5-13-2025 4:04am

LOCAL STUDENT IN

In its 100th year, the Scripps National Spelling Bee will feature Riderwood Elementary student Amelia "Bindi" Ray. Ray began her journey toward the national competition by participating in a spelling bee club, funded by the Riderwood Elementary School PTA, and hosted during Grade 5 lunch periods by teacher Jennifer Buchman.

Riderwood Elementary student Amelia “Bindi” Ray advances to Scripps National Spelling Bee Grade 5 student won first place at regional bee with nearly perfect score Amelia “Bindi” Ray, a Grade 5 student at Riderwood Elementary School, after winning classroom, school level, and regional spelling bees, is advancing to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which will be held on May 27, 28, and 29, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Oxon Hill, MD.

According to Ray, “The words I’m studying are very challenging, but I am very excited for this great opportunity.” Ray began her journey toward the national competition by participating in a spelling bee club, funded by the Riderwood Elementary School PTA, and hosted during Grade 5 lunch periods by teacher Jennifer Buchman.

Ray was one of two competitors from Riderwood at the Maryland Regional Bee, which is presented by the Maryland Sports Commission. The regional competition involved a 40-minute timed computerized spelling and vocabulary test, offered virtually.

Ray won first place with a near-perfect score of 34/35 points. Buchman has described Ray as an outstanding student who loves reading and science and has a deep passion for learning. “She is curious about the natural world, how things work, and demonstrates this curiosity by always letting her interests lead her into excellence in all we do in school and outside of school,” Buchman said.

This year, the Scripps National Spelling Bee will celebrate its 100th anniversary. The competition will be broadcast live on ION and available on other Scripps networks and streaming platforms. The broadcast schedule for the finals will be available online beginning on Thursday, May 1.

100 years of the Bee

In 2025, the Bee will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the very first National Spelling Bee. While only 9 spellers participated in that first competition, their legacy lives on in the millions of students who compete at all levels of the spelling bee program today.

Throughout the year, we are sharing stories from the Bee archive, engaging our spelling bee alumni in different ways and commemorating 100 years of words with special opportunities.