Students from TMI – The Episcopal School of Texas competed successfully at the annual Area B Junior Classical League Convention held Feb. 18 at Earl Warren High School.
Both Upper School and Middle School students took part in various subject tests at their respective levels. The Upper School brought home the second-place trophy in overall competition, and the 10 TMI middle-school students each earned top-five places.
Individual awards went to: Indigo Keener, first place, Reading Comprehension, Level ½ A; Zach Burgos, second place, Abbreviations and Mottoes, Level ½ B; Aidan Sherman, second, Reading Comprehension, and Andi Feik, second, Roman Literature, Level ½ B; Peter Fera, second, Dramatic Interpretation, Level IV; Bridget Lynch, second, Roman Life Level II; Jack Basil, third place, Grammar, Sebastian Flores, third, Dramatic Interpretation, Level ½ B, Chloe Harthan, third, Classical Art, and Jessica Mims, third, Latin Derivatives, Level ½ B; Lucas Prado, third, Latin Derivatives Level II; Eloise Owen, third, Mottoes & Abbreviations, Level IV; Miguel Martinez, fourth place, Roman History, Level ½ B; Garrett Greiner, fourth, Advanced Grammar and Bridget Lynch, fourth, Decathlon, Level II; and Ethan Arellano, fourth, Mythology, Level IV; Ryan Kyle, fifth place, Vocabulary, Level ½ B; Garrett Greiner, fifth, Polychromatic Art, Joseph Kyle, fifth, Geography and Monuments, and Amanda Kyle, fifth, Mythology, Level II.
Students also took a general Latin subject test called the Pentathlon. Those receiving special recognition include: Summa Cum Laude, Garrett Greiner and Amanda Kyle, Level II; and Bridget Lynch, Level III; Maxima Cum Laude, Jessica Mims, Level ½ B; Firas Abouzahr and Lucas Prado, Level II; Patrick Behrens, Level III; and Ethan Arrellano, Level IV; Magna Cum Laude, Indigo Keener, Level ½ A; Jack Basil and Ryan Kyle, Level ½ B; Samantha Dickie, Paulina Fernandez Garza and Joseph Kyle, Level II; and Chase Blackwell, Michael LeJune and Kyle Nevitt, Level III; Cum Laude, Zach Burgos and Miguel Martinez, Level ½ B; Kristina Samuel, Level III; and Peter Fera, Level IV.
Formed in 1936, NJCL is the largest classical organization in the world, with a membership of more than 50,000 middle- and high-school students. JCL is the second-largest youth organization in the United States, after only the Boy Scouts.
The JCL creed states, "We the members of the Junior Classical League covenant to hand on the torch of classical civilization to the modern world. We believe an acquaintance with the civilization of Greece and Rome will help us understand and appraise this world of today, which is indebted to ancient civilization in its government and laws, literature, language and arts."