)

Andie plays more than 20 percussion instruments.

#5 ESHA MARUPUDI

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Chandler, Arizona

School: BASIS Chandler

Regional Partner: Arizona Educational Foundation (Phoenix, Arizona)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-7th)

Esha composes her own songs.

#7 KARTHIK DALAI

11 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Fort Smith, Arkansas

School: East Hills Middle School

Regional Partner: Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas (Little Rock, Arkansas)

Karthik can solve a 3x3 Rubik’s Cube in 19.9 seconds.

#4 SMRITI PARAJULI

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Yuma, Arizona

School: Centennial Middle School

Regional Partner: Arizona Educational Foundation (Phoenix, Arizona) Smriti’snamemeans“memory”or“remembrance”inSanskrit.

#6 KOEN HARVEY

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Tsaile, Arizona

School: Tsaile Elementary School

Regional Partner: Navajo Times (Window Rock, Arizona) Koen likes to play Fortnite.

#8 FELIX WELLS

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Long Island, The Bahamas

School: N.G.M. Major High School

Regional Partner: The Ministry of Education Technical and Vocational Training (Nassau, The Bahamas)

Felix lives on an island in The Bahamian Archipelago called Long Island.

#9 CAERWYN TURNQUEST

11 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Nassau, The Bahamas School: King’s College School

Regional Partner: The Ministry of Education Technical and Vocational Training (Nassau, The Bahamas) Caerwynhasthree“quirky”thingsincommonwith Albert Einstein.

#11 ISHANI DASGUPTA

11 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: San Jose, California

School: BASIS Independent Silicon Valley

Regional Partner: San Ramon Valley Rotary Club (Danville, California)

Ishani loves traveling; the number of countries she has visited is equal to the number of years she has been on Earth.

#13 AIDEN MENG

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Orinda, California

School: Orinda Intermediate School

Regional Partner: San Ramon Valley Rotary Club (Danville, California)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-58th)

Aidenisadecentlygoodcook,andhe’sproudtosaythathecan make a perfect French omelette.

#10 AMRITA SINGH

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown:

School: Saint John Lutheran School

Regional Partner: Amrita’sfriendscallher“Threeta”becausesheshoots3-pointers during their basketball games.

#12 RITHVI BALAJEE

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: San Ramon, California

School: Stratford School - Pleasanton Middle School

Regional Partner: San Ramon Valley Rotary Club (Danville, California)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-89th)

Rithvi has absolute pitch, which is the ability to recognize any note she hears with no external reference.

#14 NAVIKA JOSEPH

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Fremont, California

School: William Hopkins Middle School

Regional Partner: San Ramon Valley Rotary Club (Danville, California)

#15 NATHAN PADILLA

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Imperial, California School: Frank Wright Middle School Regional Partner: California)

Nathan has two dogs: Jax, half pug and half chihuahua, and Dixie, half dachshund and half chihuahua.

#17 WARREN LI

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Fresno, California School:

Regional Partner: the world.

#19 OLIVE O’BRIEN

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Los Angeles, California School:

Regional Partner: California)

Olive has a collection of rocks and gems, including her favorites of carnelian and lapis.

#16 JW FORD

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: McKinleyville, California School:

Regional Partner:

JW started whistling before he was 2 years old.

#18 SYDNEY TRAN

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Orange, California School:

Regional Partner:

Previous Bees: Sydney has seen all seven Wonders of the World.

#20 OLIVER HALKETT

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Los Angeles, California School:

Regional Partner: California)

Previous Bees: Oliver likes watching soccer with his guinea pigs – Scuttles, Pig,

#21 ELYSSA CHEN

11 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Torrance, California

School: Center Street Elementary School

Regional Partner: (Los Angeles, California)

Elyssa is an amateur bicycle mechanic-in-training.

#23 VICTORIA LI

12 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Eastvale, California

School: Dr. Augustine Ramirez Intermediate School

Regional Partner: (Riverside, California)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-58th)

Victoria is a black belt in tae kwon do and enjoys sparring.

#25 KAI JOHNSON

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Sacramento, California

School: Theodore Judah Elementary School

Regional Partner: Terrell Christopher Gladney Memorial Academy (Sacramento, California)

in Yosemite National Park.

#22 AKSHARA THUMMALA

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Atwater, California

School: Merced Scholars Charter School

Regional Partner: (Merced, California)

Akshara started learning tae kwon do during fourth grade and is now a purple belt.

#24 RYAN SEKERA

11 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Granite Bay, California

School: Ridgeview Elementary School

Regional Partner: Terrell Christopher Gladney Memorial Academy (Sacramento, California)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-41st)

Ryan would like to see a baseball game in all 30 MLB stadiums; so far, he has been to eight.

#26 PRIYA SEKERA

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Granite Bay, California

School: Cavitt Junior High School

Regional Partner: Terrell Christopher Gladney Memorial Academy (Sacramento, California)

lacrosse team.

#27 SEREN KIM

12 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Monterey, California

School: La Mesa Elementary School

Regional Partner: California)

Previous Bees:

Seren was bitten by a pig when she was just 4 years old.

#29 SHREY PARIKH

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga, California

School: Day Creek Intermediate School

Regional Partner: San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools

Previous Bees:

Shreywroteabookinsecondgradecalled“TheCoronaWarriors.”

#31 BENJAMIN REINHARD

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: San Diego, California

School: Maranatha Christian School

Regional Partner:

Ben has acted in multiple shows for his school theater program, including“TheWizardofOz,”“TheMatchmaker”and“TheLittle Mermaid.”

#28 HANNAH KUO

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Chino Hills, California

School: Granite Mountain Charter School

Regional Partner: San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools

Previous Bees:

Hannah loves dogs, especially bigger dogs like Siberian huskies and Dobermans.

#30 ABHERI SUREDDI

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga, California

School: Day Creek Intermediate School

Regional Partner: San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools

Abheri likes to ski in the winter and swim in the summer.

#32 CHARLIE HUANG

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Oak Park, California School: Medea Creek Middle School

Regional Partner:

Previous Bees:

Charlie loves numbers; he is on the school math team and advanced to the 2026 Mathcounts State Competition.

#33 NICOLE LOPEZ

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Terra Bella, California

School: Carl F. Smith Middle School

Regional Partner:

Nicole loves going on big rides, especially at Six Flags.

#35 ARSHAN SHAHRIAR

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

School: Gordon A. Brown Middle School

Regional Partner:

Previous Bees:

Canadian Youth Chess Championship this year.

#37 DEREK LI

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Superior, Colorado

School: Summit Middle Charter School

Regional Partner:

two-digit number was cubed in less than 10 seconds.

#34 IRIS SHARMAGUO

11 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada School:

Regional Partner:

IrishasvisitedHansChristianAndersen’sbirthplaceandmuseum.

#36 ISAAC BROGAN

Hometown: Maidstone, Ontario, Canada

School: Maranatha Christian Academy

Regional Partner: Previous Bees:

#38 NIKHIL GANTA

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Timnath, Colorado

School: Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School

Regional Partner:

Nikhil is an all-rounder (both batsman and bowler) in cricket.

#39 SAM SMITH

10 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Newington, Connecticut

School: Entropy Academy

Regional Partner: Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society (West Hartford, Connecticut)

Sam’sroomhasover100picturesofhorses.

#41 NORA BAKER

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Washington, D.C.

School: BASIS Washington, D.C.

Regional Partner: The Washington Informer (Washington, D.C.)

Nora has memorized 280 digits of pi.

#43 JOSEPHINE OMANDAM

9 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Stuttgart, Germany

School: Patch Elementary School

Regional Partner: European PTSA (Defense and State Department Schools, Europe)

Josephine’sfavoriteshowsare“TheAmazingDigitalCircus,” “Naruto”andmanyotheranime.

#40 SIARA HUSAIN

12 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Wilmington, Delaware

School: Islamic Academy Of Delaware

Regional Partner: First State Educate (Hockessin, Delaware)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-100th)

Siara is basically the physical embodiment of the love of reading.

