The hush that falls over a spelling bee audience is unmistakable – a mix of nerves, anticipation and admiration for young minds at work. That quiet filled the Nissan Auditorium at Mississippi University for Women on Jan. 22 as students from across Lowndes County took their turns at the microphone, carefully spelling their way through one word at a time.
By the end of the afternoon, it was New Hope Middle School eighth-grader Christian Schultz who stood alone, correctly spelling “feckless” to claim the 2026 Lowndes County Spelling Bee championship.
Hosted by the Lowndes County School District, the annual competition brought together students in grades 3-8 from schools throughout the area. Each school conducted its own qualifying bee, sending two students on to the district level. Participating schools included Annunciation Catholic School, Columbus Christian Academy, Columbus Municipal School District, Heritage Academy and the Lowndes County School District.
The event was held in the Nissan Auditorium in Parkinson Hall and supported by a slate of community sponsors, including Colin Krieger, Realtor with RE/MAX Partners, and Edward Jones Investments advisor Josh Read as presenting sponsors. Additional support came from the Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, Chick-fil-A, Friendly City Books, Sign Gypsies, Mississippi University for Women and the CAFB Columbus Spouses’ Club.
Schultz outlasted a field of 26 competitors representing a wide range of ages and schools. New Hope Middle School seventh-grader Aiden Ferguson and Annunciation Catholic School sixth-grader Cameron Deng tied as first runners-up after an impressive showing of their own.
The three finalists were awarded trophies, gift cards to Friendly City Books and dictionaries, while every participant received a coupon to the local bookstore – a fitting reward for a day devoted to words.
For Schultz, Ferguson and Deng, the journey isn’t over yet. The trio will advance to the online semifinals on Feb. 18, where they’ll test their spelling skills against students from across the region.
For more information about the Columbus-Lowndes District Spelling Bee or the CLCC Education Committee, contact Carrie Martin at [email protected] or (662) 328-4491, or Stefanie Jones at [email protected] or (662) 244-5020.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
