Maine Eighth Grader Wins State Spelling Bee, Advances to Nationals

Brunswick, ME – Tristan Singh, an eighth-grade student from Rose M. Gaffney Elementary School in Machias, Washington County, has won the 2026 Maine State Spelling Bee. The competition, held Saturday at Bowdoin College, saw Singh correctly spell “stratosphere” to secure his victory and a place in the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee in May.

Singh’s win was particularly sweet, as he had made a bet on his success. “It feels really awesome, especially since I made the biggest bet on winning,” Singh said after the bee. “There’s a spring dance coming up at my school next week, and I said I would only (proceed) if I won.”

The spelling bee, presented by the Maine Trust for Local News, lasted 18 rounds. The final round pitted Singh against Grace Morris, a sixth grader from Turner Elementary School in Androscoggin County. The two students engaged in a tense six-round spell-off before Morris misspelled “philosophize,” paving the way for Singh’s winning word.

Earlier in the competition, Singh briefly stumbled, misspelling “cognizant” at round 14, giving Morris a chance to win. Still, Morris then misspelled “millennial,” extending the competition.

Other participants included Benjamin Ho, a seventh grader from Gorham Middle School, and Harmony Hoyt, a sixth grader representing Aroostook County.

Tristan Singh previously won the Washington County Spelling Bee on February 12 at Princeton Elementary School, defeating seventh-graders Abigail Chandler and Mason Landry.

The judging panel included Lily Jordan, a two-time past winner of the Maine State Spelling Bee, along with her parents, Glenn and Nancy Jordan, and Thomas College President Jeannine Uzzi, who has served as the word pronouncer for over 15 years.

Singh will now prepare to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May, and will first attend his school’s spring dance.