21-05-2025
2 Colorado students to compete in the 2025 National Spelling Bee
DENVER (KDVR) — Nearly 250 of the best young spellers from across the U.S. will compete in the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee, and two competitors happen to be from C-O-L-O-R-A-D-O.
On May 28 and 29, 243 spelling champions will compete for the Scripps Cup and the ultimate title as the best speller in the country. The 2025 bee is extra special because it marks the 100th anniversary.
'While only nine spellers participated in that first competition, their legacy lives on in the millions of students who compete at all levels of the spelling bee program today,' said the National Spelling Bee on its website.
There are hundreds of spellers aged eight to 14, and two Colorado middle schoolers will rub shoulders with the best of the best. The champion will receive a $50,000 cash prize, a commemorative medal, the official Scripps Cup and more.
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Meet your 2025 Colorado National Spelling Bee competitors:
Blanche Li is an eighth grader at Summit Middle Charter School in Boulder.
This isn't the 14-year-old's first time competing in the National Spelling Bee. According to her bio, she previously competed in the 2021 bee, where she tied for 111th place. However, according to her school district, she had to compete virtually due to the pandemic.
After winning the 2025 Boulder Valley Regional Spelling Bee with the word 'diatreme,' a volcanic pipe associated with a gaseous explosion, she will head to Washington, D.C., to set foot on that coveted national stage.
Li said she enjoys public speaking and ultimately wants to be a lawyer to help people pursue justice. Outside of school, the 14-year-old plays clarinet and tenor saxophone in her school band and enjoys Ultimate Frisbee.
In her free time, you can catch Li hanging out with friends, solving Rubik's Cubes and building Lego sets.
Vedanth Raju is a seventh grader at Aurora Quest K-8 School, and he plans to spell his way to the top after winning the Colorado State Spelling Bee.
Raju is already making headlines in his hometown. After winning the Colorado State Spelling Bee and the Denver Metro Regional Science and Engineering Fair, Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman declared March 25 as 'Vedanth Raju Day' in honor of all his accomplishments.
Outside of academia, the National Spelling Bee said Raju has many interests. Some of his favorite hobbies include playing basketball, Python programming and learning new things while watching 'Jeopardy!' with his brother.
Speaking of his brother, Raju isn't the only speller in the family. According to the National Spelling Bee, Raju is following in the footsteps of his brother Vikram, who was a 2022 runner-up.
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As noted by his win in the regional science and engineering fair, Raju has a passion for science, nature and animals.
Colorado has had a handful of National Spelling Bee winners over the course of the 100-year-old competition. The most recent Colorado champion was in 2002.
G-O-O-D L-U-C-K to the Colorado competitors as they spell their way to the top.
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