Jeffrey Cho, seventh grader at Peasley Middle School, spells a word during the Spelling for Literacy student spelling bee, as Trevor Johnston waits his turn. The bee was held Sept. 8 during Mathews Market Days in the historic courthouse. The student bee consisted of 35 rounds with Jeffrey doing word combat with Allison Hughes for 29 of the 35 rounds before spelling “immaculate” correctly and being declared the spelling bee champion. Jeffrey, also the 2011 Spelling for Literacy Student Bee winner, is now preparing to participate in the Tidewater Regional Spelling Bee as a predecessor to the National Spelling Bee in 2013. In the adult bee held later in the day, the Gazette-Journal retained its title against competition from teams representing the Mathews Film Society and the Gloucester Library. Photo by Sherry Hamilton