Six Forsyth students take top honors at county spelling bee

Six students from across Forsyth County were crowned champions at the 2026 Forsyth County Schools Spelling Bee, a contest that drew school-level winners to Forsyth Central’s Performing Arts Center on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. The county champions, recognized on stage from left to right, were Ayush Agarwal, Naina Sachdev, Abhisatvika Bellamkonda, Ryan Chatterjee, Shreyan Mukherjee and Suchet Kuturu. Scores for the event were presented by Bryan Properties.

The competition capped a season of school-level bees in which winners from individual schools advanced to the county championship. One notable storyline was a DeSana Middle School student who moved up from runner-up in the 2025 county bee to becoming a winner in 2026, illustrating a pattern of skill development and persistence among local students.

County spelling bees serve as a visible outcome of Forsyth County Schools’ extracurricular programming, bringing together students who have already proved themselves at the school level. For parents and educators in the county, the event is more than a single contest: it showcases vocabulary, public speaking and the discipline of sustained study. Recognition at the county level also raises the profile of participating schools, which can help justify continued investment in academic enrichment and literacy programs.

Local business involvement was evident: Bryan Properties presented the scores, a form of sponsorship that helps underwrite event logistics and gives community firms a direct role in supporting student achievement. That public-private support model matters in Forsyth County, where school budgets face competing priorities and community partnerships often fill gaps for enrichment activities.

From an economic and policy perspective, events like the spelling bee are small but measurable investments in human capital. Participation rates and repeat successes, such as the DeSana student’s advancement from runner-up to champion, suggest effective preparation at the school level and a steady pipeline of academically engaged students. For district leaders, those outcomes can factor into decisions about staffing for literacy coaches, after-school programming, and partnerships with local nonprofits and businesses.

For Forsyth County residents, the county bee is a reminder that local schools are producing capable, competitive students and that community partners play a role in showcasing that talent. Expect to see these champions and other school-level winners continue to be highlights of the district’s academic calendar as schools plan enrichment offerings and look for sustainable funding and partnership models.