39 Students to Compete in Central Minnesota Regional Spelling Bee Thursday

(KNSI) – Students from across central Minnesota will test their spelling prowess Thursday at the 2026 Resource Training & Solutions Service Cooperative Region 7 Spelling Bee.

The contest features 39 competitors who will face off starting at 1:00 p.m. at Ritsche Auditorium on the St. Cloud State University campus. The spelling bee is part of a progression of contests starting at the school and district levels before advancing to regional, state, and potentially national competition.

Students from school districts throughout Region 7 will vie for a chance to advance to the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee. Winners will travel to Washington, D.C., in May for Bee Week, which culminates with the crowning of a national champion during a nationally televised broadcast.

The following local students will represent their schools in Thursday’s competition:

St. Cloud: Amir Omar (Grade 7), Jack Houston (Grade 6), Madalyn Steil (Grade 5), Mahbub Omar (Grade 6), Olivia Gould (Grade 8), and Thisbe Truax (Grade 7)

Sauk Rapids-Rice: Gabriel Anderson (Grade 8), Harrison Nguyen (Grade 8), Nova Rushmeyerl (Grade 5), and Titus Seline (Grade 6)

Sartell-St. Stephen: Ingrid Johnson (Grade 8), Marien Asia (Grade 8), and Uriah LaPorta (Grade 8)

Foley: Lucas Anderson (Grade 5) and Olivia Hartman (Grade 8)

Other area schools: Charles Houle, Saint John’s Prep (Grade 8); Ella Kluver, Eden Valley-Watkins (Grade 8); Faith Meyer, Melrose (Grade 8); Gracyn Hendricks, Kimball (Grade 6); Hannah Rubbelke, Catholic Community Schools (Grade 5); James Schumer, Holdingford (Grade 5); and Levi Jungroth-Elliot, Stride Academy (Grade 8)

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