Eighth-grader named the winner of the HCPS Divisionwide Spelling Bee

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Eighth-grader Taran Shivkumar, from Moody Middle School, was named the winner of the Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS) Divisionwide Spelling Bee on Thursday evening.

The HCPS Divisionwide Spelling Bee was held on Thursday, Feb. 5, at J.R. Tucker High School. After coming up short for the past two years, Taran Shivkumar was crowned the winner against spelling champions from elementary and middle schools across the county.

The trophy was presented to Taran by Kristi Kinsella, the Henrico School Board’s Brookland District representative, and Lesley Hughes, HCPS’s chief learning officer.

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“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,” Taran said.

In 2024, Taran finished in second place at the competition. This year, through his playful personality, he said some "victorious quips" before leaving the microphone during the first few rounds, according to a press release.

The trophy was presented to Taran by Kristi Kinsella, the Henrico School Board’s Brookland District representative, and Lesley Hughes, HCPS’s chief learning officer. (Photo: Henrico County Public Schools)

Eighth-grader Taran Shivkumar, from Moody Middle School the winner of the HCPS Divisionwide Spelling Bee. (Photo: Henrico County Public Schools)

Sixth-grader Raelene Saldanha from Short Pump Middle School the runner up of the HCPS Divisionwide Spelling Bee. (Photo: Henrico County Public Schools)

There were 29 rounds battled for the crown, with a 16-round one-on-one showdown with sixth-grader Raelene Saldanha from Short Pump Middle School.

Raelene’s younger brother, third-grader Rylan from Shady Grove Elementary School, was eliminated in the 13th round.

Once the competition was between Taran and Rarlene, they rapidly took turns spelling words such as “novemdecillion,” “candelabrum,” “execrable” and “oviparous." Taran won by correctly spelling “tachycardia.”

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

Taran will now move on to represent Henrico Schools in the Richmond Raceway Regional Spelling Bee in hopes of advancing to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The national spelling bee will be held the week of Memorial Day and is televised by ESPN.

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