Julian Chea, a seventh-grader at Lincoln Middle School, took fourth place in the Alameda County Junior High Spelling Bee on March 7. The Alameda speller who progressed the furthest this year didn’t qualify for state competition, but he did take home an impressive trophy.

Chea came in third at the Alameda Spelling Bee held at Otis Elementary School on Feb. 1.

Akhil Mummidi, a fifth-grader at Earhart Elementary School, came in 10th place in the Elementary School Bee.