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from The Mesa Tribune - Zone 2 - 9.12.2021

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Area students shine in national Latin convention

BY ASHLYN ROBINETTE

Contributor

Taking Latin may sound like a nightmare, but for several East Valley students, the chance to learn more about the Latin and Greek language, literature and culture is a dream come true.

Eleven delegates from six schools represented Arizona and demonstrated their knowledge of ancient Greeks and Romans at the 2021 National Junior Classical League (NJCL) convention, which has been virtual for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I love attending nationals because of the opportunity to meet like-minded people along with learning new things about the ancient world,” said VV Hays, a Gilbert Classical Academy graduate who has attended the convention every year since she was 12.

The area students – Adrian and Mia Palumbo, Andrew Wei, Max Robison, Amanda Murphy, Rachel Martinez, Katherine Lam, Lorenzo Levy, Connie Kang, William Friedman and Hays – joined approximately 1,000 NJCL convention participants from around the nation to compete in academic and creative contests.

The Arizona delegates are students at BASIS Chandler, BASIS Tucson North, Gilbert Classical Academy, Seton Catholic Preparatory, Tempe Preparatory Academy and Trivium Preparatory Academy.

They were led by Chandler resident Sarah Palumbo, a Latin instructor and the Arizona Junior Classical League (AZJCL) State Chair.

“Students take Latin because they are curious about the origin of things that have been in�luenced by the ancient Romans,” Palumbo said.

“They want to know what the spells in Harry Potter mean… why Latin is the foundation of the Romance languages,” she said.

“Of course, there are students who want the advantage that Latin provides when it comes to studying the sciences, law and grammar, too. But, students are fascinated with the lives of the ancient Romans whether it be the myth, history, or language.”

Formed in 1936, the NJCL is an organization of students sponsored by the American Classical League.

Composed of local and state chapters throughout the country, it is the largest classical organization in the world. Its mission is to encourage an interest in and an appreciation of the language, literature and culture of ancient Rome and Greece.

“Part of what made the convention remarkable was the variety of activities offered,” said Lam, who has four years of Latin under her belt. “For the competitively minded, there were academic testing sessions and team competitions such as certamen, a quiz-bowl-like game.

“However, if one simply wanted to relax or learn something new, there were also educational colloquia and group activities.”

Students tested their knowledge of the classics in exams, certamen (a quiz bowl type competition) and more. Arizona students earned top honors in tests, certamen and graphic arts. Students also voted in national of�icers and performed community service projects for “Rocks For Faye.” Overall, the Arizona team was �irst in both roll call and spirit for small states, Summa Cum Laude for their scrapbook, sixth for their website and ninth in Toga Talk.

Despite the miles, students were having fun interacting with one another in breakout rooms until 2 a.m., Palumbo said.

“This was my third year going and it’s amazing to meet new people and see old friends,” said Friedman, a Gilbert Classical Academy student in his fourth year of Latin. “The competition is great and it’s such an interesting, fun experience.”

While Latin is known as a “dead” language, students from around the world are keeping it alive, Palumbo said, noting it has opened doors for countless students by improving test scores, critical thinking and more.

“Latin students have higher verbal SAT scores than all other foreign language students,” Palumbo said. “Secondly, Latin provides a solid foundation for the acquisition of other languages.

“About 80 percent of Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese words are from Latin… Students also learn about the English language structure since a person’s reading, writing and speaking of his or her own language is improved by studying Latin.

“One’s vocabulary is enriched, grammar is sharpened and a sense of organization is instilled. Finally, students have an advantage in science classes. About 90 percent of scienti�ic terminology derives from Latin and Greek.”

It isn’t just teachers who rave about the cognitive bene�its Latin has to offer.

“Others should take Latin because of the intellectual skills it gives you,” said Murphy, a Trivium Preparatory Academy graduate who has taken �ive years of Latin and two years of Greek. “My Latin class and I agreed that studying such a language improved our attention to detail, our problem-solving skills, and our deductive reasoning.

“Aside from that, Latin really spurs on your curiosity and gives you a raw, beautiful insight into the nature of man, ancient or modern.”

Despite most of the Arizona delegates

ANDREW WEI AMANDA MURPHY ADRIAN PALUMBO

having been forced to take Latin in elementary school or junior high, every one of those students said they voluntarily continued it in high school because they enjoyed it so much. Adrian Palumbo, who was �irst introduced to Latin in elementary school and W Vote For Us For Best Preschool, ilson-Goodman Law Group, PLLC Wilson-Goodman Law Group, PLLC plans to pursue the classics in college explained, “I saw the language and its roots in western society, in our language, laws, literature and arts, and thought that I could better appreciate and improve Charter School and Best Place to Work today’s society by better understanding In This Year’s

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our classical roots. This appreciation for the classics evolved beyond just Latin; I started learning more and more about classical history, art and Greek language and culture,” he said. For some, continuing Latin wasn’t about the language itself, but rather the community surrounding it. “I was never someone who fell in love with Latin right away or was super into mythology as a kid,” Hays said. “I fell in love with the community. Now, I appreciate the history and classic texts more than ever.” ■