LATHAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A Shaker Middle School student will head to Washington, D.C. this May to compete in the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee. This will be Krrisha Agrawal’s second year advancing to the competition.
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The 11-year-old took first place at a regional qualifier on March 28. She was followed by Arnav Jakkamsetti, an eighth grader from Bethlehem, in second place; and Mohamed Elhadi, an eighth grader from Menands, in third.
“I would say it was more difficult than last year, it went on for four hours,” Agrawal told NEWS10. “I was really surprised that I won again, but it was a really great experience.”
At the 2025 national spelling bee, Agrawal was eliminated during a written test in the third round. Despite the elimination, the Loudonville native said the experience brought her a sense of accomplishment and even gave her the opportunity to appear on The Kelly Clarkson Show, where she and another young speller competed on the segment “Kelly’s Spellys.”
“It was unreal, I felt like an actress,” Agrawal said…