In March, the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) and NSU Scholars’ College hosted more than 130 student delegates from six schools throughout the state at the 71st annual Louisiana Junior Classical League (JCL) Convention in Natchitoches. 

“National convention is set on a college campus,” said Louisiana Foreign Language Teacher of the Year Leigh Grace Rouyer, who teaches at St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge. “Since LSMSA has that same feel, this was the perfect setting for our students to experience.” 

Organized by LSMSA Associate Lecturer of Latin Dr. Morris Tichenor, JCL’s first in-person convention since 2019 included competitions ranging from quiz bowl to races to chariot-building to tug-of-war. As a school, LSMSA placed first in:  

• Catapult – entry by Nathan Vise (‘24) of Walker 
• Certamen (Classics Quiz Bowl) Latin II – team: Isabella Le (‘22) of Lafayette; Garrett Parker (‘22) of Alexandria; Grayce Rhodes (’22) of Benton; Leah Swanstrom (‘22) of Natchitoches 
• Local Publications – entry by Griffin McFarland (‘22) of Natchitoches 
• Spirit – medium-sized delegation at Procession 

 All participating LSMSA students placed in at least one Academic, Creative Arts, Graphic Arts, and Olympika (athletic) event, according to their respective grade and/or Latin level: 

• Anastasia Adams-Giron (’24) of Alexandria – Latin Grammar (1^st Place); Latin Reading Comprehension (2^nd Place); Graphic Arts: Jewelry (1^st Place); Discus Throw (1^st Place) 
• Sofia Adams-Giron (’23) of Alexandria – Classical Mythology (4^th place); Latin Derivatives (3^rd Place); Latin Vocabulary (1^st Place); Creative Arts: Latin Oratory (1^st Place); Graphic Arts: Ink (1^st Place); 100-yard Dash (4^th place) 
• Kaleb Bankston (’22) of Houma – Roman Life and Culture (2^nd Place); Discus Throw (2^nd Place); Marathon Race (3^rd Place); Individual Olympika Sweepstakes (5^th Place Overall) 
• Frannie Barrier (’24) of Haughton – Latin Reading Comprehension (5^th Place); Creative Arts: English Oratory (1^st Place); 100-yard Dash (2^nd Place); Obstacle Course (2^nd Place); Individual Olympika Sweepstakes (6^th Place Overall) 
• Deuce Bezue (’23) of Hammond – Marathon Race (1^st Place) 
• Layla Burton (’24) of Slidell – Academic Decathlon (4^th Place); Classical Literature (5^th Place); Roman History (4^th Place); Broad Jump (3^rd Place) 
• Cohl Cliburn (’24) of Lafayette – Graphic Arts: Game (1^st Place) 
• Cameron Crooks (’22) of Denham Springs – Ancient Geography (5^th Place); Classical Art (1^st Place); Classical Mythology (4^th Place); Roman History (4^th Place) 
• Brianna Gahagan (’22) of Springhill – Creative Arts: Modern Myth (3^rd Place); Creative Arts: Sight Latin Reading (3^rd Place); Individual Creative Arts Sweepstakes (5^th Place Overall) 
• Leighanna Kain (’23) of Bossier City – Classical Literature (5^th Place); Classical Mythology (1^st Place); Latin Derivatives (4^th Place); Mottoes and Abbreviations (2^nd Place); Roman Life and Culture (2^nd Place); Creative Arts: Costume – Pairs (1^st Place); Individual Academic Sweepstakes (9^th Place Overall) 
• Alex Kurtz (’22) of Chalmette – Latin Vocabulary (5^th Place); Graphic Arts: Acrylic (2^nd Place); Graphic Arts: Handmade Doll (1^st Place); Graphic Arts: Ink (2^nd Place); Graphic Arts: Pencil (4^th Place); Graphic Arts: Sculpture (4^th Place); Graphic Arts: Watercolor (1^st Place); Individual Graphic Arts Sweepstakes (4^th Place Overall) 
