(PSS) — On Feb. 9, 2026, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands came together to celebrate the power of words at the islandwide Spelling Bee, held at the multi-purpose center.
In his opening remarks, Public School System Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, likened the event to the NFL Super Bowl taking place the same day, describing the State Spelling Bee as the “Super Bowl of Words” — a fitting tribute to the excitement and prestige of the competition.
A total of 46 school champions proudly represented their campuses from Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. Each participant demonstrated remarkable confidence and exceptional spelling ability. The event was especially meaningful as it brought together students from both public and private schools, making it a CNMI-wide celebration of English words from around the world.
The competition proved both rigorous and inspiring. After 10 challenging rounds, 20 spellers remained in contention. Following 18 intense rounds, Jamie Andrea Palabay, an 8th grade student from Green Meadow School, stepped confidently to the microphone and correctly spelled the championship word, “Zamacueca,” a word that refers to an ancient colonial dance and music that originated in Peru. With that final, flawless spelling, she was crowned the 2026 CNMI Spelling Bee champion.
Finishing closely behind were Arkel Del Rio, 4th grader from Northern Marianas International School, and Nicole Tangonan, 8th grader from Green Meadow School, whose outstanding performances reflected the high level of preparation and dedication among this year’s finalists.
The Spelling Bee was hosted by the Public School System’s Office of Curriculum and Instruction, with generous support from Marianas High School’s National Honor Society volunteers and judges representing respected educational and cultural institutions, including Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, the Northern Marianas Humanities Council, and Northern Marianas College. Their collaboration helped ensure a professional and inspiring event for all participants.
More than a competition, the islandwide Spelling Bee highlighted the discipline, determination, and love of language demonstrated by our students. Every participant who stepped up to the microphone is a champion. It takes bravery to compete, focus to excel, and perseverance to advance letter by letter.
The CNMI is immensely proud of its young scholars for inspiring our community and reminding us all that words truly have power.