#42 ZWE SPACETIME

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Fort Washington, Maryland

School: Ralph Ellison Homeschool

Regional Partner: The Washington Informer (Washington, D.C.)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-10th)

ZweenjoyssolvingRubik’sCubes.

#44 NIHAL GELLI

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Fort Myers, Florida

School: Cypress Lake Middle School

Regional Partner: Lee County Spelling Bee (Fort Myers, Florida)

#45 TUCKER AYERS

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: High Springs, Florida

School: Fort White High School

Regional Partner: WJXT (Jacksonville, Florida) TuckerisplayingGenieinhisschoolplay,“Aladdin.”

#47 LANCASTER GRAMER

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Miramar, Florida

School: Franklin Academy Cooper City

Regional Partner: Miami Herald (Miami, Florida)

Previous Bees: 2023 (T-141st)

InLancaster’sfreetime,helovesdoing2Dand3Dpuzzles— becausenothing’smoresatisfyingthansnappingthatlastpiece.

#49 NIXON DIVELEY

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Naples, Florida

School: Pine Ridge Middle School

Regional Partner: Collier County Public Schools (Naples, Florida)

Nixon practices some origami and has built a gyroscopic octahedron.

#46 LOGAN COX

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Homestead, Florida

School: Herbert A. Ammons Middle School

Regional Partner: Miami Herald (Miami, Florida)

Logan has perfect pitch, meaning he can identify or play any musical notes without any reference.

#48 ANGELINA JAMES

12 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Minneola, Florida

School: Pinecrest Lakes Academy

Regional Partner: SNSB Region Two Bee (Minneola, Florida)

Angelina likes to stay active and creative through volleyball, swimming and crocheting.

#50 HARDIT TAYAL

12 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Orlando, Florida

School: Orlando Science Schools

Regional Partner: Orange County Public Schools (Orlando, Florida)

Mathcounts National Competition this year, representing Florida.

#51 LOUIS AVETIS

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Orlando, Florida

School: Discovery Middle School

Regional Partner: Orange County Public Schools (Orlando, Florida)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-89th)

Louis has perfect pitch and a strong memory for music; he always notices when a song is played in a different key.

#53 MOKSH MARU

11 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Sanford, Florida

School: Sanford Middle Magnet School

Regional Partner: SNSB Region Two Bee (Sanford, Florida)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-100th)

Moksh is good at chess.

#55 PARK ALLEN

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Palm Harbor, Florida

School: East Lake Middle School - Academy Of Engineering

Regional Partner: University of South Florida - College of Education (Tampa, Florida)

Park participates in fantasy basketball with his dad.

#52 ANAY MAHESH

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Orlando, Florida

School: Arbor Ridge School

Regional Partner: Orange County Public Schools (Orlando, Florida)

Anayhasbeeninvolvedinhisschool’sGreenClubssincefourth grade, serving as president this year.

#54 TY CARVER

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Panama City, Florida

School: University Academy

Regional Partner: Addition Financial Credit Union (Tallahassee, Florida) Ty was born in Germany.

#56 SARV DHARAVANE

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Dunwoody, Georgia

School: Peachtree Charter Middle School

Regional Partner: Georgia Association of Educators (Tucker, Georgia)

Previous Bees: 2024 (T-22nd); 2025 (3rd)

Sarv wants to travel to every state in the U.S. and learn about landmarks, cultures and cuisines.

#57 SREEYA LAKKIMSETTI

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

School: Stallings Island Middle School

Regional Partner: Georgia Association of Educators (Tucker, Georgia)

Sreeya won second place in the state level science bowl along with her team members.

#59 FRANCIS LUYA

11 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Dededo, Guam

School: Jose Rios Middle School

Regional Partner: Rotary Club of Guam (Hagåtña, Guam)

Francis wove his own sling and is planning to use it in a slinging competition.

#61 SONU MURALI MOHAN

12 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Boise, Idaho

School: Eagle Middle School

Regional Partner: SNSB Region One Bee (Boise, Idaho)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-184th)

Sonu is a versatile four-sport athlete, actively competing in cross

#58 EUGENE OSEI

11 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Accra, Ghana

School: Peniel Academy

Regional Partner: Young Educators Foundation (Accra, Ghana) Eugene plays the trumpet in school as part of the school orchestra.

#60 ETHAN IRIMATA

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Eleele, Hawaii

School: Hawaii Technology Academy

Regional Partner: Hawaii State Spelling Bee (Honolulu, Hawaii) Ethan trains jujitsu.

#62 HARPER ADAMS

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Post Falls, Idaho

School: Kootenai Classical Academy

Regional Partner: Idaho Character Foundation (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho) Harper has broken her arm three times, most recently while snowboarding this past winter.

#63 CHASE MILLER

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Post Falls, Idaho

School: Kootenai Classical Academy

Regional Partner: Idaho Character Foundation (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho)

Chase plays up in hockey against players who are 14 years old.

#65 KIRSTEN CERDENIA

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Burbank, Illinois

School: Liberty Junior High School

Regional Partner: South Cook Intermediate Service Center (Chicago, Illinois)

Kirsten’sbirthdayisonChristmasDay.

#67 BRIGHID REID

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Sandwich, Illinois

School: Somonauk Middle School

Regional Partner: (DeKalb, Illinois)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-184th)

Following the end of her spelling bee season, Brighid will dive into learning to play the brand-new Gibson Hummingbird acoustic guitar she received for Christmas.

#64 SERAJ ZERHOUNI

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

School: Lasalle II Language Academy Elementary School

Regional Partner: Chicago Public Schools (Chicago, Illinois)

Seraj has been to over 20 countries, including China, India, Morocco(wherehisdadisfrom),Oman,Germany,Brazil, Hungary and Slovakia.

#66 KINGSTON MCGHEE

11 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Crete, Illinois

School: Crete-Monee Middle School

Regional Partner: (Chicago, Illinois)

Kingston plays romantic and classical piano.

#68 GRANT KARBERG

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Galena, Illinois

School: Galena Elementary & Middle School

Regional Partner: of Education (Freeport, Illinois)

Grant prefers dark chocolate to milk chocolate.

#69 YAHYA MOHAMMED

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Hoffman Estates, Illinois

School: Larsen Middle School

Regional Partner: (Geneva, Illinois)

Previous Bees: 2024 (T-60th); 2025 (T-36th) YahyaisrelatedtoShahRukhKhan(Indianactorandproducer).

#71 VINNY BRENDEL

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Woodstock, Illinois

School: Saint Mary Catholic School

Regional Partner: (McHenry, Illinois)

Vinny played a bird in three theater productions; his winning word at his regional spelling bee—lorikeet—is also a bird.

#73 ISA ZAID

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Dunlap, Illinois

School: Peoria Academy

Regional Partner: Peoria Public Library (Peoria, Illinois)

Isa’sfavoritebookseriesis“PercyJacksonandtheOlympians,” and he enjoyed encountering words of Greek origin when he studied for the Bee.

#70 ANANYA JOSHI

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Roscoe, Illinois

School: Roscoe Middle School

Regional Partner: (Loves Park, Illinois)

Previous Bees: 2024 (T-192nd)

Ananyaistheauthorofashortstoryseriescalled“Haruli’s Adventures”foraculturalmagazinepublishedbyUttarakhand Foundation.

#72 BRIDGET ISAACS

12 years old – 8th grade

Hometown:

School: Murphy Junior High School

Regional Partner: (Morris, Illinois)

BridgetisplayingIagoinherschool’sproductionof“Aladdin” this year.

#74 CINDY PELKA

14 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Morrison, Illinois

School: Morrison Junior High School

Regional Partner:

Cindy’sfavoritewordis“anatidaephobia,”whichisthefearthat a duck might be watching you.

#75 ADITI MOPUR

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Barrington, Illinois

School: Barrington Middle School - Prairie Campus

Regional Partner: (Vernon Hills, Illinois)

Aditi enjoys gardening with her mom.

#77 LONDON TUTTLE

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Batesville, Indiana

School: Batesville Middle School

Regional Partner: WCPO 9 (Batesville, Indiana)

London loves to bake.

