Raven Amrhein is the only student representing the state in the Scripps National Spelling Bee

If you’ve ever confidently spelled a word then immediately realized you absolutely did not nail it—Raven Amrhein gets it. 

The Hamilton International Middle School seventh grader has been on a spelling journey that started back in second grade at Cascadia Elementary. Though their initial try was unsuccessful, Raven turned mistakes into fuel. There was the time “brocade” got an unexpected ‘qu’ makeover and the unforgettable showdown with “procrustean.” Each miss became a permanent memory filed under: Never messing that up again. 

Fast forward and Raven’s glow-up is the stuff of spelling legend. By fifth grade, they were winning their school bee. Then came regionals—second place in 2024, fourth place in 2025—and finally, sweet victory in 2026. 

And not just any victory. Raven won the Scripps Regional Spelling Bee for King and Snohomish counties and is now officially headed to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. Here’s where things get even cooler: Raven is the only speller from Washington state competing this year. No pressure, right?  

They’ll join about 250 of the nation’s top spellers May 27–28, competing on Scripps Sports and ION in front of a national audience.  

So, how does one prepare for that? For Raven, that means spelling … a lot! 

“Depending on whether I’m using an online program or rote memorization vocally, I’ll probably get through 200 to 250 words a day with memorization, and probably 100 to 200 words a day vocally. Raven also studies using official lists like “Words of the Champions,” a compilation of thousands of words from past spelling bees. Their strategy? Rote memorization, online quizzes, and a calm, cool mindset. 

Raven’s love of words started early at an early age. They have hyperlexia and have been reading since they were 18 months old. While that meant decoding words came easily, understanding them took time. Now, Raven has turned that early gift into a full-on superpower. 

 “I don’t think I’m a genius,” Raven said. “I just think that I have memorized a lot of words.” 

In case you were wondering, Raven does have a favorite word. 

Once upon a time, it was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. But these days, they’ve leveled up to 

Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis.  

Go ahead—sound it out. We’ll wait. Here’s a hint: it’s a lung disease caused by inhaling very fine  dust. 

As Raven gets ready to head to D.C., they’ll experience more than just the competition. The week will consist of vocabulary rounds, written tests, tours, games, culminating with a party called the “Bee Week Bash.”