Devin Reed, the Drums Elementary Middle School student who won the 2012 Times Leader/Scripps NEPA Regional Spelling Bee in March, did not reach the semifinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

Reed, 12, of Drums, is one of 278 spellers involved in this year's contest.

He spelled "pyromaniac" and "topepo" correctly in rounds two and three, respectively, on Wednesday but was not one of the 50 selected to compete Thursday.

During preliminary rounds, contestants receive one point for each word spelled correctly in the written exam during Round One. Three points are given for each word spelled correctly in rounds two and three.

The scores are combined to select the contestants to move on to the semifinal round.

Semifinals run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 31, and the championship round is scheduled from 8 to 10 p.m.

Last year's local champion, South Abington Township resident Sukanya Roy, went on to win the national championship.

Following the 2011 victory, Roy appeared on numerous talk shows and even spelled her winning word - “cymotrichous" - for President Barack Obama during a trip to the White House.