Floris Elementary School fourth grader Laasya Mohan and Rocky Run Middle School eighth grader Aadhya Vijayakumar will represent Fairfax County Public Schools at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, according to a May 11 announcement.
Their advancement highlights academic achievement among local students and brings attention to the importance of spelling as a foundational skill. Both students earned their spots after competing in the 2026 Fairfax County Spelling Bee, with Mohan winning first place and Vijayakumar named first runner-up.
“My classmates use me as a dictionary,” said Mohan. “They ask me to spell words, and they ask me what the meanings of words are.” She recently won the county bee by correctly spelling “béarnaise,” securing her entry into the national competition scheduled for May 26.
Vijayakumar reflected on her journey, saying, “It’s a validation for all the hard work that I’ve put into it.” She described her preparation process: “The first day, I do spelling; I look at all of these word lists, and I try to learn and understand the words. Then, on the second day, I do vocabulary; I learn the definitions. Then, on the third day, I focus on the roots and the language of origin. The fourth day is a recap of everything I learned from the past three days, and I just keep doing that over and over again.”
Mohan also detailed her study habits: “I make two lists: one, words that I’m sure of, and another, words I’m unsure of. And then I take the words that I’m unsure of, and I learn all the language patterns and roots associated with them. Then my mom quizzes me.” Both students emphasized how participation in spelling competitions has improved their memory as well as their dedication.
The Fairfax County Council PTA (FCCPTA), which sponsors both local bees as Scripps’ official Regional Partner in Fairfax County and Alexandria City, will support both competitors during this next phase. Sangster Elementary School sixth grader Katherine Song was named alternate after placing second runner-up locally.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee will begin its preliminary round on Tuesday, May 26 at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington D.C., with finals airing Thursday evening on Ion television. Reflecting on her achievement ahead of nationals, Mohan said: “It’s a dream come true for me. I’m really happy and proud to represent Fairfax County at the nationals.”
