Aiden Meng, a seventh grader at Orinda Intermediate School, placed second at the 2026 California State Junior High Spelling Bee held at the Great Wolf Lodge in Manteca. - Meng competed against 50 seventh- through ninth-grade students from across California.
- He is also representing the Bay Area at the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. - The final round featured challenging words such as epiphysis, palimpsest, and croquembouche.
Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey praised Meng's dedication and the support from his teachers, school, and family.