Desert Canyon 7th Grader Spells His Way to SUSD Championship Title

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (January 26, 2026) Nerves and excitement filled the Saguaro High School auditorium as students gathered for the 2026 SUSD Spelling Bee. The event gives students in grades 3 through 8 the opportunity to face off and showcase their spelling skills, highlighting the academic excellence across the district.

By the end of the event, Camden Hernandez, a seventh grader from Desert Canyon Middle School, had outlasted a field of 23 competitors to claim the 2026 SUSD Spelling Bee Championship.

The districtwide competition began with the word “language” and steadily narrowed to a final three before Hernandez ultimately secured first place. When the final word, “minestra,” was confirmed, his enthusiasm was unmistakable. Hernandez raised his arms in celebration as the auditorium erupted in applause, a joyful moment that reflected just how much the achievement meant to him. His win earns him a spot at the Regional Spelling Bee, where he will compete alongside five other SUSD students.

“I was feeling nervous, stressed out,” Hernandez said. “I thought I would maybe make the top five or ten, but I didn’t think I studied all of the words.” While Hernandez may have doubted himself in the beginning, he set himself up for success. He spent countless hours reviewing word lists, writing them down, spelling them aloud, and working through the materials provided by Spelling Bee organizers; tackling thousands of words along the way. “It really helped a lot. It helped me visualize the words.”

Hernandez credits his love of reading and strong language skills for his success. “I read a lot,” he said. “My ELA teachers say I have good writing techniques and good grammar.” His favorite book is Jurassic Park.

Winning the district bee has given Hernandez a confidence boost as he looks ahead. “I’m pretty excited,” he said. “If I can win district, that boosted my confidence a lot. And regionals, I think I might be able to do it. It’s possible.”  

Six SUSD students will advance to the Regional Spelling Bee on February 9, representing the district:

• Camden Hernandez, Desert Canyon Middle School, 7^th Grade – 1st Place
• Sullivan Mixon, Navajo Elementary School, 5^th Grade
• Oliver LeCocq, Mohave Middle School, 7^th Grade
• Jak Boudi, Ingleside Middle School, 7^th Grade  
• Diya Rozenfeld, Kiva Elementary School, 5^th Grade 
• Aydon Morales, Redfield Elementary School, 5^th Grade 

The Spelling Bee reflects SUSD’s dedication to academic excellence and literacy across all grade levels.

For more information about SUSD visit our website.

Media Contacts: 

Kristine Harrington, (480) 404-2417, kristineharrington@susd.org;  
Cymphanie Sherman, 602-615-7325, csherman@susd.org

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With nearly 20,000 students in all schools, the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) has been a premier choice for pre-kindergarten through grade 12 public education for almost 130 years. Located northeast of metropolitan Phoenix, the District serves the educational needs of students and families in Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Tempe, and Scottsdale. A highly experienced, professionally certified teaching staff fosters a diverse and rigorous educational environment that engages all students in world-class, future-focused learning. Offering gifted learning, special education, career and technical education, and a variety of athletics, arts and enrichment programs and clubs, SUSD provides the rich environment today’s students need to explore their interests, develop important social skills, and grow into tomorrow’s leaders. For more information, visit www.susd.org and follow along on social media: Facebook: @ScottsdaleUSD, Instagram: @ScottsdaleUnifiedSD, LinkedIn and YouTube.