Moody Middle School eighth grader Taran Shivkumar won the 2026 Henrico County Public Schools Divisionwide Spelling Bee, held Thursday evening at J.R. Tucker High School in Henrico, Virginia. The event followed two weather-related postponements and marked a milestone for Taran after previous near-misses in earlier competitions.
The annual spelling bee features champions from each elementary and middle school within the district. Taran received his trophy from Kristi Kinsella, the Brookland District representative on the Henrico School Board, and Lesley Hughes, chief learning officer of Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS).
“I was actually really, really confident today because I knew that I practiced. And with that practice, I started to get better and better, which helped me finally win,” said Taran as he celebrated with his family.
Taran had finished second in the 2024 competition. This year’s contest required 29 rounds to determine a winner. He faced Short Pump Middle School sixth grader Raelene Saldanha in a prolonged 16-round head-to-head match. Raelene’s younger brother Rylan, a third grader from Shady Grove Elementary School, remained in contention until round 13.
During their final rounds, Taran and Raelene quickly spelled words such as “novemdecillion,” “candelabrum,” “execrable,” and “oviparous.” The winning word was “tachycardia.” Raelene finished as runner-up.
“I really enjoyed her competitive nature, which is what makes competitions so enjoyable, the fact that contestants try their best,” Taran said.
Taran will advance to represent HCPS at the Richmond Raceway Regional Spelling Bee. He expressed enthusiasm about competing regionally and hopes to reach the Scripps National Spelling Bee held during Memorial Day week.
“It’s like a game show, and that’s the most entertaining and magical part about it,” he said.
Henrico County Public Schools provides educational services throughout Henrico County, adjacent to Richmond https://www.henricoschools.us. The district is known for its focus on positive learning experiences supported by dedicated staff https://www.henricoschools.us and has been recognized for teaching excellence https://www.henricoschools.us. Amy Cashwell serves as superintendent https://www.henricoschools.us, guiding the division under its motto: “The right to achieve. The support to succeed” https://www.henricoschools.us.
Photos from the spelling bee are available at https://photogalleries.henricoschools.us/2026-HCPS-Divisionwide-Spelling-Bee.