Schuylkill County’s top student speller is back from the National Spelling Bee, bringing home a lifetime of memories, a customized keepsake, and a sense of pride in the hours she spent preparing.
Nora Lloyd, who is about to matriculate to 6th grade at Blue Mountain, represented Schuylkill County on the national stage last week. She advanced to the third round of the competition.
Lloyd and her parents thank the Schuylkill Conty community for their support during her spelling journey from Pottsville to Washington. They say all the messages were uplifting and very much appreciated.
Looking back on the competition, Lloyd tells Coal Region Canary she is most proud of the daily dedication she brought to her studying.
She says it was a major accomplishment to finish “the whole three bee list.”
“Along the way, I improved my study techniques and reduced the amount of incorrect words drastically,” Lloyd says. “I’m grateful for Shaunna Crossen from Your Study Connection for all the hours working together.”
Beyond the studying, Lloyd says she found time to connect with her fellow competitors. She says she could not pick a single favorite moment from the trip, but a highlight was asking judges and other contestants to sign her “Bee Keeper” magazine.
“It’s like a Bee Class of 2026 yearbook and it allowed me to get to know a little about everybody,” Lloyd said. She collected signatures from judges, contestants, and the 2026 national winner, Shrey Parikh.
For other local students hoping to improve their spelling, Lloyd advises them to dedicate themselves to studying every day. When the time comes to step up to the microphone, she says maintaining composure is most important.
“Take your time on stage! Ask as much word information as you need,” Lloyd says.
She recommends taking a deep breath and repeating the word multiple times mentally. She also shared her personal technique: writing the word out with her finger on her name placard before speaking.
“You got this, you know the words, it’s just time to focus,” Lloyd said. “You have already made an amazing accomplishment by even making it on the team, this is just extra now.”
Lloyd says she’s going to try and return to the National Spelling Bee in 2027.
Photos by Mark Bowen/Scripps National Spelling Bee
Coal Region Canary thanks Nora’s mother, Erin, and Blue Mountain’s spelling coach, Stephanie Gaddy, for helping us connect with the champion speller after the Bee.
ALSO READ:
Schuylkill County’s Top Speller Advances to Round 3 of Scripps National Spelling Bee
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