Max Danner (Speller 184) wasn't expecting to make the semifinals -- but he really wanted to.
The free Microsoft Surface RT tablet Max and the other spellers got Tuesday night made the whole trip worth it, said his mother, Julie.
But then it got even better when Max's name was called, and he advanced to the next round.
"Oh, I'm thrilled," she said. "It was a big deal for him."
Waiting while Max was taking the computerized semifinals test was nerve-racking, Julie said.
But the Bee is about more than the end result.
"It's about enjoying the experience," Julie said. "It's about feeling proud of yourself."
Max is an eighth grader from Lewis Center, Ohio.
