LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Two Las Vegas eighth graders will compete in the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Priya Konduru, 14, and Sophia Garcia, 14, are both sponsored by The Public Education Foundation.
Priya Konduru
Konduru attends Davidson Academy of Nevada and previously competed in the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee, where she tied for 100th place.
She participates in academic competitions including Science Olympiad and HOSA. Her main interests are in biology and medicine, but she is also intrigued by forensics and law.
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Konduru enjoys reading, traveling, fencing and watching anime and movies. She is learning Hindi and Spanish.
Her favorite book is “The Tower of Nero” by Rick Riordan.
Sophia Garcia
Garcia attends Our Lady of Las Vegas School and maintains straight A’s.
She is a competitive fencer and has a strong love for language and learning, which inspired her to participate in the spelling bee.
Garcia enjoys drawing, reading and listening to music. She likes fantasy and sci-fi, including “Doctor Who” and “The Hobbit,” as well as medical shows.
Her favorite movie is “Dead Poets Society.”
The preliminary round of the spelling bee begins on Tuesday, May 26.
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