#79 KIAAN BHATT

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Carmel, Indiana

School: Creekside Middle School

Regional Partner: (Indianapolis, Indiana)

Kiaan has traveled to nearly 25 countries on six continents.

#76 SHRUTHI AYYAGARI

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Aurora, Illinois

School: Francis Granger Middle School

Regional Partner: (Wheaton, Illinois)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-89th)

MostoftheartworkinShruti’sbedroomwascreatedbyher; she likes to draw in her free time.

#78 KINLEY STRAHM

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

School: Blackhawk Christian School

Regional Partner: (Fort Wayne, Indiana)

Kinley has been riding horses since she was 7 years old.

#80 DAVID BETOURNE

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: West Lafayette, Indiana

School: Battle Ground Middle School

Regional Partner: (Lafayette, Indiana)

David can tell you the last play of every MLB World Series dating back to 2010.

#81 HANNAH BEST

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Wanatah, Indiana

School: South Central Junior Senior High School

Regional Partner: St. John’s Lutheran Church & School (La Porte, Indiana)

Hannah’sDungeons&Dragonscharacterisagnomeroguenamed Doolittle.

#83 MALAYNA EICHWALD

11 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Marion, Iowa

School: Marion Home School Assistance Program

Regional Partner: The Dispatch Argus (Davenport, Iowa)

Malayna likes writing messages in code to friends and decoding their responses.

#85 KELLIAN PETERSON

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Beverly, Kansas

School: Tescott Junior Senior High School

Regional Partner: Kansas Press Association (Topeka, Kansas)

Kellian wants to be a writer.

#82 LEO FURLONG

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Muncie, Indiana

School: Burris Laboratory School

Regional Partner: Ball State University - WIPB-TV (Muncie, Indiana)

Previous Bees: 2024 (T-60th); 2025 (T-74th)

Leo loves to run, and he runs a 5:18 mile and an 18:43 5k.

#84 CALEB DEVAN

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Ankeny, Iowa

School: Southview Middle School

Regional Partner: Living History Farms (Urbandale, Iowa)

the future.

#86 OLIVIAH BRAUN

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

School: Veritas Christian Academy

Regional Partner: University of Kentucky - College of Education (Lexington, Kentucky)

Previous Bees: 2024 (T-192nd) Oliviahisasingeronherchurch’sworshipteam.

#87 PORTER SHREVE

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky

School: Shreve Academy

Regional Partner: Louisville Free Public Library (Louisville, Kentucky)

Porter, who generally does not like sports, got interested in pickleball after reading a pickleball rulebook.

#89 NAYAN JANUMPALLY

11 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Youngsville, Louisiana

School: Edgar A. Martin Middle School

Regional Partner: Kiwanis Club of Lafayette & Acadiana (Lafayette, Louisiana)

Nayan is a competitive speedcuber with a passion for high-speed patternrecognitionwhocansolveavarietyofRubik’sCubes.

#91 LANGSTON JONES

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana

School: Ecole Bilingue de la Nouvelle-Orléans

Regional Partner: New Orleans Chapter of The Links (New Orleans, Louisiana)

wroteahistoryblogcalled“PresidentialPages.”

#88 NAQEEB HOSSAIN

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

School: Glasgow Middle School

Regional Partner: LSU - University Laboratory School (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-184th)

Naqeeb enjoys playing and biking with his little sisters.

#90 PARANIKA ETHAKOTA

11 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Lake Charles, Louisiana

School: T.S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School

Regional Partner: SagamoreHill Broadcasting of Lake Charles (Lake Charles, Louisiana)

Previous Bees: 2024 (T-60th) and Engineering Fair.

#92 SANIL THORAT

10 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Shreveport, Louisiana

School:

Regional Partner: SNSB Region Three Bee (Shreveport, Louisiana)

Previous Bees: 2024 (T-60th)

gorgeous, and looking at weather maps just makes his mind feel at home.

#93 TRISTAN SINGH

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: East Machias, Maine

School: Rose M. Gaffney Elementary School

Regional Partner: Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram (Portland, Maine)

Tristan explores music through band, chorus and a special music class.

#95 LAUREN MERILLANA

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: North Potomac, Maryland

School: Robert Frost Middle School

Regional Partner: The Meakem Group (Bethesda, Maryland)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-20th)

Lauren loves collecting little thingamajigs such as albums, CDs and keychains.

#97 VIVAAN CHINTAWAR

11 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Frederick, Maryland

School: Sugarloaf Elementary School

Regional Partner: Frederick County Public Libraries (Frederick, Maryland)

Vivaan can spell over 1,000 different dinosaur names.

#94 QUINT KARLSSON

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Gambrills, Maryland

School: Crofton Middle School

Regional Partner: Anne Arundel County Public Schools (Annapolis, Maryland)

Previous Bees: 2024 (T-22nd); 2025 (T-100th)

Quint has been to 14 national parks, including four during spring break this year: Carlsbad Caverns, Guadalupe Mountains, Big Bend and White Sands.

#96 THANVI GATAMANENI

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Ellicott City, Maryland

School: Burleigh Manor Middle School

Regional Partner: Howard County Library (Columbia, Maryland)

For eight years, Thanvi has trained in Bharata Natyam, an Indian classical dance, and enjoys bringing stories to life on stage through her dance.

#98 ETHAN ATANGA

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Waldorf, Maryland

School: Matthew Henson Middle School

Regional Partner: Charles County Public Schools (La Plata, Maryland)

Ethanplaysforhisschool’sbasketballteam,andheisaleaderon and off the court.

#99 MEGAN BARRIENTOS

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Salisbury, Maryland

School: Wicomico Middle School

Regional Partner: University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Princess Anne, Maryland)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-41st)

Megan is left-handed.

#101 SANJAY MALHOTRA

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts

School: John Eliot K-8 Innovation School

Regional Partner: Boston Centers for Youth & Families (Boston, Massachusetts)

Sanjay has collected over 2,000 Pokémon Cards.

#103 AIDEN GALLIGAN

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts School: West Tisbury Elementary School

Regional Partner: The Martha’s Vineyard Times (Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts)

Aiden has biked or walked home from school every day throughout the 2025-26 school year.

#100 BINDI RAY

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Towson, Maryland

School: Riderwood Elementary School

Regional Partner: SNSB Region Four Bee (Towson, Maryland)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-184th)

Bindi’s older brother nicknamed her Bindi when she was born, and that is the name that she uses!

#102 ADARSH VENKANNAGARI

12 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Acton, Massachusetts

School: Raymond J. Grey Junior High School

Regional Partner: The REAL Program (Lynn, Massachusetts)

Previous Bees: 2023 (T-57th); 2024 (T-60th); 2025 (T-10th)

Adarsh won all 18 24-challenge mental math puzzles at the district competition, earning the maximum number of points possible.

#104 DEAN HANDLEY TURNER

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Clinton Township, Michigan

School: Wyandot Middle School

Regional Partner: Macomb Intermediate School District (Clinton Township, Michigan)

Dean has attended eight concerts.

#105 DIVYA CHOUDHARY

12 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Canton, Michigan

School: Canton Charter Academy

Regional Partner: WXYZ Channel 7 (Detroit, Michigan)

Previous Bees: 2024 (T-60th); 2025 (T-202nd)

Divya started a school newspaper.

#107 HERON BOTHWELL

11 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Kalamazoo, Michigan

School: Parkwood - Upjohn Elementary School

Regional Partner: Kalamazoo Experiential Learning Center (Kalamazoo, Michigan)

HeronportrayedLittleAnnainaproductionof“Frozen”

#109 HENRY O’NEAL

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Custer, Michigan

School: Mason County Central Middle School

Regional Partner: West Shore Educational Service District (Ludington, Michigan)

Henry wants to be a marine biologist when he gets older.

#106 SANSKRITI PARIHAR

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Fremont, Michigan

School: Fremont Middle School

Regional Partner: Kent Intermediate School District (Grand Rapids, Michigan)

Sanskriti has been chosen to represent her school in Yahaba, Japan, for a two-week trip in the summer.

