UCHS Latin Students Win at State Convention

Congratulations to the students of the University City High School Latin Club on winning numerous awards, recognitions, and elected offices at the 2013 Missouri Junior Classical League (MOJCL) Convention. They competed against students from across the state (this year St. Louis was represented by SLUH, MICDS, and UCHS) in a selection of Latin/classics-related activities and competitions over the course of a weekend in April.

Beginning with a spirited “Romecoming” social event, students spent the weekend demonstrating their skills in oral recitations, photography, art, the creation of original “impromptu art” and “modern myths,” chess, costumes, dramatic interpretation,  and the king of all MOJCL events, the Certamen tournament. 

Certamen, Latin for “competition,” is a quiz bowl–style competition between four-student teams from the various schools in which they answer questions related to Latin and classics studies. In 2011, the UCHS team were the state Certamen champions, and this year’s team fought valiantly to regain the title but unfortunately lost to SLUH (our friendly Latin rivals) in the exciting semi-finals.

Prior to convention, students take a series of written exams for which they can receive awards. UCHS typically brings home a bounty of these awards, and 2013 was no different: 

Derivatives, Level 4

• 1st Place - Ethan Farber
• 2nd Place - Anna Soifer
• 5th Place - Grace Deitzler

Derivatives, Level 3

• 5th Place - Henry Braeske

Grammar, Level 4

• 1st place - Daniel Politte

History and Culture, Level 4

• 1st Place - Dan Politte

History and Culture, Level 3

• 4th Place - Walter Deitzler

Mythology, Level 4

• 1st Place - Anna Soifer
• 2nd Place - Ethan Farber

Mythology, Level 3

• 4th Place - Andrew White

Elections are also held each year at convention, and UCHS students have a long tradition of filling officer positions. This year, junior Deanna Pace was elected 2013-14 Historian, and soon-to-be alumna Grace Deitzler was elected Historian for the Missouri Classical League, the university-level counterpart to MOJCL. 

The accolades don’t end at convention, however.  Three UCHS seniors, Dan Politte, Anna Soifer, and Ethan Farber, took the prestigious National Latin Exam (NLE) this year as well.

The exam consists of 40 questions covering topics including grammar, comprehension, derivatives, mythology, historical background, classic literature, and literary devices and is administered according to the level of study the student has completed. As top scorers, Dan and Ethan were awarded gold medals and summa cum laude certificates, and Anna received a magna cum laude certificate for her third-place finish. 

To all of our talented and energetic Latin students we say a resounding, Macte virtute! Factum optime!

Read more stories about U. City Schools at www.sayyestoucityschools.blogspot.com