CULPEPER COUNTY, VA — The Culpeper County Public Schools Spelling Bee took place on January 21 at A.G. Richardson Elementary School, drawing students, families, and educators together for an evening celebrating academic achievement. A total of 18 students from across the county competed in the annual event, which stretched across 20 challenging rounds.
After an intense final showdown, fourth-grader Lucas Klumpp of Emerald Hill Elementary School emerged as the winner. Klumpp secured first place by correctly spelling the winning word, “paparazzi,” earning the county title and applause from the audience. His steady performance throughout the competition set him apart in a field of strong spellers.
The competition also highlighted impressive performances from Farmington Elementary School students. Riley Mitchell finished as the runner-up, while Liam Mitchell earned third place, marking a strong showing for their school.
The County Spelling Bee included the top three finishers from each school’s spelling bee:
A.G. RICHARDSON: Kennedy Sutherland, Myshon Parler, Kaislynn Barroso
EMERALD HILL: Lucas Klumpp, Abigail Ndip-Etta, Colton Short
FARMINGTON: Riley Mitchell, Liam Mitchell, Jadaya White
PEARL SAMPLE: Jackson Moffett, Louisa Headley, Alex Geronimo
SYCAMORE PARK: Alice Nolasco, Mariam Romero, Angel Arevalo Duran
YOWELL: Caiden Leacock, Jonas Chebli, Luna Williams
The Culpeper County Spelling Bee owes much of its success to the dedication and hard work of the adults who volunteer their time and expertise to ensure a smooth and fair competition. Wes Mayles, the bee pronouncer, skillfully guided contestants through the challenging words with clarity and precision. The 2026 judges were Kelly Kuykendall, Racheal Fick, and Dana Stone. Behind the scenes Spelling Bee Coordinators played an instrumental role in organizing and executing the event seamlessly. Kristin Marini represented the division and AG Richardson Elementary, and each of the other school’s coordinators include Becky Murdock from Yowell Elementary, Elizabeth Seeley from Pearl Sample Elementary, Mindy Brooks-Smith from Sycamore Park Elementary, Lance Lacey from Emerald Hill Elementary, and Grace Harris from Farmington Elementary.
The success of the Culpeper County Spelling Bee would not have been possible without the generous support of the event sponsors. CCPS extends heartfelt gratitude to Chick-fil-A, AG Richardson Elementary School, Emerald Hill Elementary School, and Eppard Orthodontics for their commitment to educational initiatives in our community. We are truly grateful for their partnership and look forward to continuing to work together to empower and inspire the students of Culpeper County.
Written by: Kristin Marini
Photos by: Elizabeth Seeley