Citywide Spelling Bee

2026 Citywide Spelling Bee

Presented by Kiwanis and the Meriden Public Library

The annual Citywide Spelling Bee is open to Meriden 5th- and 6th-graders. Elementary and middle schools hold preliminary bees in their schools, and the top speller from each school advances to the Citywide Spelling Bee. The annual Bee is a public event, and its location changes to a different Meriden school each year.

We’re so proud of all the 5th- and 6th-grade students who competed in their school spelling bees and in our February 11 Citywide Bee — their preparation, poise, and perseverance were truly impressive.
Congratulations to our 2026 Citywide Spelling Bee Winner, Melissa Kwolek from Washington Middle School, who correctly spelled the word “zealous” to clinch the title! Melissa is our first-ever two-time champion, having also won last year’s Citywide Bee as a 5th grader at Thomas Hooker Elementary School. And a big shout-out to this year’s runner-up, Hayden Butler from Lincoln Middle School!

Left to right: Bee Master and Past Kiwanis presidnet David Wyskiel, 2026 Winner Melissa Kwolek, 2026 Runner-Up Hayden Butler, and Spelling Bee Chair Cheryl O’Connor.

Thank you to our judges, families, Meriden Public Schools, and the Meriden Public Library for helping make this event such a success. Events like this showcase the incredible talent of Meriden’s students!

Congratulations to this year’s school-level winners and runners-up!

2026 SCHOOL WINNERS

2026 SCHOOL RUNNERS-UP

For more information about the Spelling Bee, email [email protected].

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Kiwanis has managed the Citywide Spelling Bee since 2015, assuming leadership of this decades-long tradition from the local chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). We presented the Citywide Spelling Bee in partnership with the Record-Journal from 2015 to 2024, and proudly welcomed the Meriden Public Library as our new partner starting in 2025.

PAST SPELLING BEE WINNERS & RUNNERS-UP

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