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Cousins face off in UCPS Spelling Bee; Samantha Jaicks takes the title

A photo of Samantha Jaick, the 2026 UCPS Spelling Bee winner.
Cousins face off in UCPS Spelling Bee; Samantha Jaicks takes the title

The final rounds of the 2026 UCPS Spelling Bee were about more than letters and definitions—they were about family.

After a tense, 28-round showdown, Samantha Jaicks, a fourth grader from New Town Elementary School, correctly spelled oviparous to claim the championship. Just steps away, earning second place, was her cousin, Emanya Sibu of Sun Valley Middle School, a familiar face on the UCPS spelling stage and a two-time former champion.

Samantha Jaick, the winner of the 2026 UCPS Spelling bee, spelling the winning word oviparous.

Samantha, who studied for months with her cousin, said sharing the stage with Emanya made the experience even more meaningful.

“She’s always beating me in spelling,” Samantha said with a laugh. “So, to finally be here with her, and to win, feels really good.”

For the cousins, the moment was both competitive and deeply personal.

“I feel happy,” Emanya said with a smile. “I’m excited for her.”

The competition put students from across the district to the test with a challenging lineup of words. As the rounds progressed, spellers navigated terms like squall, katana, airborne and aphasia, with each correct response narrowing the field. By the final rounds, it was clear the competition had become a family affair.

Emanya is no stranger to high-pressure moments. Known for her calm presence and love of words, she once described studying as “tedious and hard” but said the thrill of being on stage makes it worthwhile.

“Being up there is so much fun,” she said. “I just like words, all of them.”

Samantha Jaick, the winner of the 2026 UCPS Spelling bee, receiving her award.

This year, however, the crown didn’t just change hands; it stayed in the family.

Both advanced deep into the contest, demonstrating poise well beyond their grade levels. Samantha impressed the audience with her calm focus, expertly navigating challenging words she loves, including tricky French terms like déjà vu, before securing the championship.

As champion, Samantha will now advance to the regional spelling competition through Scripps, representing UCPS on a larger stage, with Emanya cheering her on.

This year’s spelling bee ended with something rare: a winner and runner-up connected by family, talent and mutual respect. For the cousins, the moment was about celebrating Samantha’s victory together.

A student stands on a stage in front of a blue curtain, holding a microphone and speaking to an audience seated in chairs in the foreground.
A stage with a blue curtain backdrop, chairs arranged in rows, and a person standing at a podium on the stage.
The image shows a group of students, sitting on chairs on a stage with a blue curtain backdrop. There is a young woman standing in the center, facing the audience, while the others appear to be seated in a row behind her.
The image shows a group of people seated on stage, with a person standing at a podium in front of them, against a backdrop of blue curtains.
A student stands at a podium on a stage, surrounded by rows of empty chairs and a blue curtain backdrop.
A man in a blue suit is interacting with a student on a stage, with chairs and potted plants visible in the background.
Cousins Emanya Sibu of Sun Valley Middle and Samantha Jaicks, a fourth grader from New Town Elementary are standing together and smiling with their second and first place trophies from the UCPS Spelling Bee.
The image shows a man in a suit standing on a stage, interacting with a student who is also on the stage, while another woman stands nearby.
A group of five people, including three women and two men, are standing together in front of a blue curtain backdrop, with one of the women holding a trophy or award.
The image shows a group of four people, three women and one man, standing together in what appears to be a theater or auditorium setting, with rows of empty seats visible in the background.
A student and a principal are standing on a stage in front of a dark curtain backdrop.
A group of students, standing on a stage in front of a blue curtain backdrop, holding various awards or certificates.