YOUNGSTOWN — Joey Constantine, a seventh-grader from Lakeview, won the annual 21-WFMJ Regional Spelling Bee at Stambaugh Auditorium on Saturday.

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 his second time making it to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. In 2022, he made it to the fifth round before being eliminated.

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

Each contestant received a Merriam-Webster 11th Edition Collegiate Dictionary, as well as a 21-WFMJ Spelling Bee T-shirt and a school champion certificate. Kent State University at Trumbull Campus awarded a $2,000 scholarship to Constantine, as well as $1,000 to the runner-up and $500 to the third-place student.

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