Three local students are headed to the semi-finals after taking home top honors in the Lauderdale County Spelling Bee on Thursday at Meridian Community College.

Northeast Lauderdale Middle School seventh grader Kaia Mayer, who took home first place; West Lauderdale Middle School eighth grader Noelle Carey, who took second place; and Russell Christian Academy seventh grader Reese Ann Gressett, who took third, will move on to compete in the semi-final online competition held on or before Feb. 1.

Winners from the semi-finals will move on to compete in the state spelling bee, which will be held in Columbus on March 1-2.