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A trio of area students are among those that have advanced to the Southeast Minnesota Final Spelling Bee.

Eighth-graders Giselle Hinks and Carter Peterson advanced from Austin Public Schools as well as Hollandale Christian sixth-grader Jessica Bird.

Two Regional Spelling Bees were held on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at the Wood Lake Meeting Center in Rochester with 48 students participating.

Students from 29 districts throughout southeast Minnesota advanced to compete in the regional competitions coordinated by the Southeast Service Cooperative.

The top 12 spellers (six from each spelling bee) now advance to the Final Spelling Bee at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at the Wood Lake Meeting Center (210 Wood Lake Dr SE, Rochester, MN 55904). The event is anticipated to be done around 11 a.m.

The grand champion of the final will advance to the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.