Rio Rancho teen eliminated from National Spelling Bee

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Rio Rancho teen who was the only student from New Mexico to advance to the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee near Washington, D.C., was eliminated May 27 after failing to pass a written test in the competition’s third round.

Keith Lee, an eighth grader at the Albuquerque Academy, did not meet the threshold to advance to the quarterfinals, held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland, competition organizers and his father confirmed to the Observer May 28.

Lee’s elimination from the bee marked the second time he attempted to become the nation’s top speller. He had tied for 76th place in 2023. He advanced to the national competition both years after winning the New Mexico Spelling Bee, which was held at The Albuquerque Journal this year on March 29.

This year’s Round 3 test at the national bee consisted of 28 written spelling questions and 12 multiple-choice vocabulary questions, according to competition organizers. The minimum score a speller needed to advance to the quarterfinals was 13 out of 35. Organizers declined to state Lee’s score or details about his performance on the test.

The test, one of a handful of new rules in this year’s event, saw 99 of 183 spellers who took it to advance to the quarterfinals. On Tuesday, the official start of the three-day bee, 242 spellers participated in Round 1 and 201 spellers participated in Round 2.

In Round 1, Lee correctly spelled “dentifrice,” a paste or powder for cleaning teeth, according to a list of results on the bee’s website. In Round 2, he correctly answered the question, “What is a gaucho?” The answer: a South American herdsman, the website said.

In an email to the Observer May 28, Lee’s father, Po-Hsuen Lee, wrote that his son was “quite upset about the result, as he had truly dedicated himself to the competition.”

He noted that Lee is focused on preparing for the 2025 National Civics Bee State Finals at the University of New Mexico on June 7.

“I believe this is the best way for him to switch gears and move past the disappointment of the Spelling Bee,” Po-Hsuen Lee wrote.

Pamela Chavez, organizer of the New Mexico Spelling Bee, noted that the state does not administer a written test and a potential lack of preparation from Lee in this format might have led to his elimination from the national event.

But, she said, Lee is a competitive, well-rounded student who has the support of his family.

“I would say to Keith: What distinguishes you is that ... you use competition as a way to hone your skills in whatever arena you choose,” Chavez said. “I think that is going to serve you well your entire life.”

Prior to the national bee, Lee espoused a positive mindset about life.

“To succeed and meet your goals in life, you’ve always got to work hard in life and know that no one is going to do anything for you,” he said.