Pleasanton, Dublin students Win Alameda County Spelling Bee
Monday, March 12, 2007

HAYWARD – Pleasanton 6th grader Neethi Bangalore (left) correctly spelled “grievances” to break a tie and “habituated” to clinch the win at the Alameda County Spelling Bee.

Neethi, 12, who attends Hart Middle School, and second place finisher, Akshayraj Aitha (left-center), a 5th grader at Fallon Elementary School in Dublin, will represent Alameda County at the State Spelling.

Neethi and Akshayraj were among the 37 fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students who participated in the county spelling bee, which hasn’t been held for at least eight years. (Without a county-wide spelling bee, students can’t advance to the state competition.)

Alameda County Board of Education President Fred Sims encouraged the students to keep studying, no matter how they placed in the bee.

“I’m proud of all of you for being here,” Sims said. “This will look good on your college application. And I know all of you are going to college!”

Alexis Hager (right-center), a 4th grader at Crocker Highlands Elementary School in Oakland placed third, and Nathan Weinstein (right), a 6th grader at Christensen Middle School in Livermore placed fourth.

The top four winners each received a trophy. Neethi’s school will keep a perpetual trophy for one year.

The eight districts participating in the Alameda County Spelling Bee, which was held March 10, were Albany, Castro Valley, Dublin, Hayward, Livermore Valley, New Haven, Oakland and Pleasanton.

The state competition will be held Saturday, May 19 at Sonoma State University.

To view the entire Spelling Bee, click here.

You will need Windows Media Player to view the Spelling Bee. Download it here.