#108 ALEC PHILLIPS

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Lapeer, Michigan

School:

Regional Partner: The County Press (Lapeer, Michigan)

Alec has been to the observatory at the Sears Tower.

#110 SIDHANTH VETRIVEL

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: St. Joseph, Michigan

School: Upton Middle School

Regional Partner: The Herald-Palladium (St. Joseph, Michigan)

Previous Bees: 2023 (T-122nd)

#111 MINNA DANZIGER

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Suttons Bay, Michigan

School: Leland Public School

Regional Partner: Traverse City Record-Eagle (Traverse City, Michigan)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-184th)

Minna loves to ski fast — she enjoys big mountain skiing and unfortunately broke her tibia skiing at Grand Targhee in Wyoming this spring.

#113 PJ VANDERHEIDEN

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Alexandria, Minnesota

School: Discovery Middle School

Regional Partner: The Minnesota Service Cooperatives (Alexandria, Minnesota)

PJ is a twin.

#115 ANNA SICKLER

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Grand Forks, North Dakota School:

Regional Partner: The Minnesota Service Cooperatives (East Grand Forks, Minnesota)

Anna has danced for 10 years in various styles: ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, pointe, competitive dance and more.

#112 CLAUDIO ARDANESE

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown:

School: Berkshire Middle School

Regional Partner: Oakland Schools Education Foundation (Waterford, Michigan)

Claudio learned to speak three languages at the same time. He now enjoys switching from one to the other and reading in all three languages.

#114 CHARLIE FOSHAY

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Duluth, Minnesota

School: Ordean East Middle School

Regional Partner: The Minnesota Service Cooperatives (Duluth, Minnesota)

Charlie has been to seven countries, including Mexico, Belize, Iceland, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.

#116 VERA PROUTY

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Edgerton, Minnesota

School: Edgerton Christian Elementary School

Regional Partner: The Minnesota Service Cooperatives (Edgerton, Minnesota)

done.

#117 AVA PLACE

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Janesville, Minnesota

School: Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton School

Regional Partner: The Minnesota Service Cooperatives (Janesville, Minnesota)

Ava won the regional social studies bee last year and hopes to do it again this year.

#119 RIDDHI PATEL

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Rochester, Minnesota

School: Dakota Middle School

Regional Partner: The Minnesota Service Cooperatives (Rochester, Minnesota)

Riddhi loves to challenge herself to draw realistically; she once drew a baby picture of herself, and her friends instantly recognized her!

#121 XANDER WEBER

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Wadena, Minnesota

School: Wadena-Deer Creek High School

Regional Partner: The Minnesota Service Cooperatives (Wadena, Minnesota)

Xander pole vaults for the WDC Track Team and runs for the WDC Cross Country Team.

#118 WADE SALVEY

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota

School: Minnetonka Middle School East

Regional Partner: The Minnesota Service Cooperatives (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-100th)

Wade is currently reading his 15th of the 15 novels written by Charles Dickens.

#120 HARRISON NGUYEN

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Sauk Rapids, Minnesota

School: Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School

Regional Partner: The Minnesota Service Cooperatives (Sauk Rapids, Minnesota)

Harrison likes fancy cheeses.

#122 MEREDITH TRUSSELL

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Petal, Mississippi

School: Petal Middle School

Regional Partner: C Spire Foundation (Ridgeland, Mississippi)

Meredith is the newly chosen mascot at her school for the upcoming year.

#123 BRYER WALTERS

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Iuka, Mississippi

School: Iuka Middle School

Regional Partner: C Spire Foundation (Ridgeland, Mississippi)

Bryer started his own cotton candy business in 5th grade.

#125 BECKETT GRIFFIN

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Lee’s Summit, Missouri

School: Bernard Campbell Middle School

Regional Partner: Mid-Continent Public Library (Independence, Missouri)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-100th)

ThenameBeckettmeans“beecottage”or“beehive,”afun fact she discovered when she became interested in spelling!

#127 GENTRY LAYTON

15 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Farmington, Missouri

School: Central Middle School

Regional Partner: Three Rivers College (Poplar Bluff, Missouri) Forthelastthreeyears,Gentry’sagehasbeenequalto his shoe size.

#124 ANANYA AGGARWAL

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Columbia, Missouri

School: Columbia Independent Upper School

Regional Partner: Columbia Missourian (Columbia, Missouri)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-74th)

Ananya is a second-degree black belt holder in tae kwon do.

#126 ALEX MAYES

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Raymore, Missouri

School: Raymore-Peculiar South Middle School

Regional Partner: Raymore-Peculiar School District (Peculiar, Missouri)

Alex enjoys working on innovative solutions for his FIRST LEGO League robotics team, The Robo Raptors.

#128 EMMALYN FRANKS

11 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Reeds Spring, Missouri

School: Cedar Ridge Elementary School

Regional Partner: A.C.E.S. (Rolla, Missouri)

#129 JON ALLEN

11 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Polo, Missouri

School: Polo Middle School

Regional Partner: Mosaic Life Care Foundation (St. Joseph, Missouri)

Jon is wild and likes to create his own languages.

#131 NICHOLAS TIAN

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Bozeman, Montana

School: Chief Joseph Middle School

Regional Partner: Montana Television Network (Bozeman, Montana)

Nicholas’shandscanreach10notesonthepianofromthumb to pinky.

#133 PRIYA KONDURU

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Reno, Nevada

School: Davidson Academy Of Nevada

Regional Partner: The Public Education Foundation (Las Vegas, Nevada)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-100th)

Priya is obsessed with Spider-Man and is currently trying to

#130 KHUSI DAHAL

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Wildwood, Missouri

School: Wildwood Middle School

Regional Partner: Saint Louis University (St. Louis, Missouri)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-100th)

Khusi is a big fan of Taylor Swift and attended The Eras Tour.

#132 SARAH FERNANDES

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska

School: Saint Stephen The Martyr School

Regional Partner: Omaha Sports Commission (Omaha, Nebraska)

Previous Bees: 2023 (T-10th); 2024 (T-9th)

Sarah played piano at Carnegie Hall at age 10.

#134 SOPHIA GARCIA

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

School: Our Lady Of Las Vegas School

Regional Partner: The Public Education Foundation (Las Vegas, Nevada)

Sophia likes to write on Archive of Our Own, and she has almost

#135 KAZ KULDILOKE

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Keene, New Hampshire

School: Keene Middle School

Regional Partner: New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, New Hampshire) Kazlikestogooutsidewhenit’swarm.

#137 ISHAAN GUPTA

12 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Jersey City, New Jersey

School: Frank R. Conwell Middle School

Regional Partner:

Tourism Development (Jersey City, New Jersey)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-20th)

Ishaan was featured by The Week Junior and NJ.com for co-

#139 ISAAC GEREMEW

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Mays Landing, New Jersey

School: William Davies Middle School

Regional Partner: WHYY (Mays Landing, New Jersey)

Previous Bees: 2023 (T-23rd); 2025 (T-74th)

Isaaciscurrentlywritingabooktitled“TheMorrisons”abouta family that attempts to run from the law in a used yellow Jeep.

#136 KEONA-DANNETTE OSAE-TWUM

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Waldwick, New Jersey

School: Eastern Christian Middle School

Regional Partner: Bergen County Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs (Hackensack, New Jersey)

Keona has twin older brothers and triplet younger brothers.

#138 AKSHARA JAGANNATHAN

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Monroe Township, New Jersey

School: Monroe Township Middle School

Regional Partner: Sidelines and Stages (Maplewood, New Jersey)

Aksharahasvisited20countries,climbedMountKilimanjaroand takenaroadtripacrosstheUnitedStates,includingpartsofRoute66.

#140 YAJUR SUBRAMANIAM

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Franklin Township, New Jersey

School: Cedar Hill Preparatory School

Regional Partner: Care NJ (South Orange, New Jersey)

Yajur has an interest in Arctic and Antarctic geography; he is especially crazy about anything related to Greenland.

#141 HANNAH LI

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Los Alamos, New Mexico School: Los Alamos Middle School

Regional Partner: Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, New Mexico) HannahlikestostudytypologysystemssuchasMBTI(cognitive analyzing behavior.

