Cooper Campen Wins Third Straight Alachua County Spelling Bee Championship

ALACHUA COUNTY – Cooper Campen, a homeschooled student from Alachua County, has won the 2026 Alachua County Spelling Bee, becoming the first student in county history to claim the championship three consecutive years.

Campen earned the title after outlasting a field of top student spellers from across the county in an intense 38-round competition. He secured the historic “three-peat” by correctly spelling the final word, “calabash,” officials said.

Second-place honors went to Isabella Mendoza of the Frazer School after a lengthy final stretch that featured multiple high-pressure rounds between the two competitors.

The Alachua County Spelling Bee brings together leading student spellers from public, private and home-school programs throughout the county. Campen previously won the county championship in 2024 and 2025, making this year’s victory a record-setting achievement.

As the county champion, Campen will advance to the 82^nd Annual First Coast Regional Spelling Bee in Jacksonville on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Additional details are expected to be provided by WJXT Channel 4 Jacksonville.

The winner of the regional spelling bee will move on to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, regarded as the nation’s premier spelling competition.

Campen has also recently gained national recognition in other academic arenas. In January 2026, he competed in the America 250 – The Great Debate National Civics & Debate Championship, placing fourth overall in the Middle School Division and earning first place in Middle School Impromptu Speaking. The event drew more than 600 students from Florida and 14 other states.

With his third straight county spelling title, Campen now adds another milestone to a growing list of academic accomplishments as he prepares to represent Alachua County at the regional level later this month.

The annual Alachua County Spelling Bee has long served as a showcase for student achievement across the county’s diverse school communities, highlighting academic excellence and dedication among young competitors.

Championship (January 2026), placing Fourth Overall in the Middle School Division and winning First Place in Middle School Impromptu Speaking against more than 600 students from Florida and 14 other states.

The Alachua County Spelling Bee brings together top student spellers from public, private and home-school programs throughout the county. Cooper previously won the county title in 2024 and 2025, making this year’s victory a record-setting achievement.

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