Students
February 13, 2026
Forty students from across central Minnesota gathered on February 12, 2026, at Ritsche Auditorium on the campus of St. Cloud State University for the 2026 Central Minnesota Regional Spelling Bee, hosted by Resource Training & Solutions.
What followed was an afternoon of focus, determination, and impressive vocabulary skills as students competed through 12 rounds of spelling.
After nine competitive rounds, Harrison Nguyen, an eighth grader from Sauk Rapids-Rice, secured the championship title with a confident and accurate final word. With this win, Harrison will represent central Minnesota at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., this May.
The competition continued to determine second and third place, as Marien Asia, an eighth grader from Sartell-St. Stephen, earned second place, and Miley Hopwood, a seventh grader from Kaleidoscope, claimed third. Their composure and perseverance in the final rounds were a testament to the preparation and support happening in schools across our region.
The Regional Spelling Bee is designed to strengthen students’ spelling and vocabulary skills through a progression of contests beginning at the school and district levels. By the time students reach the regional stage, they have already demonstrated dedication, resilience, and a strong commitment to learning.
“We are incredibly proud of every student who stepped up to the microphone,” said Bonnie Hedlund, Literacy Coach at Resource Training & Solutions and coordinator of the Central Minnesota Regional Spelling Bee. “Competing in 12 rounds takes focus, courage, and perseverance. These students represented their schools and our region with excellence.”
Families, educators, and community members filled the auditorium, cheering on the students and celebrating academic achievement. Events like the Regional Spelling Bee highlight the strong literacy work happening across central Minnesota and provide students with meaningful opportunities to challenge themselves on a larger stage.
Harrison will now prepare for Bee Week in Washington, D.C., where spellers from across the country compete for the national title during a nationally televised broadcast.
You can view photos from the event and access the official program here:
At Resource Training & Solutions, we are proud to support programs that cultivate collaboration, celebrate learning, and create opportunities for students across our region to shine.