On Friday and Saturday, March 8-9, twenty-nine members of the Crown Point Latin Club joined students from fifteen other schools at the 66th Annual Indiana Junior Classical League State Convention at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. In addition to fun activities such as a “That’s Entertainment” talent show and a pizza party, the convention included a variety of competitions at the individual, team, and club levels.
Individually, our students performed extremely well in these events, receiving 41 individual first-place awards and bringing home 173 awards for top five placings! Additionally, three of our students received Individual Achievement Trophies in Academic Testing (Joseph Burke, Lukas Denney, and Abhi Nimmagadda), three received Individual Achievement Trophies in Creative Arts (Olivia Budzevski, Joseph Burke, and Abhi Nimmagadda), and one received an Individual Achievement Trophy in Graphic Arts (Julie Tran). There are only five trophies available in each of those categories! In addition, Rebekah Maddack, a former CPHS Latin student, was also awarded the IJCL Distinguished Service Award for her dedication and service to the Junior Classical League on the local, state, and national level. Four recent Crown Point Latin graduates were also elected to serve as officers for the Indiana Senior Classical League: Casey Akers, Alex Rettker, Skyler Sheck, and Susie Szymanski.
In the much-anticipated Certamen competition (a Jeopardy-style quiz game), the Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced teams all advanced to the final rounds of their respective levels. In the final competition, the novice team (1st year students) and intermediate team (2nd year students) came home with the first place trophies in their levels. By virtue of their state championship, members of the novice and intermediate teams have earned automatic spots on the state team competing at the NJCL National Convention this summer; Members competing on the novice team were Jacqueline Bozinovski, Abigail Edwards, Gracie Kenda, Isabella Olson, Alex Pearman, Luke Sherman, and Ella Wrigley. Members competing on the intermediate team were Joseph Bell, Ana Gramosli, Aidan Gregg, Abhi Nimmagadda, Gigi Sapienza, and Jake Thunberg. Students competing on the Advanced team this year were Jessica Bao, Olivia Bianco, Toni Bunch, Joe Burke, Lukas Denney, Julie Tran, and Alex Werner.
Two Crown Point students were elected as a state officer at this year’s convention! Gigi Sapienza (sophomore) was elected as the 2019-2020 IJCL Parliamentarian. As Parliamentarian, she will be responsible for recruiting candidates for office, maintaining the constitution and suggesting needed amendments, and running all election related events at next year’s state convention. Aidan Gregg (sophomore) was appointed as the 2019-2020 IJCL Editor. As Editor, he will be responsible for creating and publishing the state newsletter, Veritas et Scientia.
Three CPHS students performed in the “That’s Entertainment” talent show. Abbey Edwards performed a violin solo entitled ‘Melodie from Orpheus and Eurydice.’ Joey Bell performed the first movement of the Pathetique Sonata by Ludwig von Beethoven. Anne Gregg played her ukulele while singing an original song.
At the club level, Crown Point once again performed extremely well. In addition to winning the overall sweepstakes trophy for large chapters, we earned 2nd in the Helen Wampler Spirit Award (entry compiled by Jasmin Romero, Consul) and 2nd in Delegate Spirit (led by Isabelle Kalil). We also placed 1st in the publicity contest (entry compiled by Olivia Budzevski, Praetor), 2nd for our chapter T-shirt design, 3rd with our local chapter publication, Tempus Canis (edited by Aidan Gregg), 3rd in Scrapbooks (created by Alex Werner), and 3rd for the Sharon Gibson Community Service Award, which is based upon one of our many service activities that we complete throughout the year (entry compiled by Olivia Budzevski, Praetor).
As a result of our high placings in these individual, team, and club events, the Crown Point Latin Club was once again named overall state champion and awarded the sweepstakes trophy. We are extremely proud of all of our students for their dedication and enthusiasm for the study of Latin, and look forward to their competing at next year’s convention!
The next level of competition for these young people will be the National Junior Classical League Convention from July 26-31 at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota. For more information on this event, see www.njcl.org.