The Hood River Chapter of the National Junior Classical League recently announced the results of the 2002 National Latin Exam. The exam tests not only knowledge of the Latin language, but also understanding of Roman history and mythology. This is the second year the exam has been administered to students in the Mid-Columbia. Six local students took the examination in March and all of them placed in the national competition.
For the second year in a row Sasha Decker, 18, earned highest honors, winning a Gold Medal and a Summa Cum Laude commendation for her performance on the Level 3/4 Prose exam. Gold Medal winners who are graduating seniors and who plan to continue their studies of Latin in college are eligible to compete for the American Classical League/National Junior Classical League annual scholarship. Sasha plans to study classics at the University of Dallas this fall.
Homeschooled senior Krista Apland, 18, also took the Level 3/4 Prose Exam and earned a Cum Laude commendation.
Two students took the Level 1 exam. Eighth grader Sonja Decker, 13, won a Silver Medal and a Maxima Cum Laude commendation for her performance. Freshman Klarita Apland, 14, earned a Cum Laude commendation.
An Introductory Latin Exam is given to students who are just beginning study of the Latin language. Hans Decker, 15, and Daniel Armerding, 14, both received Certificates of Merit for their superior performance on the Introductory Latin Exam. Hans Decker won a special Certificate of Commendation for achieving a perfect score.
Each year, the American Classical League, in cooperation with the National Junior Classical League, sponsors the National Latin Exam for Latin students all over the world. More than 100,000 students from the U.S., Japan, Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, Italy, New Zealand, and Zimbabwe take the examination annually.
All six homeschooled students are members of the Hood River chapter of the National Junior Classical League, established in 2001. For more information about the local chapter of the NJCL, contact LaJuana Decker at 386-1156.
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