Tusky Valley names spelling bee champion

Seventh-grader Brooke Padilla advanced to the championship round and won the bee by correctly spelling foreseeable

Seventh-grader Kaiden Archie finished as runner-up after missing the word laborious. Seventh-grader Brooke Padilla won the bee by correctly spelling foreseeable.

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Published February 14, 2026 - 7:00 a.m.

Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools held its annual spelling bee Thursday, Feb. 5, at the Tuscarawas Valley Performing Arts Center.

Thirty-two students in grades five through eight competed. Jim Range served as pronouncer. Judges were Pastor Aaron Rae of Bolivar Community Church, former Tuscarawas Valley board member Dick Gooding, and Lori Robson, executive director of educational services at the East Central Ohio Educational Service Center.

The competition lasted 10 rounds. Seventh-grader Kaiden Archie finished as runner-up after missing the word laborious. Seventh-grader Brooke Padilla advanced to the championship round after correctly spelling renowned and won the bee by correctly spelling foreseeable.

Padilla will represent Tuscarawas Valley at the Scripps regional spelling bee March 7 at 1:30 p.m. at Kent State University at Stark.

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