• Isabella Le (‘22) of Lafayette – Academic Decathlon (4^th Place); Ancient Geography (2^nd Place); Classical Art (1^st Place); Classical Literature (3^rd Place); Greek Pentathlon (1^st Place); Latin Grammar (4^th Place); Latin Vocabulary (1^st Place); Creative Arts: Latin Oratory (2^nd Place); Graphic Arts: Chart (3^rd Place); Marathon Race (4^th Place); Obstacle Course (1^st Place); Individual Academic Sweepstakes (2^nd Place Overall); Individual Olympika Sweepstakes (5^th Place Overall); Individual Overall Sweepstakes (4^th Place Overall) 
• Kate Long (’23) of Alexandria – Academic Decathlon (4^th Place): Ancient Geography (3^rd Place); Latin Derivatives (4^th Place); Latin Grammar (2^nd Place); Latin Reading Comprehension (1^st Place); Latin Vocabulary (3^rd Place); Roman History (3^rd Place); Roman Life and Culture (5^th Place); Broad Jump (1^st Place); Obstacle Course (3^rd Place); Individual Academic Sweepstakes (4^th Place Overall); Individual Olympika Sweepstakes (4^th Place Overall) 
• Olivia Louque (’24) of Paulina – Classical Literature (3^rd Place); Latin Derivatives (3^rd Place); Roman Life and Culture (4^th Place) 
• Griffin McFarland (’22) of Natchitoches – Ancient Geography (3^rd Place); Greek Pentathlon (3^rd Place); Roman Life and Culture (3^rd Place); Creative Arts: Costume – Pairs (2^nd Place); Graphic Arts: Map (3^rd Place) 
• Garrett Parker (’22) of Alexandria – Classical Art (3^rd Place); Classical Mythology (2^nd Place); Latin Derivatives (5^th Place); Mottoes and Abbreviations (1^st Place); Creative Arts: Costume – Pairs (1^st Place); Discus Throw (5^th Place) 
• Dakoda Rapinchuk (’24) of Saint Martinville – Creative Arts: Sight Latin Reading (2^nd Place); Graphic Arts: Impromptu Art (2^nd Place); 100-yard Dash (5^th Place); Broad Jump (3^rd Place); Discus Throw (2^nd Place); Individual Olympika Sweepstakes (4^th Place Overall) 
• Grayce Rhodes (’22) of Benton – Latin Derivatives (1^st Place); Latin Vocabulary (3^rd Place); Mottoes and Abbreviations (4^th Place); Creative Arts: Essay Contest (1^st Place) 
• Anna Scales (’24) of Bossier City – Creative Arts: Essay Contest (4^th Place) 
• Mark Stanton (’23) of Elton – Mottoes and Abbreviations (1^st Place); Graphic Arts: Handmade Doll (2^nd Place); Graphic Arts: Pencil (3^rd Place) 
• Leah Swanstrom (’22) of Natchitoches – Academic Decathlon (2^nd Place); Classical Art (2^nd Place); Greek Pentathlon (4^th Place); Roman History (1^st Place); Creative Arts: Costume – Pairs (2^nd Place); Graphic Arts: Illustrated Quotation (4^th Place); Graphic Arts: Pottery (2^nd Place); Graphic Arts: Sculpture (2^nd Place); 100-yard Dash (3^rd Place); Individual Academic Sweepstakes (10^th Place Overall); Individual Graphic Arts Sweepstakes (9^th Place Overall); Individual Overall Sweepstakes (10^th Place Overall) 
• Nathan Vise (‘24) of Walker – Creative Arts: Sight Latin Reading (3^rd Place); Discus Throw (3^rd Place); Marathon Race (2^nd Place); Individual Olympika Sweepstakes (5^th Place Overall) 
• Victoria Wootan (’23) of Roseland – Classical Mythology (5^th Place) 
• Sunny Yusufji (’22) of Shreveport – Latin Grammar (2^nd Place); Creative Arts: Sight Latin Reading (1^st Place) 

“JCL was one of my favorite parts of my LSMSA experience, and it felt great to give back to the club that did so much for me,” reflected Aubrey Prewitt (‘21) of Rayville, who joined several other LSMSA alum in returning to assist with judging contests, grading exams, and other conference details.

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