The Team

Who We Are

Himanvi Kopuri

Founder and Executive Director

---

Hi all! I'm Himanvi and I was a speller from 2010-2013. I was the Colorado State Spelling Bee champion and went to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2013! After I was done spelling myself, I started coaching -- it has been 10 years since! I graduated in 2022 from the University of Pennsylvania where I studied Finance and Operations.

My favorite word: flibbertigibbet

Angelina Holm

Director of Outreach

---

Hi! My name is Angelina and I was a speller from 2015 to 2020. I won the Colorado State Spelling Bee in 2018 and 2019 and went to the Scripps National Spelling Bee both years. I coached individual spellers and schools for a few years after I finished spelling. I am currently a senior at Littleton High School.

My favorite word: Zaporizhzhia

Zachary Long

Director of Technology

---

Hello! My name is Zach and I was a speller from 2014 to 2019 and went to the National Spelling Bee in 2019. After that, I coached for a few years and now am a Freshman at Northwestern University studying Mathematics with a minor in Spanish.

My favorite word: intussusception

Faith Baca

Director of Information

---

Hey there! My name is Faith, and I was a speller from 2013-2017. I was the Colorado State Spelling Bee champ and went to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2017, and I continued to help with the DPS Semantics program while I was in high school. Currently, I’m a junior studying linguistics and math with computer science at MIT.

My favorite word: nepantla

Bryn Flanigan

Director of Communications

---

Hi! I’m Bryn and I was a speller in Denver Public Schools from 2011 to 2016. In the years following, I coached younger spellers in the district. I am currently a senior at Wellesley College, studying Comparative Literature and Italian.

My favorite word: nebuchadnezzar

Ben Holland

Director of Mentorship

---

Hi all! I'm Ben Holland, a senior at George Washington High School in Denver. I spelled from 2014-2019 and placed second at the Colorado State Spelling Bee in 2018 and 2019.

My favorite word: defenestration

Sam Holland