We decided to share this article with readers of BAHAMAS CHRONICLE, which has a huge following among the Bahamian diaspora across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom as well as in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean. The Nassau Guardian published this article by Shavaughn Moss on Monday, March 9, 2026.
By Shavaughn Moss
Guardian Lifestyles Editor
shavaughn@nasguard.com
Six previous Bahamas National Spelling Bee contestants will return to this year’s 29th competition with the hopes of claiming the title and earn the right to represent The Bahamas at the 101st Scripps National Spelling Bee in the summer. But the other 18 contestants rounding out the field, aren’t expected to roll over and allow one of the repeaters to easily walk away with the win.
Celine Rolle, a St. Andrew’s Anglican School student; Melissa Cruz, St. Andrew’s International School; Jules Carey, Windsor School; Kamden Greene, Jack Hayward junior High School; Caerwyn Turnquest, King’s College; and Matt Alcala, a student at Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Academy go into this year’s competition, which features 13 boys and 11 girls, with national competition experience under their belt.
The national spelling contest will be held on Sunday, March 15, in the Sea Breeze Ballroom, Breezes at 3 p.m.
Also, vying for the title will be Kevingstone Greenslade, Carlton E. Francis Primary; Isabella Faith Joseph, Central Abaco Primary; Janiecia Rolle, Huntley Christie High; Starmarie Blackwood, Euthal Rodgers Primary; Ethan Renaldo Cash, Genesis Academy; Johnathan Lloyd, Temple Christian School; Earl Harry Parcon, St. Thomas More School; Avery Davis, Uriah McPhee Primary School; Felix Wells, N.G.M. Major High School; Gabriel Fox, Central Eleuthera High; Cordesha Pierre, Wellington Preparatory School; Symone Martin, Bishop Michael Eldon School; Lorenzo Cash, H.O. Nash Junior High School; Anarah Williams, C.H. Reeves Junior High; Giffornique Jolly, Inagua All Age School; Edreka Rose, A. Loftus Roker High School; Gabriel Taylor, Stephen Taylor, Stephen Dillet Primary; and Karter Ward, Gerald Cash Primary.
The winner and runner-up will advance to represent The Bahamas at Scripps’ Bee Week at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Washington, D.C. in May 26-28.
The Bahamas national champion receives $1,000; a lap top from Custom Computers; a watch from Sunisles Watch & Clock; one year Encyclopedia subscription; and Sameul Louis Sugarman $100 Saving Bond. As well as training sessions by the BNSB coach, all-expense paid trip to compete at Scripps and $500 shopping money from the Bahamas Catering & Allied Workers Union.
Second place receives $750, a watch from Sunisles Watch & Clock, training sessions by the BNSB coach, all-expense paid trip to compete at Scripps.
Third place takes home $500 and a watch from Sunisles Watch & Clock.
Bee Week in Washington, D.C., is a week-long experience for spellers and their families that includes special events, educational workshops, excursions into Washington, D.C. and more.
The Scripps winner takes home a $50,000 cash prize, a commemorative medal and the Scripps Cup. Merriam-Webster tacks on a $2,500 cash prize and a reference library.
Scripps began in 1925 when nine newspapers joined together to host a spelling bee. Only nine spellers participated in that first competition. Little did they know that a century later, their literacy effort would reach millions of students each year.
Frank Neuhauser was 11-years-old when he won the first bee. He was also the first male winner. He won a stack of gold coins worth $500 and a visit with United States President Calvin Coolidge.
The first female champion was Pauline Bell (1926).
Jody-Anne Maxwell, from Jamaica, became the first Black winner and first non-American bee champion in 1998. Zaila Avant-garde became the first Black American winner in 2021.
The youngest competitor was Edith Fuller, who was six-years-old in 2017.
In 2019, eight co-winners were dubbed the “Octochamps” and hold the Guinness World Record for “Most winners of the Scripps National Spelling Bee (single competition).”
Competitors from Texas comprise the winningest state with 16. It is also the only double-digit state. The next winningest state is Ohio with nine.
The longest word was “scherenschnitte” (2015); the shortest word was “luge” (1984).
The longest one-day competition took place in 1957. The 30th Scripps National Spelling Bee started at 9 a.m. and lasted until 6:55 p.m. – almost 10 hours. Dana Bennett, 13, from Denver, and Sandra Owen, 14, from Navarre, Ohio, were declared co-champions after the word list was exhausted. Both failed to spell the final word: “schappe”.
Competition rules now state that a spell off is used in the interest of time.
There have been four years when a spelling bee was canceled – 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; 1945 because of World War II; 1944 because of World War II; and 1943 because of World War II.