HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — For the first time, a student from the Westminster School District will be headed to the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Katelyn Nguyen recently won the Orange County spelling bee to win her way onto the national spelling stage. The 13-year-old says she was shocked when she won the county spelling bee.

“Yeah, I didn’t expect to! I just wanted to place higher than eighth place," said the seventh grader. "See if I improved from last year.”

Scripps National Spelling week begins May 26, where 245 spellers from across the country and world will arrive in Washington, D.C.