#143 ALEX BOCEK

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Horseheads, New York School: Horseheads Middle School

Regional Partner: Corning Rotary Club (Corning, New York)

Alex was in the tech crew for his school musical and talent show.

#145 LUKE HAND

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Goshen, New York School: C. J. Hooker Middle School

Regional Partner: Orange-Ulster BOCES (Goshen, New York)

Luke can recite the entire periodic table of elements by heart, though not in any particular order.

#142 KRRISHA AGRAWAL

11 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Latham, New York School: Shaker Middle School

Regional Partner: Albany & Troy Lions Club (Albany, New York)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-100th)

Krrisha read 96 books last year.

#144 ADHRIT CHOWDHURY

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: East Amherst, New York School: Transit Middle School

Regional Partner: SUNY Fredonia (Fredonia, New York)

Adhrit has written seven short stories.

#146 YY LIANG

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Hartsdale, New York School: YY Homeschool

Regional Partner: SNSB Region Four Bee (Hartsdale, New York)

Previous Bees: 2024 (T-7th)

YY’scoachesandfriendshavegivenhermanynicknames, suchas“XX,”“ZZTop”(Rockband),and“YSquare.”

#147 LOGAN YUAN

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Geneva, New York

School: Geneva Middle School

Regional Partner: Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES (Newark, New York)

Logan has been in three musicals and two plays.

#149 LIAM KWON

10 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Flushing, New York

School: P.S. 32 The State Street School

Regional Partner: NYC Department of Education (New York, New York)

This is the 101st year of the Bee, and Liam is also the 101st president of his school.

#151 SARUAR AITBAYEVA

12 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Syracuse, New York

School: Syracuse Latin School

Regional Partner: The Post-Standard | syracuse.com (Syracuse, New York)

Saruar’s favorite color is lavender.

#148 JAY NAYAK

11 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: New York, New York

School: Hunter College Elementary School

Regional Partner: NYC Department of Education (New York, New York)

Previous Bees: 2024 (T-60th); 2025 (T-20th)

Jay is an avid singer and has performed in professional productions of operas at Lincoln Center.

#150 OWEN SCOTT

10 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Plattsburgh, New York

School: Cumberland Head Elementary School

Regional Partner: Champlain Valley Educational Services (Plattsburgh, New York)

Owen likes listening to classic rock.

#152 VICTORIA MUTURI

10 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Wellesley Island, New York

School: Alexandria Central School

Regional Partner: Watertown Daily Times (Watertown, New York)

Victoria speaks Swahili.

#153 NEWTON TEMOJO

11 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria

School: Greater Tomorrow International College

Regional Partner: Spellingbee in Nigeria (Lagos, Nigeria)

Newton has always wanted to visit the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt because it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

#155 KUSHI GOTTIMUKKALA

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Morrisville, North Carolina

School: Carnage G&T Magnet Middle School

Regional Partner: Carolina Panthers (Charlotte, North Carolina)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-41st)

Kushi’sdreamtripistovisitAustraliaandgetupclose with a koala.

#157 HARINI JAYAKUMAR

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina School: The Brawley School

Regional Partner: Carolina Panthers (Charlotte, North Carolina)

Previous Bees: 2022 (T-89th); 2024 (T-60th)

Harini is fascinated by soil biology and environmental science, which she loves connecting with her gardening.

#154 AMAZING-GRACE SALAMI

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria

School: Greenpath Preparatory School

Regional Partner: Spellingbee in Nigeria (Lagos, Nigeria)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-100th)

Amazing-Grace loves practicing her French with her uncle because she always learns new words.

#156 PHANEENDRA BULUSU

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Concord, North Carolina School: Harris Road Middle School

Regional Partner: Carolina Panthers (Charlotte, North Carolina)

Previous Bees: 2024 (T-60th)

Phaneendra can solve a 3x3 Rubik’s Cube in under a minute.

#158 SACH AKELLA

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Apex, North Carolina

School: Mills Park Middle School

Regional Partner: Carolina Panthers (Charlotte, North Carolina)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-41st)

historical date.

#159 SOPHIE SUNG

11 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Bahama, North Carolina School: Sung School

Regional Partner: Duke Community Affairs (Durham, North Carolina)

Sophie’sanimalandelementintheChineseZodiacaretheHorse and Wood, respectively, so she is a Wood Horse.

#161 DAVID GROOMS

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Angier, North Carolina School: Lafayette Elementary School

Regional Partner: Harnett County Schools (Lillington, North Carolina)

David loves playing with his family and studying with his sister.

#163 CHILAKA UGOBI

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Minot, North Dakota School: Our Redeemers Christian School

Regional Partner: ND Association of County Superintendents (Bismarck, North Dakota)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-20th)

Chilaka was born in Michigan, but his parents are Canadian citizens born in Nigeria; so technically, he has three nationalities.

#160 ANGELIKA JOHNSON

11 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Fayetteville, North Carolina

School: Seventy-First Classical Middle School

Regional Partner: Cumberland County Schools (Fayetteville, North Carolina)

Angelika will someday be a world-renowned artist.

#162 JACOB WINFIELD

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Clayton, North Carolina School: Innovation Academy

Regional Partner: Johnston County Public Schools

Jacob went to a forensics camp.

#164 ESTHER LIN

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Copley, Ohio School: Revere Middle School

Regional Partner: Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio) Esther’scomfortmealisanythingwithsteak.

#165 JOSEPH KEFFER

11 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Chesapeake, Ohio

School: Chesapeake Middle School

Regional Partner: Ohio University E.W. Scripps School of Journalism (Athens, Ohio)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-100th)

Joseph likes to create comics with his cousin.

#167 MEENAKSHI VODELA

10 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Mason, Ohio

School: Mason Intermediate School

Regional Partner: WCPO 9 (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Meenakshi was the National Crossword Champion for Grades K-3 in 2024-2025 at IA Competitions in Orlando, Florida.

#169 TIA GEISLER

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Mentor, Ohio

School: Shore Middle School

Regional Partner: ESC of the Western Reserve (Concord Township, Ohio)

Previous Bees: 2023 (T-141st)

Tia’sparentspromisedherthatshecouldhaveacat if she made it back to the Bee.

#166 TOMMY SCHERVISH

14 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Canton, Ohio

School: Saint Michael School

Regional Partner: The Repository (Canton, Ohio)

Tommy is a history fanatic who likes learning about Robert Oppenheimer and the atomic bomb.

#168 AAYU CHAMOLI

10 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Lewis Center, Ohio

School: Freedom Trail Elementary School

Regional Partner: Columbus Blue Jackets (Columbus, Ohio)

Aayu plays beautiful melodies on the piano and is an amazing artist who loves drawing detailed scenes.

#170 SIDHARTH NAIR

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Washington Township, Ohio

School: Hadley E. Watts Middle School

Regional Partner: Wright State University (Dayton, Ohio)

ThewholeworldcelebratesSidharth’sbirthday,whichisJanuary1.

#171 LAUREN BANNICK

12 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Elyria, Ohio

School: Langston Middle School

Regional Partner: Educational Service Center of Lorain County (Elyria, Ohio)

In elementary school, Lauren was on a jump rope team called Rope-Wrappers, and she created routines and learned tricks to perform at shows.

#173 CAITLIN CLONCH

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: New Waterford, Ohio

School: Crestview Middle School

Regional Partner: East Liverpool Review, Salem News & The Morning Journal (Lisbon, Ohio)

Caitlin has a huge passion for microbiology, and her favorite protist is the swan tear.

#175 ADDIE JACKSON

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Bridgeport, Ohio

School: Saint Mary Central School

Regional Partner: The Times Leader (Martins Ferry, Ohio)

Last year, Addie won an award for the most words read in her school.

#172 ELLI RUST

11 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Sidney, Ohio

School: Hardin-Houston Local School

Regional Partner: The Lima News (Lima, Ohio)

Elli loves volleyball, so she joined a club team this year.

