Southeast Minnesota Spelling Bee Crowns New Champion

Eighth-grader Riddhi Patel wins 2026 regional competition in Rochester

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A dozen students from sixth through eighth grade competed in the 2026 Southeast Minnesota Spelling Bee final on Monday, March 2, 2026, in Rochester. Riddhi Patel, an eighth-grader at Dakota Middle School, emerged victorious and received the first-place trophy after an intense competition.

Why it matters

The Southeast Minnesota Spelling Bee is a long-standing regional competition that showcases the academic excellence and spelling prowess of middle school students across the area. Winning this bee is a significant achievement that can open doors to further spelling competitions at the state and national levels.

The details

The final round of the 2026 Southeast Minnesota Spelling Bee featured 12 students from schools across the region, including Lewiston-Altura, Chatfield, Northfield, Bluffview Montessori, Austin, Caledonia, Byron, Spring Grove, and Dakota Middle School. After several rounds of increasingly difficult words, Riddhi Patel of Dakota Middle School emerged as the champion.

  • The 2026 Southeast Minnesota Spelling Bee final was held on Monday, March 2, 2026, in Rochester.

The players

Riddhi Patel

An eighth-grader at Dakota Middle School who won the 2026 Southeast Minnesota Spelling Bee.

Zebedee Alford

A seventh-grader at Lewiston-Altura who competed in the 2026 Southeast Minnesota Spelling Bee final.

Rayna Allen

A sixth-grader at Chatfield who competed in the 2026 Southeast Minnesota Spelling Bee final.

Jordyn Finstuen

An eighth-grader at Northfield who competed in the 2026 Southeast Minnesota Spelling Bee final.

Rose Knutson

A seventh-grader at Bluffview Montessori School who competed in the 2026 Southeast Minnesota Spelling Bee final.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

Riddhi Patel will now advance to the Minnesota State Spelling Bee, which is scheduled for April 12, 2026.

The takeaway

The Southeast Minnesota Spelling Bee continues to be a source of pride and academic achievement for middle school students in the region, showcasing their hard work, dedication, and mastery of the English language.