Help our Spelling Bee Champion get to D.C.! 🐝✨
The Foundation for Education, an auxiliary non-profit organization of the Imperial County Office of Education, is thrilled to support Imperial County's 2026 Spelling Bee Champion, Nathan Padilla, a 6th grader at Frank Wright Middle School, on his journey to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.!
Join us in supporting Nathan as he takes the national stage from May 26th to May 28th! Your contribution will directly support his travel expenses for this once-in-a-lifetime trip and celebrate his incredible achievement.
Thank you in advance for your support!
Donate today at: bit.ly/IC-Spelling-Bee-2026
2026 Imperial County Spelling Bee
The Imperial County Office of Education (ICOE) hosted the 21st Annual Imperial County Spelling Bee Competition on Thursday, March 19, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Southwest High School’s Jimmie Cannon Theater in El Centro, CA.
The Imperial County Spelling Bee is an affiliate of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Each year, schools across Imperial County register and host school competitions, sending their top two performers to represent them at the Imperial County Spelling Bee Competition.
This year, a total of 64 students from 32 schools competed at the regional competition, including Ballington Academy, Ben Hulse Elementary, Blanche Charles Elementary, Booker T Washington Elementary, Barbara Worth Jr High, Bill E. Young Jr. Middle, Cross Elementary, De Anza Magnet, Desert Garden Elementary, Dool Elementary, Frank M. Wright Middle, Harding Elementary, Heber, Holtville Middle, Imperial Valley Home School Academy, Jefferson Elementary, J.W. Oakley Elementary, Kennedy Middle, Lincoln Elementary, Margaret Hedrick Elementary, Mckinley Elementary, Meadows Elementary, Miguel Hidalgo Elementary, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, Myron D. Witter Elementary, Padilla-Pace Middle, Phil D. Swing Elementary, Seeley Elementary, St. Mary's, Sunflower Elementary, T.L. Waggoner Elementary, and Wilson Jr. High.
Our county champion, Nathan Padilla, will advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee Competition, to be held May 26–28, 2026, in Washington, DC.
The Foundation for Education is once again raising funds to support our Imperial County Spelling Bee Champion's trip to Washington, D.C.! Contributions can be made online through our donation portal: http://bit.ly/IC-Spelling-Bee-2026