Just a couple of months ago, Moss-Nuckols Elementary School fifth-grader Aiden West was one of about 1,700 students vying for the title of Spelling Bee Champion for Louisa County Public Schools.
And on Wednesday, February 5th, during the final moments of the 2026 LCPS Spelling Bee, only one word stood between him and the title: Medusa.
West was up to the challenge, confidently and correctly spelling the word to earn the title as this year’s top speller at LCPS.
West was one of 30 spellers who qualified for and competed in the 2026 LCPS Spelling Bee on Wednesday night. Each speller earned their right to compete by succeeding in their respective school’s spelling bee. Beginning in early November and continuing through early January, all four elementary schools in the division, as well as Louisa County Middle School, hosted their own school-level bees for third through eighth-grade students. Students who finished as the first or second-place speller in their grade level qualified for the division Bee. Those who finished in third place in their grade levels served as alternates for the division competition.
West earned his spot in the division Bee by finishing second amongst all fifth-graders at M-NES. This year’s runner-up, Dylan Earley, qualified for the bee thanks to a second-place finish at the fifth-grade level for Thomas Jefferson Elementary School.
During the division Bee, the students battled nerves and pressure inside the Alan Jackson Theatre at Louisa County High School to conquer a handful of extremely challenging words, successfully rolling through words like “cilantro,” "maladaptive," and "irrevocable." The students also handled the pressure that comes with a live audience, as seats in the auditorium were filled with proud parents, siblings, and friends.
West’s triumph came after 8 rounds of competition that lasted approximately 74 minutes. During the competition, he successfully handled words such as “perceptible,” “acoustic,” and “complex.”
With the win, West became the first elementary-age student to win the title in five years. Coincidentally, the last elementary student to finish in first place was also a Moss-Nuckols Elementary School student, Anni Blair, back in 2021.
Afterward, LCPS superintendent Doug Straley commended all of the competitors for their performance.
“Every one of the students that participated here tonight was a champion,” Straley said. “They earned their right to be here. I’m so proud of all of them for the hard work and long hours of studying they put in, and it showed because they did a fantastic job.”
As the winner of the 2026 LCPS Spelling Bee, LaFontaine will now move on to compete in the 52nd annual Richmond Raceway Regional Spelling Bee on March 24th. By virtue of finishing as the runner-up, Earley will serve as the alternate.
Judges for this year’s Spelling Bee were LCPS Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Dr. Justin Grigg, LCPS Director of Assessment and Accountability Tom Smith, and Thomas Jefferson Elementary School teacher Sarah Martin. Louisa County High School teacher Helen Weddle served as the pronouncer.
Louisa County Public Schools would like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to all of the competitors and sincere thanks to all of the family members, friends, and teachers who supported this year’s spellers!
School Winners/Alternates
Jouett Elementary School
3rd Grade: Michael Miller, Reid Atkinson, Serenity Yates (Alternate)
4th Grade: Thalia Lucas, Eva Garnett, Sage Reed (Alternate)
5th Grade: Cheyenne Sprouse, Charlie Brooks, Emma Johnson (Alternate)
Moss-Nuckols Elementary School
3rd Grade: Parker Appler, Lucy Lucckese, Johnathan Riddick (Alternate)
4th Grade: Asher Quinn, Spencer Ferraro, William Weaver (Alternate)
5th Grade: Audrey Marr, Aiden West, Lilly Martin (Alternate)
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
3rd Grade: William Besley, Elizabeth Ferguson, Destiny Joyner (Alternate)
4th Grade: Callum Bushey, Emmett Carroll, Korrin Huber (Alternate)
5th Grade: Piper McCavanagh, Dylan Earley, Brody Lowe (Alternate)
Trevilians Elementary School
3rd Grade: Teagan Norris, Logan Hembry, Matteo Tingler (Alternate)
4th Grade: Jasiah Long, Alice Jones, Miles Rudd (Alternate)
5th Grade: Carson Brown, Barbara Kelley, Emberly Bell (Alternate)
Louisa County Middle School
6th Grade: Grace Pearson, Melanie Powell, Alaina Fitzgerald (Alternate)
7th Grade: Tanner Daughtrey, Hampton Taylor, Paloma Ortiz (Alternate)
8th Grade: Lila Garnett, Tianna Jennings, Julianna Rooney (Alternate)