Hannah Li Wins LAPS District Spelling Bee; Fynn Johnson Advances to State

Hannah Li edged out a field of 15 contestants to win the 2026 LAPS District Spelling Bee, with Fynn Johnson finishing second and Oliver Truong third, a LAPS photo caption states. The caption adds that Hannah and Fynn will represent LAPS at the New Mexico State Qualifying Spelling Bee at the end of February. Photo Courtesy LAPS.

The contest drew students from Barranca Mesa Elementary, Chamisa Elementary, Mountain Elementary, Piñon Elementary and Los Alamos Middle School. The field narrowed to six by round four and to three after seven rounds, reflecting a steady winnowing of competitors over multiple challenging rounds, a local summary of the event notes.

Volunteers and school staff helped run the evening. Judges included Morrie Pongratz, Debbie Grothaus and Oliver Morris, while Tammy Hinckley and Nancy Brugh served as timekeeper and recordkeeper and Judy Crocker was the pronouncer. Hosts for the event included the Los Alamos High School Activities department alongside LAPS Superintendent Jennifer Guy, Curriculum Director Dr. Sharon Fogle and Curriculum Specialist Kaela Jacobson. Organizers thanked volunteers for their support, noting the essential role community members play in staging academic events.

Hannah Li’s history in local bees gives context to the win. She told a local reporter that she has taken part in spelling bees since fourth grade and that the contests teach vocabulary and resilience: “What I like about spelling bees is that you can learn many different words,” Hannah said. “There are 4,000 in the word list, which means many of them will be new to you, especially the three bee words. Another thing I like about spelling bees is competing in them. It’s stressful at first, but it’s worth it. I love going up to the microphone to spell, even though I’m usually mentally exhausted afterwards.” She also recalled past setbacks, including missing a school-level bee while sick: “In 2022 – 2023, I didn’t make it through the Mountain Elementary School Bee because I was sick that day.”

State qualifying details remain important for readers tracking local representation. One local post gives a specific date and format, saying, “Li and Zou will next compete in the online state qualifying bee Feb. 28. The top 25 scoring State Qualifying Bee Champions will qualify to compete March 23 at the State Spelling Bee.” That phrasing differs from the LAPS photo caption, which names Fynn Johnson as the district runner-up and lists Hannah and Fynn as the district representatives for the end of February. Reporters are seeking verification of the final qualifiers and the state qualifying schedule.

Beyond trophies and photos, the district bee matters for Los Alamos as a community-building and educational event. It brings students across elementary and middle schools together, spotlights volunteer support from teachers and parents, and offers young learners chances to build academic confidence while practicing stress management. For now, readers can celebrate Hannah Li’s victory, wish Fynn Johnson and Hannah well as they prepare for late-February competition, and look for confirmation of exact state qualifying entries and dates ahead of the online qualifier.