Sixty Colonial Middle School students received awards for projects and exam scores that were part of regional and national competitions this year during the May 27th Latin Awards ceremony held in the school cafeteria. 

During the course of the year, students competed in the 87th Annual Latin Week Competition for the Philadelphia Classical Society. As part of this competition, students can submit artistic projects in a variety of categories, such as sketches or drawings, sculpture and pottery, models, and costumes. Literary projects, such as poems and prose, are also accepted. Eighth-grader Steven Geiger, from Colleen Marengo’s class, won the popular vote for overall best middle school poem for his piece about “living in the shadow” of Mount Vesuvius.

In addition to the regional competition, students also participated in the National Latin Exam in March. Seventeen students received recognition for their scores, with several students earning medals. For most students to excel in this competition, which includes material not necessarily covered in the curriculum, they need to put in extra time outside of class. 

Several of the students who won awards shared their thoughts on why Latin, though it’s no longer spoken, is still a valuable language to learn. 

“I think learning about Latin is really important because a lot of the words and grammar from modern English is derived from Latin roots,” said eighth-grader Sarah Shim.

Aidan Matthews said learning Latin has helped him to broaden his knowledge of words and their definitions.

“It’s widened my vocabulary through the derivatives we’ve done,” he said.

Max Cernetti, eighth-grader, also cited the important role Latin plays in communication.

“Latin is important because it helps you better understand English and any other language,” he said. “A lot of other languages derive from Latin.”

Other students noted that studying Latin can be important for its historical aspects. Gianna Rosario, eighth-grader, said she has found value in studying Roman civilization. 

“It’s basically like that history thing - if you know about the past, you’re less likely to repeat it.”

This year also marks the first for the school’s new Latin Club. Elected officers include Consul (co-presidents) Jonas Ross and Peyton Morrison, Praetor (vice president) Jacob Ross, Censor (secretary) Evan Edgehill and Ethan Myers, Aedile (activities coordinator) Ariana Jean-Young/Shifra Friedman, and Curator (historian) Evelyn Bellenger.  

List of Award Winners by Competition

Philadelphia Classical Society Latin Week Competition

A. Sketch or Drawing

• Sarah Shim (8) — Summa Cum Laude Best in Category
• Mica Risi (8) — Magna Cum Laude
• Christian Paulhill (8) — Magna Cum Laude
• Ryan Braverman (8) — Cum Laude
• Audrey Wong (7) — Magna Cum Laude
• Hailey Fullerton (7) — Magna Cum Laude
• Maggie Zheng (7) — Magna Cum Laude
• Nate Hill (7) — Magna Cum Laude

B. Painting

• Madison Lesniewski (8) — Magna Cum Laude
• Evelyn Moore (7) — Magna Cum Laude
• Khyathi Patchava (7) — Magna Cum Laude

C. Handmade Sculpture & Pottery

• Katherine Kennedy (8) — Summa Cum Laude
• Beatrice Smith (8) — Summa Cum Laude
• Claire Murphy (8) — Magna Cum Laude
• Carmela Bender (8) — Cum Laude
• Finn Bolognese (7) — Summa Cum Laude Best in Category
• Dominic Pironti (7) — Magna Cum Laude
• Kaiya Adgie (7) — Magna Cum Laude
• Jack Hansen (7) — Cum Laude

D. Model

• Bodhi Rucker (8) — Summa Cum Laude
• Max Cernetti (8) — Summa Cum Laude
• Sarah Fries (8) — Summa Cum Laude
• Aidan Matthews (8) — Summa Cum Laude
• Gianna Rosario Santiago (7) — Summa Cum Laude Best in Category
• Mason Wanner (7) — Summa Cum Laude
• Luke Dinan (7) — Summa Cum Laude
• Joseph Kelly (7) — Magna Cum Laude

E. Jewelry

• Brynn Hopper (8) — Summa Cum Laude Best in Category

F. Costume (Military)

• Jonas Ross (8) — Summa Cum Laude
• Jacob Ross (8) — Summa Cum Laude Best in Category
• Andrew Moletzsky (8) — Summa Cum Laude
• Alexander Kelly (8) — Summa Cum Laude
• Jack Eagens (7) — Summa Cum Laude
• Max The (7) — Magna Cum Laude
• Patrick Walter Hutter (7) — Summa Cum Laude
• Jace Barber (7) — Magna Cum Laude

G. Costume (Non-Military)

• Sophia Millinghausen (7) — Summa Cum Laude
• Evelyn Bellenger (7) — Magna Cum Laude

I. Needlework / Hand-Sewn Items

• Maggie Zheng (7) — Magna Cum Laude

J. Comic / Storyboard (Hand-Drawn)

• Faye Grigg (7) — Summa Cum Laude
• Shawn Rouse (7) — Cum Laude
• Dean Humphries (7) — Magna Cum Laude

L. 3-D Printed

• Cooper Clark (8) — Magna Cum Laude
• John Callahan (7) — Cum Laude

N. Digital Art

• Ariana Jean-Young (7) — Summa Cum Laude Best in Category

Literary – Prose

• Jamieson Wholey (8) — Summa Cum Laude Best in Category
• Katherine Kennedy (8) — Summa Cum Laude

Literary – Poetry

• Ezra Livney (7) — Magna Cum Laude
• Massimo Tammaro (8) — Cum Laude
• Thomas Saulino (8) — Cum Laude
• Richard Wills Jr. (8) — Magna Cum Laude
• Steven Geiger (8) — Summa Cum Laude Best in Category AND received popular vote for overall best middle school poem

Competitive Exam

• Beatrice Smith (8) — Magna Cum Laude
• Jamieson Wholey (8) — Cum Laude
• Evan Edghill (8) — Cum Laude
• Sarah Fries (8) — Cum Laude
• Aidan Matthews (8) — Cum Laude
• Max Cernetti (8) — Cum Laude
• Alexander Aumiller (7) — Magna Cum Laude
• Mason Wanner (7) — Cum Laude
• Aaron Cole (7) — Cum Laude
• Ezra Livney (7) — Cum Laude
• Luke Dinan (7) — Cum Laude
• Jack Eagens (7) — Cum Laude
• Faye Grigg (7) — Cum Laude
• Yousef Mahmoud (7) — Cum Laude

 

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National Latin Exam

Competitive Exam

• Jamieson Wholey (8) — Summa Cum Laude (Gold Medal)
• Meryem Ozkan (8) — Maxima Cum Laude (Silver Medal)
• Max Cernetti (8) — Maxima Cum Laude (Silver Medal)
• Aidan Matthews (8) — Magna Cum Laude
• Katherine Kennedy (8) — Magna Cum Laude
• Daniel Palmer (8) — Magna Cum Laude
• Evan Edghill (8) — Magna Cum Laude
• Sarah Fries (8) — Magna Cum Laude
• Ryan Braverman (8) — Cum Laude
• Veronica Lendacky (8) — Cum Laude
• Beatrice Smith (8) — Cum Laude
• Michael DeBovis (8) — Cum Laude
• Aaron Cole (7) — Maxima Cum Laude (Silver Medal)
• Mason Wanner (7) — Maxima Cum Laude (Silver Medal)
• Alexander Aumiller (7) — Magna Cum Laude
• Luke Dinan (7) — Cum Laude
• Maximus Caldwell (7) — Cum Laude