San Antonio Academy
SAA Names Shakee Arla as The 2026 Spelling Bee Champion
SAA Names Shakee Arla as The 2026 Spelling Bee Champion
Posted: January 22, 2026
San Antonio Academy’s top spellers took the spotlight on Wednesday, January 21, during the 2026 SAA Spelling Bee. Held after Chapel in Ellison Hall, ten outstanding 4th through 8th grade students (two from each grade) went head-to-head in a spirited competition that celebrated focus, confidence, and a love of spelling.
Round after round, participants showcased their impressive spelling skills as the field narrowed to two exceptional finalists, 7th grader Jacob Wray and 6th grader Shakee Arla. The duo battled through a series of challenging words, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. When time ran short, the Bee paused and resumed the following morning during chapel, where Shakee ultimately claimed first place by correctly spelling "oncologist."
The event was moderated by longtime English teacher Mr. Brendan Moore, with Mrs. Kayla Briseño and Mrs. Leslie Sallee serving as judges. Each contestant had earned their place on stage by excelling in classroom spelling competitions within their 4th–8th grade English classes.
Congratulations to all of this year’s participants for their dedication and composure, and a special round of applause to Shakee for earning the title of SAA’s 2026 Spelling Bee Champion!
SPELLING BEE 2026 CONTESTANTS:
- Drake L. (4th grade)
- Aidan L. (4th grade)
- Eli B. (5th grade)
- Ford S. (5th grade)
- Paschal L. (6th grade)
- Shakee A. (6th grade)
- Matthew P. (7th grade)
- Jacob W. (7th grade)
- Merrit N. (8th grade)
- Syd W. (8th grade)
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