2026 Middle School Spelling Bee champion Madeleine Wells ’30 steps up to the microphone
Hampton Roads Academy proudly congratulates eighth grader Madeleine Wells ’30, the 2026 HRA Middle School Spelling Bee champion!
Wells competed against fellow finalists Lillian Hall ’32, Jefferson Tomlin ’32, Grace Freeman ’31, Liliana Mercado ’31, Arie Samuel ’31, and Suhani Joshi ’30 on Wednesday, January 14. All delivered impressive performances that were a testament to their talent and hard work.
In November, during their TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) periods, students in Grades 6-8 completed written preliminary spelling tests that included 25 highly challenging words. The top seven scorers across the three years advanced to the school finals, held on stage in the Svein J. Lassen Auditorium before an audience of the full Middle School student body. Head of School Jay Lasley served as pronouncer, while Interim Director of Middle School Karen Gillespie and Middle School counselor Ashley Spruill sat as judges.
Head of School Jay Lasley serves as pronouncer at the annual Bee
After five rounds of increasing difficulty, featuring such tricky words as chauffeur, khaki, and latticework, Wells claimed victory by correctly spelling hibiscus.
An avid reader who is in the habit of completing a whole book nearly every day, Wells prepared by reading a few of her favorites in the days leading up to the Bee. Still, she said, “I was terrified going into it. I was confident I was going to lose.”
Stepping up to the microphone with no expectations, though, had an unexpected benefit. “I think the confidence in not succeeding helped me succeed, because there was less pressure,” Wells said.
With her win, Wells will now advance to the regional TowneBank Spelling Bee, to be hosted by WHRO in Norfolk on Saturday, March 7. Joshi, the defending regional champion, will also compete as an at-large contestant.
The annual Middle School Spelling Bee has become a launchpad for exceptional spellers since its debut in 2020. Two of the school’s recent champions—Joshi, then a seventh grader, last year and eighth grader Parker Muench in 2021—have gone on to win the regional competition and qualify for the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
According to Gillespie, preparing for, and participating in, spelling bees—a “great American tradition”—does far more than help students expand their vocabulary and language abilities. This activity also allows them to develop invaluable life skills such as public speaking, time management, and goal-setting, provides an opportunity to gain confidence under pressure, and imbues students with a lifelong love of learning.
Propelled by her personal love of books, which she considers the greatest way to learn new words, Wells is excited to face other top spellers at the regional level this spring.
The finalists proudly present their certificates after a challenging spell-off (left to right): Suhani Joshi ’30, Liliana Mercado ’31, Jefferson Tomlin ’32, Arie Samuel ’31, Lillian Hall ’32, Grace Freeman ’31, and school champion Madeleine Wells ’30
