Five returning spellers, including the 2025 champion, are among the 29 students from Riverside County public, charter, and private schools who will compete in the 48th Annual Riverside County Spelling Bee on March 29 at 9 a.m. at the Riverside County Office of Education Conference Center. This event is free and open to the public.
The 29 students from grades 4 through 8 will compete for a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland from May 26 to May 28 at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.
“We welcome all the champions from school and district level competitions to showcase their expertise, self-discipline, and poise at the 48th Annual Riverside County Spelling Bee,” Dr. Edwin Gomez, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, said. “I look forward to seeing who will represent Riverside County at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May.”
Spellers competing in the Riverside County competition on March 29 include:
- Alvord USD: Eslin Sines, Wells Middle School, grade 8
- Banning USD: Ella Brock, Nicolet Middle School, grade 6 (2025 participant)
- Beaumont USD: Ezio Camerino, San Gorgonio Middle School, grade 8
- Chámmakilawish Pechanga School: Ajay Pico-Tinsley, grade 5
- Coachella Valley USD: Jayleen Contreras, North Shore Elementary School, grade 6
- Cornerstone Christian School: Celine Danan, grade 4
- Corona-Norco USD: Victoria Li, Dr. Augustine Ramirez Intermediate School, grade 7 (2025 participant)
- Desert Center USD: Drew Castor, Eagle Mountain School, grade 8 (2024 and 2025 participant)
- Desert Sands USD: Henry Russell, Palm Desert Charter Middle School, grade 6
- Hemet USD: Esteban Castro, Rancho Viejo Middle School, grade 7 (2024 participant)
- Lake Elsinore USD: Adrian Garcia, Alberhill Elementary School, grade 5
- Menifee Union SD: Sree Peddinti, Evans Ranch Elementary School, grade 5
- Mission Vista Academy: Clair Wallis, grade 5
- Moreno Valley USD: Ameiyah Mendoza, Butterfield Language Academy, grade 8
- Murrieta Valley USD: Alicia Chen, Dorothy McElhinney Middle School, grade 6
- Nuview Union SD: Logan Rivera, Valley View Elementary School, grade 5
- Palm Springs USD: Juniper Donovan, Nellie N. Coffman Middle School, grade 8
- Palm Valley School: Malayna Ristaino, grade 5
- Palo Verde USD: Jacob Schliekelman, Ruth Brown Elementary School, grade 6
- REACH Leadership STEAM Academy: Melaku Heikaus-Weaver, grade 6
- Riverside USD: Senitha Weerakoon, John F. Kennedy Elementary School, grade 6
- Romoland SD: Aaliyah Alexander, Granite Hills TK-8 School, grade 7
- Santa Rosa Academy: Parker Buchanan, grade 7 (2024 participant)
- Springs Charter Schools :Harper Lovato,grade 7
- Temecula International Academy: Chloe Williams, grade 5
- Temecula Valley USD: Riya Rakesh, Temecula Luiseno Elementary School, grade 5
- The Learning Center: Afia Rahman, grade 6
- Val Verde USD: Jovi Lin, Vista Verde Middle School, grade 8
- Van Avery Prep: Haleya Vasquez, grade 8
In 2025, Victoria Li, a 6th-grade student from the Philistine Rondo School of Discovery in the Corona-Norco Unified School District, was named the Riverside County champion after 3.5 hours and 23 rounds of competition.
