DURHAM (WTVD) -- There was a buzz in Durham as a local middle school sent one of its own students to an upcoming national spelling bee.
Students at Lucas Middle School gave their classmate Bettie Closs a fantastic sendoff on Thursday. The 11-year-old sixth grader is heading to Washington next week to participate in the bee.
It's her second time in the competition. Closs said she hopes to be better prepared to advance farther this year.
"It was the vocabulary test that tripped me up. The one that will get you into the semi-finals," Closs said. "I missed entering the semifinals by one point."
There are eight local spelling bee participants from the ABC11 viewing area.