KINGSFORD — Iron Mountain-Kingsford Community Schools hosted the 2026 Upper Peninsula Community Education Association Regional Spelling Bee on Tuesday at Kingsford.

The Regional Bee contestants represented Forest Park, Iron Mountain, Kingsford, North Dickinson County and Norway-Vulcan. The top two spellers in each grade level have qualified to compete at the U.P. Spelling Bee Finals on Wednesday, March 11.

The Upper Peninsula Community Education U.P. Spelling Bee Finals are hosted by Ishpeming-Negaunee-NICE Community Schools. Fifth and sixth grades will compete at St. John’s School in Ishpeming and the seventh and eighth grades at Negaunee High School. The four grade level champions will spell off at Negaunee High School to determine the U.P. Champion.

The regional winners were: fifth graders — Audrey Stuer of Iron Mountain, champion, and Zoe Henry of Kingsford, runner up; sixth grade — North Dickinson students Nathan Mattson, champion, and Jeffrey Fende, runner up; seventh grade — Kingsford students Caden Tafoya, champion, and Jaden Netto, runner up; eighth grade — Cierra Hemeleski of Norway-Vulcan, champion, and Amalie Cameron of Iron Mountain, runner up.