Scottsdale Unified School District Crowns Spanish Spelling Bee Champion

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (January 21, 2026) The Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) Spanish Spelling Bee concluded with an exciting final round as students from across the district competed for the championship title. The event highlights student achievement in world languages and celebrates bilingualism and biliteracy.

The competition began with a strong field of student spellers and ultimately narrowed to an intense head-to-head matchup between two seventh-grade finalists, who competed through 11 rounds. The championship was decided by the final word. Adrian Cortes Ramon, a seventh grader from Tonalea, correctly spelled the word to secure first place. Following confirmation by Spelling Bee Host Dr. David Priniski, Cortes Ramon was announced as the 2026 SUSD Spanish Spelling Bee Champion.

“Oh my god. Oh my god. I won. It’s impossible,” Cortes Ramon exclaimed, following the announcement.

Despite his success, Cortes Ramon shared that he entered the competition with mixed emotions. “I was excited, and I was scared. I thought, ‘I’m not going to win,’ he said. His preparation and perseverance ultimately paid off.

Cortes Ramon credited his teacher, Mr. Chango, for encouraging him to participate in the Spanish Spelling Bee. That support led to his championship win, earning him a trophy and districtwide recognition.

The SUSD Spanish Spelling Bee uses an official word list from the National Spanish Spelling Bee study guide, which serves as the foundation for student preparation and the competition itself. The event is coordinated through a collaborative effort led by SUSD’s World Language Coordinator, along with the district’s translation team and bilingual community specialists.

In addition, middle school Spanish teachers across the district support the event by hosting mini spelling bees within their classes. Participation is open to all eligible students, and parents may also register their children independently. Schools such as Tonalea Middle School, and Mohave Middle School were well represented this year, including students from the district’s Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program.

The Spanish Spelling Bee continues to grow each year, reflecting SUSD’s commitment to world language education and providing students with meaningful opportunities to showcase their language skills.

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.