Students from five Maine high schools attended the annual National Junior Classical League Convention at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, from July 24 to 29. This convention is a time to exchange ideas, hear noted speakers, participate in workshops, compete in academic, olympic, graphic arts, and creative arts contests and to meet JCL students from the United States and Canada. The theme for this year's convention was a quote from the Roman poet Horace, carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero, translated as seize the day, trusting as little as possible in tomorrow. Around 1,500 students attended this years convention.

 

 

The delegates from Maine excelled in all competitive areas of the convention. For graphic arts, Rebecca Hawkins, Hampden Academy, earned 1st place in decorative stitching. Stevie Jo Ward, Sacopee Valley High School, received 2nd place for watercolor painting, 7th for charcoal, and 9th in charts. Sara Ramsay, Hampden, earned a 4th place in pottery. Molly Peverada, the Maine JCL Editor, won 7th place for her statewide newsletter, Torch:ME.

 

 

In academics, Spencer Hoyt, Camden Hills, placed 10th in Mottoes and 13th in Latin Literature. Ben Jewell, Winthrop High School, place 10th in Latin Vocabulary and Derivatives. Melissa Hoksch, John Bapst, was 13th in Latin Vocabulary and Derivatives. Jack Swalec, Hampden, was 14th in Greek Life and Literature, as was Sara Ramsay on the same test. Placing 15th were Molly Peverada, Hampden, and Mazie Pierce, Sacopee Valley, both in Latin Reading Comprehension for their respective levels. AJ Snapp, John Bapst, was 7th in the Latin Sight Reading competition.

 

Maine placed well in the olympic events. Molly Peverada was 3rd in the marathon, 5th in the 800m, and 7th in the 400m. Ian Szydlo, John Bapst, placed 5th in the shot put, and AJ Snapp was 9th in the 50 yard backstroke. Spencer Hoyt won the chess competition, and Rogan Winch, Hampden, was 3rd.One large component of the convention is a daily display of spirit and enthusiasm for academics and Classics. Maine was recognized on the first day of the convention as the most spirited small state, one of only three such states to receive this recognition.

 

Other students who attended the convention were Gillian Anderson and Rebecca Musgrave, from John Bapst, Deidrah Geyer-McManus and Steven St. Saviour from Sacopee Valley, Sam Haiden and Lauren Swalec from Hampden, Megan Aydelott from Camden, and Sean Fitzgerald from Winthrop. These students were accompanied by their Latin teachers and JCL sponsors: Seth Knowles, Greely; Ben Johnson, Hampden Academy; Jeremiah Gorman, John Bapst; Marilee Osier, Sacopee Valley; Meg Cook, Winthrop. Maine had the second largest attendance at this convention from all of New England. Only Massachusetts had more delegates.

 

Marilee Osier was awarded the Summa Cum Laude sponsor award for her committed service to JCL and the National Convention.

 

The National Junior Classical League is an organization for high school students which focuses on the study of ancient Greece and Rome through the languages of Greek and Latin. Currently, there are over 51,000 student members of the NJCL, over 500 of which come from Maine. The NJCL is the second largest youth organization in the country, and the largest organization in the world , youth or adult, devoted to the study of Latin and Greek.Next years convention will be held at Miami University in Oxford, OH from July 28 to August 2. The theme for this convention is from Cicero, non nobis solum nati sumus, translated as, we are not born for ourselves alone, emphasizing the large service component of JCL.