Two Wisconsin Students Will Compete at Scripps National Spelling Bee
Students from New Berlin, Middleton will compete May 26-28 in Washington, DC.
Maria Nygard, advanced learning specialist at Kromrey Middle School and Arnav Vempati who is heading to Washington, D.C. to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 26-28, 2026. Photo courtesy of Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District
New Berlin eighth-grader Ethan Robert is not an analphabet, but he knows how to spell it. And that has earned him a spot at the National Spelling Bee competition this week.
Analphabet — which means a person who is illiterate — was the winning word at the Badger State Spelling Bee Championship in March.
Arnav Vempati, an eighth grader at Kromrey Elementary School in Middleton, came in second place at the state championship and will join Robert in Washington, D.C. from May 26-28.
Vempati’s winning word: ossificatory.
Vempati had never heard the word before, but knew ossicles were located in the ear and was able to spell that word. From there, piece of cake.
Ossification, by the way, is the biological process of creating bone.
Vempati says he wasn’t very good at spelling until middle school.
“In fifth grade, I got out in the classroom spelling bee,” Vempati said. “Then I started trying it, and I liked the experience of learning the words and spelling them and getting all of the information and the roots and parts of the word.”
Another thing that Vempati says is fun — tossing some sophisticated vocabulary words into everyday language and writing.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation’s largest and longest-running educational program. It was first held 101 years ago on June 17, 1925, with just nine kids in the competition.
This year, there will be 247 participants.
The semifinals will be broadcast from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday on ION. The finals will air live on ION from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, or can be streamed on www.spellingbee.com.
In the days leading up to the national competition, Robert and Vempati have been studying with guides and apps provided by Scripps.
But they know there could be a surprise. Last year’s winning word was “éclaircissement,” a 15-letter French origin noun.
E-x-c-i-t-i-n-g: 2 Wisconsin students heading to the Scripps National Spelling Bee was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.
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