Moody Middle School’s Shivkumar wins 2026 Henrico Schools Divisionwide Spelling Bee

After two weather-related postponements and two years of coming up just short against some of the best spellers at his school and across Henrico, the third time was the charm for Moody Middle School eighth-grader Taran Shivkumar, who claimed victory at the 2026 Henrico County Public Schools Divisionwide Spelling Bee on Feb. 5 at J.R. Tucker High School.

The annual competition includes spelling champions from each of HCPS’ elementary and middle schools. Taran was presented with the trophy by Kristi Kinsella, the Henrico School Board’s Brookland District representative, and Lesley Hughes, HCPS’ chief learning officer.

“I was actually really, really confident today because I knew that I practiced. And with that practice, I started to get better and better, which helped me finally win,” Shivkumar said as his mom and younger sister congratulated him.

Shivkumar finished second in the 2024 competition, exhibiting an ever-present smile and his playful personality. He brought that same lively presence to the stage at this year’s bee, frequently dropping some victorious quips before leaving the microphone through the early rounds.

But he needed 29 hard-fought rounds to earn his crown, thanks to a 16-round, 1-on-1 showdown with Short Pump Middle School sixth-grader Raelene Saldanha, who contrasted Shivkumar’s on-stage energy with her own calm confidence. Saldanha’s younger brother, Rylan, a third-grader from Shady Grove Elementary School, hung with the two middle-schoolers until the 13th round.

Once the competition was down to Shivkumar and Saldanha, the two wasted little time in front of the microphone, rapidly spelling words such as “novemdecillion,” “candelabrum,” “execrable” and “oviparous.”

Shivkumar emerged victorious with a correct spelling of “tachycardia,” and Saldanha took runner-up honors, part of a significant achievement for herself and her brother.

“I really enjoyed her competitive nature, which is what makes competitions so enjoyable, the fact that contestants try their best,” Shivkumar said.

He will now move on to represent Henrico Schools in the Richmond Raceway Regional Spelling Bee, and said he plans to bring his same fun attitude and confidence to the regional stage. He hopes to advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is held the week of Memorial Day and televised by ESPN.

“It’s like a game show, and that’s the most entertaining and magical part about it,” he said.