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The 2026 TowneBank Spelling Bee: Meet the Spellers

A student competes in a previous regional spelling bee.
A student competes in a previous regional spelling bee.

Each year, middle school students from across the region compete for the opportunity to represent our area in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Competition is always fierce each year among these excellent spellers, making for an exciting event.

The TowneBank Spelling Bee will air on WHRO TV on April 4 at 2 p.m. Join us to see who is named this year's champion.

Here are this year's competitors:

Anthony Ruiz
Atlantic Shores Christian School
Aubree Ellis
Western Branch Middle School
Benjamin Weil
Ella Fitzgerald Middle School
student Brooklyn Ellison
Brooklyn Ellison
Larkspur Middle School

Canaan Chand
Plaza Middle School
Student Charlotte Muntz
Charlotte Muntz
Portsmouth Catholic Regional School
Student Chudi Zhou
Chudi Zhou
Grafton Middle School
Student Denzel Johnson
Denzel Johnson
Elizabeth City Middle School
Student Devendra Gopaul
Devendra Gopaul
Queens Lake Middle School
Student Elisabeth Loveless
Elisabeth Loveless
Old Donation School
Student Elise Olimpo
Elise Olimpo
Brandon Middle School
Elliot Morrison
Trinity Lutheran School
Student Emma Spears
Emma Spears
Page Middle School
Student Emmalyn Perez
Emmalyn Perez
Norfolk Collegiate School
Student Guage Morgan
Guage Morgan
Mary Passage Middle School
Student Grace Turner
Grace Turner
Stonebridge School
Student Hazel Fowler
Hazel Fowler
Kilgore Gifted Center
Student Henry Mixer
Henry Mixer
Cape Henry Collegiate School
Student Henry Weeks
Henry Weeks
Academy for Discovery - Lakewood
Student Hiya Singh
Hiya Singh
Yorktown Middle School
Jamari Wilkins
Indian River Middle School
Student James Loveless
James Loveless
Lynnhaven Middle School
Student Josiah Thompson
Josiah Thompson
Princess Anne Middle School
Student Joslyn Adside
Josyln Adside
Virginia Beach Middle School
Student Joy Billups
Joy Billups
Pasquotank Early Learning Center ECPPS Micro School
Student Julian Darden
Julian Darden
Southampton Middle School
Student Kieran White
Kieran White
Poquoson Middle School
Student Levi Thompson
Levi Thompson
Independence Middle School
Student Lillian Boafo
Lillian Boafo
Peasley Middle School
Student Luemarie Jisca Riel
Luemarie Riel
Saint Matthew School
Student Madeleine Wells
Madeleine Wells
Hampton Roads Academy
Student Mason Young
Mason Young
Broadwater Academy
Matthew Sun
Smithfield Middle School
Student Mathias Hernandez
Mathias Hernandez
Corporate Landing Middle School
Student Mika Hammond
Mika Hammond
Our Lady of Mount Carmel School
Student Nathan Petzar
Nathan Petzar
Tabb Middle School
Student Nicholas Niko Larios
Nicholas Larios
Star of the Sea School
Student Nora Logioco
Nora Logioco
Summit Christian School
Student Preston Young
Preston Young
John Yeates Middle School
Student Rhowan Sigler
Rhowan Sigler
Hickory Middle School
Student Rome Joyner
Rome Joyner
River Road Middle School
Student Sahil Kothari
Sahil Kothari
Norfolk Academy
Student Sana Al-dabbagh
Sana Al-Dabbagh
Great Neck Middle School
Sawyer Eversole
Kempsville Middle School
Student Stevie Mutrie
Stevie Mutrie
Salem Middle School
Student Suhani Joshi
Suhani Joshi
Hampton Roads Academy
Taddy Evasco
Landstown Middle School
Student Yarnell Deh
Yarnell Deh
Bayside Middle School
Student Ysabel Costales
Ysabel Costales
Saint Pius X School