Dante Marinacci, an 11-year-old from Kinneret Day School in Bronx, New York, said a little bit of luck certainly helps when it comes to the spelling bee. The Daily News advances two spellers to the national finals, and the second day of competition was a good one for Dante. He correctly spelled "peristome" to win the title and a trip to Washington, D.C.

Photo credit: Jefferson Siegel, New York Daily News