R.C. Murphy Junior High School students showcased their linguistic skills as they competed in the seventh annual school spelling bee this January. 

Going head to head in a series of challenging rounds, students worked to spell impressively challenging words with various points of origin. As a result of their talents and skill, eighth-graders Sammi Feil, Alexi Lugris and Ethan Yu emerged as this year’s first-, second- and third-place winners, respectively.  

Sammi will now go on to the Long Island Bee qualifiers. Her winning words in the school contest were “libertarian” and “gypsum.”