MSU-DCL College of Law student Melissa Bridges and alumnus Matthew Rockey-Hawley won the American Bar Association's Annual Law Student Tax Challenge, said Michele Halloran, clinical professor of law and faculty coach for the competition.

More than 40 law schools, all American Bar Association accredited, entered the national competition, which tests participants' tax-preparation knowledge.

The MSU team was among six semifinalists to make it to the final competition.

The winners received a three-year membership to the Tax Section of the association.

Both students, who also practiced tax preparation at the MSU-DCL Tax Clinic, began preparations for the challenge in September when all contestants were given a specific mock tax problem to prepare for the November deadline.

They traveled to Kissimmee, Fla. for the last presentations.

"I am so proud of these students," Halloran said. "The judges who evaluated them were so complementary about their skills.

"It was nothing short of hard work that brought them this."