Kindergartner takes second in spelling bee

Tracy Learning Center’s Austin Chen, shown at right, claimed second place during the spelling bee contest June 10 at Primary Charter School, the center’s elementary branch.

The kindergartner, along with more than 120 other kindergartners and first-graders, studied at least three hours each day for six months for the spelling contest. There were more than 100 possibilities, including a set of tough bonus-round words, which Austin studied vigorously. This was Austin’s first spelling bee contest, his mother said, and he looks forward to next year’s competition.

He is the son of Karen and Alan Chen of Tracy.

THS grad earns nursing degree

Tracy High School graduate Laura Thompson received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from University of California, Irvine, on June 11. While at UC Irvine, Thompson was on the dean’s list and was a member of the university dance team.

She attended Poet Christian and Hirsch Elementary and Williams Middle schools and graduated from the Tracy High School International Baccalaureate academy in 2007.

Thompson will begin her nursing career at UC Irvine Medical Center.

She is the daughter of John and Tammy Thompson of Tracy and the sister of Lindsey and Lisa Thompson.

Local students on university dean’s lists

Tracy resident Alaina Marie Bassett was named to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln dean’s list for the 2010-11 spring semester.

Bassett is a senior speech-language pathology major in the College of Education and Human Sciences.

Julianne Schrock of Tracy, an education major, was among more than 600 students who was named to the dean’s list at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio.

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