ACA's Elizabeth Williford Wins Tuscaloosa County Spelling Bee

TUSCALOOSA, AL — An eighth grader from American Christian Academy snagged the 2026 Tuscaloosa County Spelling Bee title after 30 rounds of competition.

Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

ACA's Elizabeth Williford correctly spelled “plywood” to claim the title during the countywide competition held at Chapel Hill Baptist Church.

The annual event was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Tuscaloosa and featured 23 students representing local elementary and middle schools.

Williford will now advance to the Alabama State Spelling Bee, set for March 22 in Birmingham and hosted by the Alabama Kiwanis Foundation.

The winner at the state level will move on to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee this summer, which is broadcast on ESPN.

Hosanna Tsehaye, a sixth grader at Northridge Middle School, finished as runner-up after a strong showing.

Troy Whisenant served as the Kiwanis Spelling Bee coordinator, while Timothy Alford was the pronouncer for the evening’s competition. Judges included John Burroughs, Donnie Grill and Roger Williams.

The Tuscaloosa County Spelling Bee is one of the Kiwanis Club of Tuscaloosa’s annual youth-focused initiatives.

In addition to sponsoring the spelling bee, the Kiwanis Club is preparing for its annual Pancake Day fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Central High School.

The public is invited to attend for pancakes, sausage and drinks, along with live music from the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra Education Combo and the University of Alabama flute choir.

Proceeds from the club's Pancake Day support the club’s service projects and youth programs throughout Tuscaloosa County.

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com.