#174 AADHYA ADHIKARI

10 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Marietta, Ohio

School: Veritas Classical Academy

Regional Partner: The Marietta Times (Marietta, Ohio)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-100th)

Aadhya participates in advanced orchestra and plays piano.

#176 FRANCIS KISSINGER

11 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Steubenville, Ohio

School: Bishop Mussio Central Elementary School

Regional Partner: The Herald-Star (Steubenville, Ohio)

#177 KENDALL MEHL

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Bowling Green, Ohio

School: Otsego Junior High School

Regional Partner: The Blade (Toledo, Ohio)

Previous Bees: 2024 (T-60th); 2025 (T-100th)

Kendall is into researching and learning about different cultures, and she particularly loves Mediterranean food.

#179 JAYDEN LE

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

School: Saint John Nepomuk School

Regional Partner: Oklahoma City Community College (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)

Jaydenisonajourneytovisitall50statesandhassofarvisited35.

#181 IRIS CHAN

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Portland, Oregon

School: Five Oaks Middle School

Regional Partner: SagamoreHill Broadcasting of Portland (Portland, Oregon)

Iris’parentsarefromTaiwan.

#178 GENEVIEVE RAMEY

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Warren, Ohio

School: Lincoln PK-8 School

Regional Partner: WFMJ Television (Youngstown, Ohio)

Genevieve has been an active swimmer on her middle school swim team and will continue swimming in high school.

#180 WILLIAM FULLER

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Wagoner, Oklahoma

School: Fuller Family Homeschool

Regional Partner: 2 News Oklahoma (Tulsa, Oklahoma)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-89th)

William is learning Greek at his local church.

#182 YOHAAN DAMANI

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Downingtown, Pennsylvania

School: Downingtown Middle School

Regional Partner: Chester County Intermediate Unit (Downingtown, Pennsylvania)

Yohaan enjoys experimenting with obscure parts of music theory, including strange keys, odd time signatures and improv piano material.

#183 VEDIKA BURMAN

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

School: Central Dauphin Middle School

Regional Partner: Pennon Education (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)

#185 JOEY ANANDH

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

School: Garnet Valley Middle School

Regional Partner: Delaware County Intermediate Unit (Morton, Pennsylvania) 2025 (T-100th)

#187 MAXWELL M.

11 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania

School: Saint Ambrose Academy

Regional Partner: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

#184 SIDDHESH GANESH

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Harleysville, Pennsylvania

School: Indian Valley Middle School

Regional Partner: Pennsylvania State Education Association and Council for the Advancement of Public Schools (Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania)

#186 JAYDEN JIANG

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

School: Girard Academic Music Program

Regional Partner: WHYY (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) 2024 (T-60th); 2025 (T-41st)

#188 NORA LLOYD

11 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania

School: Blue Mountain Elementary East School

Regional Partner: Schuylkill Technology Center (Pottsville, Pennsylvania)

#189 SID SRINIVASAN

9 years old – 3rd grade

Hometown: Lawrence Township, New Jersey School: Benjamin Franklin Elementary School

Regional Partner: Diamond City Sports (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania)

Sid loves to play ping-pong with his dad.

#191 ELLIANA PAGLIARINI

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Foster, Rhode Island School: Scituate Middle School

Regional Partner: The Valley Breeze (Lincoln, Rhode Island)

Previous Bees: 2024 (T-60th); 2025 (T-100th)

new heights—literally—with three-foot jumps.

#193 SALONEE BIRABAR

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Clover, South Carolina School: Oakridge Middle School

Regional Partner: Carolina Panthers (Clover, South Carolina)

#190 SHANE BANNON CARRIÓN

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico School: Bonneville School

Regional Partner: Eureka Enrichment Services, Inc. (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

Shane helped revitalize the south Florida population of the atala

#192 NICOLÁS JAKYMIW

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Charleston, South Carolina School: Charleston Catholic School

Regional Partner: The Post and Courier (Charleston, South Carolina)

#194 CONNOR NORTON

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina School: Socastee Middle School

Regional Partner: Pee Dee Education Center (Florence, South Carolina)

Previous Bees: 2024 (T-22nd); 2025 (T-89th) Connorwearsanecklacebearinghisdad’spolicebadgeasa

#195 KHLOE JUMAWAN

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Murrells Inlet, South Carolina School: St. James Middle School

Regional Partner: Pee Dee Education Center (Florence, South Carolina) Khloe loves to draw.

#197 EMERSON DUCK

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Inman, South Carolina

School: Campobello Gramling Jr. High School

Regional Partner: USC Upstate (Spartanburg, South Carolina)

Emerson has played many characters in local plays, but some of hisfavoriteshavebeentheWizardin“TheWizardofOz,”theprince in“SnowWhite,”andRumpelstiltskin.

#199 JOSH VERMA

11 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Germantown, Tennessee School: Farmington Elementary School

Regional Partner: University of Memphis (Memphis, Tennessee)

Previous Bees: 2024 (T-46th); 2025 (T-100th)

Joshdevelopedhisownopen-sourceAImodel’’avara-x1-mini” and published it for others to use.

#196 MANHA SHAIK

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Lake Wylie, South Carolina

School: Oakridge Middle School

Regional Partner: Carolina Panthers (Lake Wylie, South Carolina) Manha’sbiggestfearishumanoidrobots.

#198 OSCAR QUEZADA

11 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Sioux Falls, South Dakota

School: Challenge Center - Robert Frost Elementary School

Regional Partner: South Dakota News Watch (Brookings, South Dakota)

Oscar is currently working on a comic book of his character Megastone with origin stories of two other original characters.

#200 JUPITER MORROW

10 years old – 4th grade

Hometown: Chattanooga, Tennessee School: Woodmore Elementary School

Regional Partner: Tennessee Titans (Nashville, Tennessee)

Jupiter has completed multiple courses in C#.

#201 MARIAN JENKINS

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Brentwood, Tennessee

School: Woodland Middle School

Regional Partner: Tennessee Titans (Nashville, Tennessee)

Marian’sfavoriteEuropeancityisLondonbecauseshethinks it has the best food and sightseeing.

#203 ARNIE PARAT

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Amarillo, Texas

School: Ascension Academy

Regional Partner: Education Credit Union (Amarillo, Texas)

Previous Bees: 2022 (T-89th); 2025 (T-20th)

Arnie enjoys exploring and trying cuisines from around the world.

#205 CORBIN TREVINO

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas

School: Flour Bluff Junior High School

Regional Partner: KRIS Communications (Corpus Christi, Texas)

Corbin’stwofavoritehobbiesaremusicproductionand songwriting.

#202 SARIAH TITUS

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Abilene, Texas

School: Wylie West Junior High School

Regional Partner: Kiwanis Club of Abilene (Abilene, Texas)

Previous Bees: 2023 (T-122nd); 2024 (T-192nd); 2025 (T-58th)

Sariah taught herself how to read and write at the age of 2.

#204 THIVAAN BUTANI

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Austin, Texas

School: Lake Travis Middle School

Regional Partner: SNSB Region Three Bee (Austin, Texas)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-74th)

Thivaan loves to make up his own games.

#206 BENJAMIN PEARSON

12 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: DeSoto, Texas

School: Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy

Regional Partner: Dallas Sports Commission (Dallas, Texas) Afteranaccomplishment,BenjamincelebrateswithWhataburger.

#207 AVISHKA DUDALA

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Prosper, Texas

School: Rogers Middle School

Regional Partner: Dallas Sports Commission (Dallas, Texas)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-41st)

Avishka has won creative writing competitions at the district level.

#209 SHAHELI DE SILVA

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: El Paso, Texas

School: Young Women’s STEAM Academy

Regional Partner: EPISD Education Foundation (El Paso, Texas)

Shaheli is learning Chinese and speaks English, Sinhala and Spanish, which she switches between based on with whom she is speaking.

#211 RIDHAAN BHATTARAI

10 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Euless, Texas

School: Harmony School of Innovation - Euless

Regional Partner: Fort Worth Regional Bee (Fort Worth, Texas) Ridhaan likes things related to geography.

