Joey Constantine, a 7th grade student from the Lakeview School District, won the Annual 21WFMJ Regional Spelling Bee at Stambaugh Auditorium Saturday, March 11.

Constantine's winning word was "julienne" which means to cut food into short, thin strips.

He'll be representing The Valley at the 96th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee on Memorial Day weekend in Washington D.C. This is also his second time making it to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. In 2022, he made it to the 5th round before being disqualified, but now he gets a second chance.

Over 70 public, private, parochial and charter schools brought their spelling bee champions to compete in the spelling bee.

The students competing were the champions of their individual school's spelling bee contests.

Each contestant received a Merriam-Webster Eleventh Edition Collegiate Dictionary, as well as a 21WFMJ Spelling Bee T-shirt and a school champion certificate.

Kent State University Trumbull Campus awarded a $2,000 scholarship to the Grand Champion, as well as $1,000 to the runner-up and $500 to the third place student.

The 21WFMJ Regional Spelling Bee has been an annual tradition since 1934.