MISSION, TEXAS (January 23, 2026) - More than 50 of Mission Consolidated Independent School District’s top student spellers put their academic skills on display during the Annual Mission CISD District Spelling Bee, held at the Mission High School Eagle Theater.
After several challenging rounds, seventh grader Montserrat Ledesma of Kenneth White Jr. High School claimed first place and was named the 2026 Mission CISD District Spelling Bee Champion. Ledesma out spelled competitors from across the district to secure the top honor.
Luis Davila, a fourth grade student from Leal Elementary, earned second place, while Emery Garcia, a fifth grade student from Cavazos Elementary, finished third.
Montserrat Ledesma and Luis Davila will represent Mission CISD at the Rio Grande Valley Regional Spelling Bee, scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance. The regional winner will advance to the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee in May.
District Spelling Bee winners:
1st Place: Montserrat Ledesma, 7th Grade, K. White Jr. High
2nd Place: Luisenrique Davila, 4th Grade, Leal Elementary
3rd Place: Emery Garcia, 5th Grade, Cavazos Elementary
4th Place: Aaron Pacheco, 3rd Grade, Mims Elementary
5th Place: Anthony Marin, 5th Grade, Alton Elementary
A total of 54 students earned the distinction of Campus Spelling Bee Champion across Mission CISD. These students advanced from their respective campuses to compete at the district level:
- Anthony Marin, Camila Ruiz, Aaron Gamez (alternate) - Alton Elementary
- Isaac Perea, Victoria Barrientos, Xiomara Rodriguez-Alvarez (alternate) - Alton Memorial Jr. High
- Brandon Salinas, Oscar Olivarez, Gilbert Sotelo (alternate) - Bryan Elementary
- Alfonso Moya, Rogelio Raya, Roland Alonzo (alternate) - Cantu Elementary
- Andrea Balderas, Giovanni Rivera, Lucia Cantu (alternate) - Castro Elementary
- Daniel Delgado, Raelyn Rocha, Camila Carrizales (alternate) - Escobar/Rios Elementary
- Alexis Mackenzie Adams, Montserrat Lee Ledesma, Angel Romero (alternate) - Kenneth White Jr. High
- Alessandro Carmona, Luisenrique Davila, Miguel Leal (alternate) - Leal Elementary
- Jorge Gonzalez, Norberto Tellez, Jacob Serna (alternate) - Marcell Elementary
- Abigail Valentina Salgado, Mariajose Guerra Flores, Natalie Monique Flores (alternate) - Midkiff Elementary
- Aaron Pacheco, Christopher Ramirez, Caleb Zuniga (alternate) - Mims Elementary
- Madelin Ortega, Wyatt Vargas, Liam Ortiz (alternate) - Mission Junior High
- Drea Cedillo, Mia Pedroza, Aldo Valencia (alternate) - O'Grady Elementary
- Arturo Leon, Santos Segovia, Mason Martinez (alternate) - Pearson Elementary
- Jaleen Cortez, Nailea Flores, Miranda Salinas (alternate) - Rafael Cantu Jr. High
- Emery Garcia, Emmilee Rodriguez, Jose Arguello (alternate) - Cavazos Elementary
- Anthony Garza, Julian Hernandez, Mia Alvarado (alternate) - Salinas Elementary
- Aaliyah Perez, Ricardo Misael Flores, Emiliano Dominguez (alternate) - Waitz Elementary
Mission CISD congratulates all participating students for their outstanding effort, academic commitment, and school pride demonstrated throughout the competition.
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