Hannah Li Wins Third Straight LAPS Spelling Bee Title

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Hannah Li, an 8th grader at Los Alamos Middle School, has won the Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) District Spelling Bee for the third year in a row. Li correctly spelled 'acetone' in the 16th round to be declared the winner. Fynn Johnson, a 6th grader at Mountain Elementary, earned second place, while Oliver Truong, a 4th grader at Aspen Elementary, placed third.

Why it matters

The LAPS District Spelling Bee is a highly competitive event that showcases the academic excellence of students across the school district. Hannah Li's three-peat victory highlights her exceptional spelling skills and dedication to the competition. As the district champion, Li and runner-up Fynn Johnson will represent LAPS at the New Mexico State Qualifying Spelling Bee, with the potential to advance to the prestigious National Scripps Spelling Bee.

The details

Sixteen students from the five LAPS elementary schools and the middle school participated in this year's district spelling bee. The competition lasted 16 rounds before Li emerged victorious by correctly spelling the word 'acetone'. In addition to Li and Johnson, Oliver Truong placed third in the competition.

• The 2026 LAPS District Spelling Bee was held on Wednesday night.
• Hannah Li and Fynn Johnson will compete in the New Mexico State Qualifying Spelling Bee at the end of February.
• The state spelling bee is scheduled for Saturday, March 21.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Hannah Li and Fynn Johnson will compete in the New Mexico State Qualifying Spelling Bee at the end of February. The students with the top 25 scores in New Mexico will qualify to compete at the State Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 21.