#208 KRISH MANJUNATH

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Irving, Texas

School: Coppell Middle School East

Regional Partner: Dallas Sports Commission (Dallas, Texas)

At age 10, Krish became one of the youngest people to run a full marathon and was featured on the front page of his local newspaper.

#210 LUKE STURLIN

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Burleson, Texas

School: Kerr Middle School

Regional Partner: Fort Worth Regional Bee (Fort Worth, Texas) Althoughheisasixth-generationTexan,Luke’sfavoritecityis Boston, MA.

#212 HAVEN ORSUA

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Houston, Texas

School: Melillo Middle School

Regional Partner: Houston City College (Houston, Texas)

Haven loves to participate in extracurricular activities such as chess and science fair.

#213 LOGAN BAILEY

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Houston, Texas

School: Bailey Home School

Regional Partner: Houston City College (Houston, Texas)

Logan once memorized 2,544 digits of pi and recited them publicly on Pi Day.

#215 HANNAH CHAVEZ

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Laredo, Texas

School: Elias Herrera Middle School

Regional Partner: Laredo Morning Times (Laredo, Texas)

Hannah is currently learning American Sign Language.

#217 ZIAN DOCTOLERO

12 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Lubbock, Texas

School: Terra Vista Middle School

Regional Partner: Ramar Communications (Lubbock, Texas)

Zian made the track team for pole vault, and he can almost clear six feet.

#214 ZACHARY TEOH

9 years old – 3rd grade

Hometown: Houston, Texas

School: River Oaks Elementary School

Regional Partner: Houston City College (Houston, Texas)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-74th)

ZacharycomposedandperformedaGermanversionof“Auld LangSyne”andwonthirdplaceinhisschool’stalentshow.

#216 SREEYANSH PASHAM

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Leander, Texas

School: BASIS Cedar Park

Regional Partner: SNSB Region Three Bee (Leander, Texas)

Sreeyansh was born on the same date that Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon.

#218 ANIRUDH ROY

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Brownsville, Texas

School: Resaca Middle School

Regional Partner: Rio Grande Valley Newspapers - AIM Media Texas (McAllen, Texas)

Anirudh is inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo for his incredible skill, discipline and determination to constantly improve.

#219 ABHINAV BERE

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Midland, Texas

School: Abell Junior High School

Regional Partner: Midland Reporter-Telegram (Midland, Texas)

Abhinav has been playing clarinet for two and a half years.

#221 SIERRA OGLESBY

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: San Angelo, Texas

School: Trinity Lutheran School

Regional Partner: EXIT Realty Advantage (San Angelo, Texas)

Sierra enjoys musical theater, both watching and performing, andherfavoritemusicalis“The25thAnnualPutnamCounty SpellingBee.”

#223 TIMON ZHANG

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Port Lavaca, Texas

School: Travis Middle School

Regional Partner: Region 3 Education Service Center (Victoria, Texas)

Timon has learned how to play the piano, the drums and a bit of violin.

#220 NAITHIK YANKARLA

11 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Odessa, Texas

School: Reagan Magnet Elementary School

Regional Partner: Ector County Independent School District (Odessa, Texas)

Naithik can juggle three tennis balls with both hands for over two minutes without dropping a single one.

#222 SIYONA KANDALA

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: San Antonio, Texas

School: Keystone School

Regional Partner: BASIS Ed Texas and BASIS Texas Charter Schools, Inc. (San Antonio, Texas)

Previous Bees: 2023 (T-23rd); 2024 (T-177th); 2025 (T-20th)

Siyona’spoemwasincludedinthelargestbookeverpublished (“I Am Texas“), which is a recent addition to the Guinness World Records.

#224 CAROLINE HU

12 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: College Station, Texas

School: Pecan Trail Intermediate School

Regional Partner: Rapoport Holdings, LLC (Waco, Texas)

Caroline experiments with different ways to make apple pie each month.

#225 WARREN BACONGALLO

12 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

School: Homeschool Global Middle East

Regional Partner: The Resource Lab (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)

WhenWarrenwasakid,hewasmostinterestedinthenumber10.

#227 WESLEY KENLON

11 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: Park City, Utah

School: Jeremy Ranch Elementary School

Regional Partner: The Park Record (Park City, Utah)

Wesley and his family are learning Japanese together.

#229 ROSHAN KAUSHIK

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Lehi, Utah

School: Challenger School - Traverse Mountain

Regional Partner: FOX 13 Utah (Salt Lake City, Utah)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-36th)

of the National History Bee.

#226 JAHMIR GREAUX

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Kingshill, U.S. Virgin Islands

School: Eulalie R. Rivera PreK-8 School

Regional Partner: The Virgin Islands Daily News (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands) Jahmir loves playing basketball.

#228 ASHLEY BRYNER

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Price, Utah

School: Mont Harmon Middle School

Regional Partner: Southeast Education Service Center (Price, Utah)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-202nd)

Ashley’ssoftballteamwonthechampionshiptournament, and she pitched for every single inning.

#230 RAY MISHRA

11 years old – 5th grade

Hometown: South Salt Lake, Utah

School: Woodstock Elementary School

Regional Partner: The City Journals (Salt Lake City, Utah) Ray goes to a chess club at his school every Friday.

#231 ISA LYALL GARCES

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Montpelier, Vermont

School: Main Street Middle School

Regional Partner: Vermont Principals Association (Rutland, Vermont)

Isa plays three sports – ultimate frisbee, soccer and basketball.

#233 ISRAEL MENSAH

9 years old – 4th grade

Hometown: Stafford, Virginia

School: Stafford Elementary School

Regional Partner: Central Rappahannock Regional Library (Fredericksburg, Virginia)

Israel was born in the United Kingdom.

#235 DHIYA SUDHAKAR

11 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Chantilly, Virginia

School: Gum Spring Middle School

Regional Partner: Loudoun County Public Schools (Leesburg, Virginia)

Dhiya enjoys drawing both by herself and with her friends.

#232 LAYLA BARRETT

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Callands, Virginia

School: Chatham Middle School

Regional Partner: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Danville Area (Danville, Virginia)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-100th)

Layla has a fun fact for just about any animal group you can imagine.

#234 KITCHA SHANKAR

12 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Harrisonburg, Virginia

School: Thomas Harrison Middle School

Regional Partner: Rockingham District Ruritans (Harrisonburg, Virginia)

Since2020,KitchahasperformedwiththeNationalChildren’s Chorus at several venues, including Carnegie Hall.

#236 VIKY TANAMALA

11 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Leesburg, Virginia

School: Belmont Ridge Middle School

Regional Partner: Loudoun County Public Schools (Leesburg, Virginia)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-74th)

Viky’sfavoritelanguageintheUnabridgedDictionaryis“English,” because without English, there would be no spelling bee!

#237 SIYA SAMPATH

12 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Haymarket, Virginia

School: Ronald W. Reagan Middle School

Regional Partner: InsideNoVa/Prince William (Manassas, Virginia)

Previous Bees: 2023 (T-57th); 2024 (T-60th)

Siya has hiked the 8.5-mile Panorama Trail in Yosemite National Park from Glacier Point to the Yosemite Valley.

#239 AADHYA VIJAYAKUMAR

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Chantilly, Virginia

School: Rocky Run Middle School

Regional Partner:

Aadhya loves to write books and poetry, and her dream is to become an author.

#241 ASHVIN PINNAMARAJU

11 years old – 6th grade

Hometown: Roanoke, Virginia

School: Cave Spring Middle School

Regional Partner: Radford University (Radford, Virginia)

Ashvin’sfavoritetennisplayerisCarlosAlcaraz.

#238 LAASYA MOHAN

10 years old – 4th grade

Hometown: Herndon, Virginia

School: Floris Elementary School

Regional Partner: Laasya’sclassmatesthinkshe’sawalking,talkingdictionary

#240 SUHANI JOSHI

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Williamsburg, Virginia

School: Hampton Roads Academy

Regional Partner: WHRO Public Media (Norfolk, Virginia)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-100th)

SuhanilovesthechallengeofdifferentRubik’sCubes, especially the Mirror version.

