Andover Middle School student wins Sunflower State Spelling Bee | Butler Community College

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Andover Middle School student wins Sunflower State Spelling Bee

Samuel Riley of Andover MS
Samuel Riley after his Butler County Spelling Bee Win in February. Riley's winning word at the State Spelling Bee was "columbarium." (Rodney Dimick)
Published: Thursday, March 27th, 2025

Riley follows Butler County win with State Spelling Bee win.

Samuel Riley from Andover Middle School won the Sunflower State Spelling Bee on March 22 at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina. Riley is the second straight winner of the State Spelling Bee to come from Andover Middle School, after Casey Cheshire won last year.

Next up, Riley will represent Kansas at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in late May. In addition to qualifying for the national competition, he also receives the Samuel Louis Sugarman Award, a 2025 United States Mint Proof Set provided by iStar Financial CEO Jay Sugarman, and free travel and accommodations to Washington, D.C.

Riley qualified for the State Bee by winning the Butler County Spelling Bee, hosted annually by Butler Community College, in February. The Sunflower State Spelling Bee is hosted annually by the Kansas Press Association.