Chronicle photo by Toni Milbourne

From left, first runner-up Ethan Fisher, Harpers Ferry Middle School; first place winner Lucas Mooney and second runner-up Alyssa Powers, both from St. James Homeschool Group, are shown after the National Spelling Bee preliminary competition Feb. 18. Mooney won an all expense paid trip to the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center at the National Harbor. This was Mooney’s second consecutive win.