News Release: 2026 Inyo County Spelling Bee Winners

DATE: March 13, 2026 TO: Local News Media FROM: Randee Arcularius, Education Consultant ICOE SUBJECT: 2026 Inyo County Spelling Bee Winners

Superintendent of Schools, Barry Simpson, is pleased to announce that Patrick Malloy of Bishop Elementary School won first place in the elementary division, and Isaiah Luna of Owens Valley School won first place for the Junior High division in the Inyo County Spelling Bee, sponsored by Altrusa.

30 students from local elementary and middle schools participated in the 2025-26 countywide Spelling Bee at Jill Kinmont Boothe School on March 10, 2026. The Spelling Bee had two divisions, Elementary for students in grades 4-6 and Junior High for students in grades 7-9.

Elementary Division Winners (Grades 4-6)

• 1st Place: Patrick Malloy (5th) – Bishop Elementary School

• 2nd Place: Finley Burroughs (5th) – Round Valley Elementary School

• 3rd Place: Walker Rosen (5th) – Round Valley Elementary School

Winning Word: feasible

Elementary Contestants: Demri Alcala, Natalia Rico, and Herbert Ross (Big Pine Schools); Rusty Patterson, Bua Eagan, Sean O’Connor, and Patrick Malloy (Bishop Schools); Penny Hays, Vera Tsosie, and Lachlan Huizar (Lone Pine Schools); Rigby Gosvener (Owens Valley Schools); and Walker Rosen, Finley Burroughs, Vivien Reinhardt, and Ryder Hutchinson (Round Valley Elementary).

Junior High Division Winners (Grades 7-9)

• 1st Place: Isaiah Luna (8th) – Owens Valley School

• 2nd Place: Joy Montano (8th) – Home Street Middle School

• 3rd Place: Everleigh Bryant (7th) – Home Street Middle School

Winning Word: peppery

Junior High Contestants: Ezra Alcala, Melissa Avendano and Elijah Nelson (Big Pine Schools); Sierra Andreas, Everleigh Bryant, Joy Montano, and Everley Patterson (Bishop Schools); Aurora Ludovico (Lone Pine Schools); Isaiah Luna and Sophia Piper (Owens Valley Schools).

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Recognition and Support

The ICOE thanked the following coaches for their dedication: Tim Steele, Melinda Dardenne-Ankringa, Meghan Fuchs, Melanie Buck, Bob Heist, Megan Maybury, Gemma Arana, and Rory Winzenread.

The local Altrusa chapter sponsored the competition, providing cash prizes, trophies, and $10 gift cards to Spellbinder Books for all participants. Altrusa members Maggie Kingsbury, Joanne Parsons, Val Higgs, and Joyce White served as judges. Lynne Almeida, owner of Spellbinder Books, served as the Final Competition Pronouncer.

The Owens Valley Elementary PTO donated $10 to “last person standing” recipients who did not place in the top three from each of the five districts:

• Bishop: Sean O’Connor and Sierra Andreas

• Lone Pine: Lachlan Huizar and Aurora Ludovico

• Owens Valley: Rigby Gosvener and Sophia Piper

• Round Valley: Vivien Reinhardt

Advancing to State Finals

• Elementary State Bee (April 25th in Manteca, CA): Patrick Malloy and Finley Burroughs.

• Junior High State Bee (This month): Isaiah Luna and Joy Montano.