Spelling Bee champion Isabella Feliz of Patagonia. Contributed photo 
Runner-up Shulamithy Battu (left), champion Isabella Felix and Santa Cruz County School Superintendent Maya Donnelly. Contributed photo 
The Felix family—Esteban, Gabriel (brother), Hilary and spelling bee champion Isabella—with the Bee. Contributed photo
February 13 was Isabella Felix’s day to shine. The Patagonia Middle School eighth grader captured the Santa Cruz County 2026 Spelling Bee’s top award by correctly spelling “supplicate” in the 10th round.
This was Isabella’s first year to make the county competition, but she approached the challenge with poise and confidence. Her competition included 26 district and school winners from across Santa Cruz County.
Her closest competition and the runner up to the event was Shulamithy Battu, a Coatimundi seventh grader and the Santa Cruz Valley Unified District districtwide champion from Rio Rico.
“I was so happy,” Isabella said. “I didn’t expect to win, but I would have been happy no matter what because the whole thing was such a wonderful experience and everyone was so nice.”
Her prizes consisted of an array of school supplies and a tablet. “I didn’t expect anything like that,” she said.
Isabella is the daughter of Estaban and Hilary Felix. “I want to thank my parents for their constant support and especially my mom for helping me study the words,” she said.
Isabella will represent Santa Cruz County March 21 at the Arizona Spelling Bee Finals in Phoenix. “I am excited and a tiny bit terrified,” she said, “but I am looking forward to meeting another group of great people and experiencing a new place.”