Centerville seventh grader wins Wright State University Regional Spelling Bee, advances to 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee

Sidharth Nair, a seventh grader at Watts Middle School, won the 2026 Wright State University Regional Spelling Bee, earning a coveted spot at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May. (Photos by Erin Pence)

Sidharth Nair, a seventh-grade student from Watts Middle School in Centerville, won the Wright State University Regional Spelling Bee on March 6 in the Student Union’s Apollo Room.

Sidharth clinched the title by correctly spelling “masseuse,” a person who practices massage.

The win earns Sidharth a coveted spot at the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee, set for May 26–28 in Washington, D.C., where he will compete against top spellers from across the country.

In addition, Sidharth received one-year subscriptions to Merriam-Webster Unabridged Online and Britannica Online Premium, while his school received a one-year subscription to News-O-Matic.

Sidharth discovered his passion for spelling in sixth grade, when he reached the finals at his school. Determined to improve, he prepared methodically for this year’s competition, studying the Scripps Spelling Bee Word App and the dictionary. Sidharth credited his parents, who quizzed him regularly on the 4,000 words on the spelling bee’s official study list.

Wright State’s competition spanned 11 rounds and drew 48 students in grades four through eight from Greene, Clark, Darke, Miami, Montgomery and Preble counties.

Now in its third year as host, Wright State has welcomed nearly 150 students and their families to the Dayton Campus for the Regional Spelling Bee.

Hosting the Regional Spelling Bee reflects Wright State’s commitment to engaging young learners across the region and helping them envision themselves on a college campus.

“Partnering with the Scripps National Spelling Bee brings a nationally recognized program to students across the Miami Valley,” said Susan Schaurer, vice president for enrollment, marketing and career development. “We want every student to feel pride in their performance and excited about what their future could look like — including at Wright State.”

This year’s spelling bee was organized by Wright State’s College of Liberal Arts and the Office of the President, with support from volunteers with the 655th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, the 14th and 64th Intelligence Squadrons and the 71st Surveillance Squadron at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Sidharth Nair credited his parents for quizzing him regularly on the 4,000 words on the spelling bee’s official study list.

Launched in 1925, the Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation’s largest and longest-running educational program. Visit spellingbee.com for more information about the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is administered on a not-for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company.

Take the next step

For more information about admissions, financial aid and visiting campus, future students and their families can visit wright.edu/admissions.