The Crown Point High School Latin Club recently joined students from fifteen other schools at the 70th Annual Indiana Junior Classical League State Convention at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. The convention included a variety of competitions at the individual, team, and club levels. Crown Point students won 21 individual first-place awards and brought home 134 awards for top-five placings.
In the Certamen competition (a Jeopardy-style quiz game), the Novice team advanced to the final round and placed third overall. The Intermediate Certamen team and the Advanced team also returned home as state champions in both their competitions. Members competing on the novice team were Gabriel Blake, Shaun Ipema, Annie Jacobi, and Asher McAlvey. Members of the intermediate team were Joe Stewart, Lincoln Vickers, Luke Waldschmidt, and Jack Watson. Students competing on the advanced team this year were Nic Collier, Ashley Grindey, Sammie Ipema, Gibson Mehrle, Logan Pauley, Hayden Smith, and Jackson Vrlik.
In addition to placing second in the overall sweepstakes competition for large chapters, CPHS earned 1st place in the Helen Wampler Spirit Contest (entry compiled by Sammie Ipema, Consul), the Dennis M. Bartlow Publicity Contest (organized by Luke Waldschmidt, Praetor), the Local Publications Contest (organized by Jackson Vrlik, Tempus Canis Chair), and the Digital Scrapbook Contest (organized by Nic Collier and Hayden Smith). Students also placed 2nd in the Delegate Spirit contest (led by Logan Pauley, Spirit Chair), 5th in the Sharon Gibson Community Service (organized by Luke Waldschmidt, Praetor), and 6th in the Chapter T-shirt contest.
Student Jackson Vrlik received an Individual Achievement Trophy in Academic Testing. Jeremy Walker, CPHS Latin Club sponsor, was honored during the third General Assembly for his years of service to the organization as IJCL Co-Chair. Logan Pauley and Colton Neal were chosen to perform during the “That’s Entertainment” talent show and were selected as the Fan Favorite Act.
Hayden Smith (senior) served as the 2023-2024 IJCL First Vice President and planned the convention. She received the 2024 IJCL Elizabeth Love Memorial Scholarship. Additionally, Gabrielle Wagner (senior) was elected to serve as Historian for the Indiana Senior Classical League (the college version of our organization) for 2024-2025. Anna Suppes (Vice President) and Abby Godsen (Secretary) were also elected as ISCL officers.
The next competition will be the National Junior Classical League Convention from July 22-27 at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. For more information on this event, see www.njcl.org.