#242 TARAN SHIVKUMAR

14 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Glen Allen, Virginia

School: George H. Moody Middle School

Regional Partner: Richmond Raceway (Richmond, Virginia)

Taran is a Guinness World Record holder for participating in a Sanskrit group recital.

#243 RAVEN AMRHEIN

13 years old – 7th grade

Hometown: Seattle, Washington

School: Hamilton International Middle School

Regional Partner: Town Hall Seattle (Seattle, Washington)

Raven sleeps with a dictionary under their pillow the night before every spelling bee.

#245 ARNAV VEMPATI

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Madison, Wisconsin

School: Kromrey Middle School

Regional Partner: Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wisconsin)

Arnav celebrated three of his birthdays in three different countries.

#247 LEVI GOODWIN

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Saratoga, Wyoming

School: Saratoga Elementary School

Regional Partner: Sweetwater County BOCES (Rock Springs, Wyoming)

#244 NIRAV NIMBARTE

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: Morgantown, West Virginia

School: Mountaineer Middle School

Regional Partner: Charleston Gazette-Mail (Charleston, West Virginia)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-58th)

Nirav often makes French toast for his family.

#246 ETHAN ROBERT

13 years old – 8th grade

Hometown: New Berlin, Wisconsin

School: New Berlin Eisenhower Middle/High School

Regional Partner: Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wisconsin)

Previous Bees: 2025 (T-10th)

Ethan loves exploring nature and has already visited seven different national parks, with a goal to keep discovering more.

DR. JACQUES BAILLY

Head pronouncer

CHRISTIAN AXELGARD

GEORGIA SCURLETIS

JANE SOLOMON

MARY BROOKS Head judge

FRANK CAHILL

DR. BRIAN SIETSEMA

Head associate pronouncer

KRISTIN HAWKINS

SAMEER MISHRA

DR. KAVYA SHIVASHANKAR

GEORGE THAMPY

MIRLE SHIVASHANKAR

BARRIE TRINKLE

ADAM SYMSON President and CEO, The E.W. Scripps Company

TYLER HYDE Brand strategy manager

CORRIE LOEFFLER Executive director

HALEY GOETZ Event manager

BRYAN WITT Regional partner specialist

CYBELLE WEEKS Senior director, program operations

AKSHAY AHUJA Editorial manager

EMILY HARE Editorial specialist

MOLLY BECKER Director, editorial

KIM HARP Development manager

JACOB NISWONGER Editorial specialist

TAMMY RIDDLE Director, sales & marketing

JULIA FERMIER Program specialist

SHARISSE VERNELLE SANTOS Administrative assistant

TARA SINGH Crew Lead Duke University

JACK LADO University of Michigan

CHRISTOPHER SERRAO Washington University in St. Louis

SAKETH SUNDAR Crew Lead Harvard University

SHRUTHIKA PADHY Brown University

SRINIDHI VALLI VALATHAPPAN University of Texas at Dallas

PHAN Tulane University

ELIZABETH VAUGHAN University of Massachusetts Amherst

CECILIA BALOG Benedictine College

JESSICA RIVERA The University of Texas at Austin

VIDAL Virginia Commonwealth University

DEVORE Hillsdale College

SALEEBY Villanova University

WATERFORD Vanderbilt University

Celebrating Special Partners

honoring special bee contributors

The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the culmination of year-round efforts by so many, including hundreds of regional partners, educators and volunteers.

We want to express our gratitude for all that these critical team members do and let them know how much their work is appreciated. We like to take the opportunity each year to recognize one regional partner, one educator and one volunteer who were nominated for these honors.

Please join the Bee team in saying “congratulations and thank you!”

Carolina Panthers

for our students and celebrate the dedication,

Yasmeen Harris-Youngblood

Fun facts: The Trekking Teacher

Fun facts:

Yasmeen Harris-Youngblood

Fun facts: The Trekking Teacher

Fun facts:

These regional partners organize spelling bees across the country and sponsor regional champions who advance to the national competition.

platinum partners

gold partners

2

Armbrae Academy

State University - WIPB-TV

BASIS Ed Texas and BASIS Texas Charter Schools, Inc.

Bergen County Division of Cultural & Historic

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Danville Area Boone-Winnebago

Office of Education

Boston Centers for Youth & Families

Boulder

Carroll/JoDaviess/

Central Rappahannock

Charles County Public Schools Charleston Gazette-Mail

Chicago Public Schools

DeKalb Regional Office of Education 16

Delaware County Intermediate Unit

Diamond City Sports

Duke Community Affairs

DuPage Regional Office of Education

East Liverpool Review, Salem News & The Morning Journal

Ector County Independent School District

ECU - A Division of WFCU Credit Union

Education Credit Union Educational Service Center of Lorain County

Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas

EPISD Education Foundation

ESC of the Western Reserve

Eureka Enrichment Services, Inc.

European PTSA

EXIT Realty Advantage

Fairbanks North Star

Borough School District

First State Educate Fox 13 Utah

Frederick County Public Libraries

Grundy/Kendall County Regional Office of Education

Harnett County Schools

Hawaii State Spelling Bee

regional partners

Howard County Library

Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs/Tourism Development

Humboldt County Office of Education

Imperial County Office of Education

InsideNoVa/Prince William

IU School of Education Indianapolis

Johnston County Public Schools

Kalamazoo Experiential Learning Center

Kane County Regional Office of Education

Kansas Press Association

Kent Intermediate School District

KERO Channel 23

Kiwanis Club of Abilene

Kiwanis Club of Lafayette & Acadiana

KRIS Communications

Lake County Regional Office of Education

LARA Educational Opportunities, Inc.

Laredo Morning Times

Lee County Spelling Bee

Living History Farms

Louisville Free Public Library

LSU - University Laboratory School

Macomb Intermediate School District

McHenry County Regional Office of Education

Merced County Office of Education

Mid-Continent Public Library

Midland Reporter-Telegram

Montana Television Network

Monterey County Office of Education

Mosaic Life Care Foundation

Navajo Times

ND Association of County Superintendents

New Hampshire Union Leader

New Orleans Chapter of The Links

Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society

Oakland Schools

Education Foundation

Ohio University E.W. Scripps School of Journalism

Oklahoma City Community College

Omaha Sports Commission

Orange-Ulster BOCES

Pennon Education

Pennsylvania State Education Association and Council for the Advancement of Public Schools

Peoria Public Library

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Portland Press Herald/ Maine Sunday Telegram

Radford University

Ramar Communications

Rapoport Holdings, LLC

Raymore-Peculiar School District

Region 3 Education Service Center

Region 8 Education Service Center

Regional Office of Education #47

Richmond Raceway

Rio Grande Valley Newspapers - AIM Media Texas

Riverside County Office of Education

Rockingham District Ruritans

Rotary Club of Guam

SagamoreHill

Broadcasting of Lake Charles

SagamoreHill

Broadcasting of Portland Sage

Saint Louis University

Schuylkill Technology Center

Sidelines and Stages

South Cook Intermediate Service Center

South Dakota News Watch

Southeast Education Service Center

St. John’s Lutheran Church & School

SUNY Fredonia

Sweetwater County BOCES

The Blade

The City Journals

The County Press

The Denver Post

The Dispatch Argus

The Herald-Palladium

The Herald-Star

The Lima News

The Marietta Times

The Martha’s Vineyard Times

The Meakem Group

The Office of the Fresno

County Superintendent of Schools

The Orange County Register/O.C. Department of Education

The Park Record

The Post and Courier

The Post-Standard | syracuse.com

The REAL Program

The Repository

The Resource Lab

The Times Leader

The Valley Breeze

The Virgin Islands Daily News

Three Rivers College

Town Hall Seattle

Traverse City Record-Eagle

Tulare County Office of Education

University of KentuckyCollege of Education

University of Maryland

Eastern Shore

University of Memphis

University of South Florida - College of Education

USC Upstate

Vermont Principals

Association

Watertown Daily Times

Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES

West Shore Educational Service District

WFCU Credit Union

WFMJ Television

WHRO Public Media

Will County Regional Office of Education

WJXT

Wright State University

WXYZ Channel 7

Young Educators Foundation