Los Banos, CA (December 12, 2025) — A standout performance by a local student at the 2025 Merced County Spelling Bee brought pride to the Los Banos community this week.
Danika Vou, a sixth grader at Grasslands Elementary School in Los Banos, earned second place in the county-wide spelling competition on Dec. 9, hosted by the Merced County Office of Education. Danika faced off against some of the region’s top young spellers and impressed judges with her strong word knowledge and calm under pressure.
According to Grasslands Elementary School academic counselor Vanessa Cruz, Danika qualified for the county spelling bee by placing first among fourth, fifth, and sixth-grade students at her school. This year marked Danika’s first time competing at the county level, continuing the family spelling bee legacy. her brother was the last Grasslands student to advance to the county spelling bee in 2022. Cruz said Danika has a strong love for reading, is a member of the school’s Academic Pentathlon team, and has consistently excelled academically since kindergarten. She noted that Danika skipped a grade and is now a sixth grader, and also enjoys art in addition to her academic pursuits.
The spelling bee champion was Akshara Thummala, a sixth grader from Merced Scholars Charter School, who claimed first place. Marie Smith of Juniper Elementary School in Atwater finished third.
The annual county spelling bee draws students from across Merced County to compete in vocabulary and spelling challenges, with top finishers often advancing to state-level competitions.
The Los Banos Enterprise congratulates Danika and looks forward to her future academic accomplishments.
