Raven Amrhein is the only student from Washington participating in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, and one of only 75 competitors to make the quarterfinals.
SEATTLE — A Seattle middle school student made it to the quarterfinals of the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
Raven Amrhein, a student at Hamilton International Middle School, was Washington state’s sole participant in this year’s competition.
During preliminaries on Tuesday, the seventh grader correctly spelled the word “ailette,” a plate of forged iron or steel worn over a coat of mail to protect the shoulder, and accurately defined the meaning of “tepidity,” the quality or state of being lukewarm. Raven then passed the written test to qualify for Wednesday’s quarterfinals.
Raven correctly spelled “dorsad” in the quarterfinals, but was knocked out of the competition on the vocabulary round.
Of the 247 young wordsmiths vying to become the nation’s top speller, Raven was one of only 75 who made it to the quarterfinals.
Washington speller competes on national stage
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Raven, 13, started spelling in the second grade at the suggestion of their parents, Neil and Amy. They say they had only won a handful of spelling bees prior to heading to Washington, D.C., to compete on the national stage.
Before heading back east for the competition, Raven said they were cramming in hours of spelling practice each day.
“I am just super excited to actually go to Washington, D.C., and be with the people that I have seen on the covers of my studying books,” Raven told KING 5 before they left for the nation’s capital.
When asked if they were nervous, Raven simply replied, “yes,” and laughed.
When Raven is not studying spelling words, they play music and sing, and are working on writing a manga series called “Crimson Tears.” They also enjoy learning history and science.
The young speller that comes out on top in the Scripps National Spelling Bee this year wins $50,000, a reference library from Encyclopaedia Britannica, and other prizes.
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