In late July, eight Harker students joined the California delegation to the 2022 National Junior Classical League Convention, the first in-person JCL event since 2019. Several more attended remotely as long-distance delegates. The California delegates endured quite an odyssey — overcoming plane delays and cancellations, daily thunderstorms and an alligator swamp in the middle of the University of Louisiana, Lafayette campus — to enjoy a week of competitions, workshops and opportunities to bond with Latin students from the state and all over the country.

“A highlight for many was joining forces with [New Hampshire] and [New Jersey] for a spirit battle against the Texas behemoth,” said Lisa Masoni. “In the opinion of the national second VP, the consortium of small-state delegations was definitely more spirited! “

One of the most important events at the convention is the election of national officers to lead the organization for the 2022-23 school year. Senior Rupert Chen was elected first vice president. Harker’s last national officer, Maya Nandakumar ’15, held the same office in her senior year. Chen, fresh off a stint digging at the archaeological site of Vindolanda on Hadrian’s Wall, will be responsible for promoting membership and publicity during his term of office.

Below are the top 10 awards earned by Harker delegates:

Trisha Iyer, grade 11

Academics

Reading Comprehension: Prose IV: 3rd (6 pts.)

Latin Literature IV: 8th 

Latin Vocabulary 2+ IV: 8th 

Mythology IV: 10th 

Creative Arts 

Latin Oratory Level IV+: 2nd

Sight Latin – Prose Purple: 2nd

Modern Myth: 7th 

Overall Creative Arts: 5th

Chelsea Xie, grade 8

Academics 

Reading Comprehension 1/2 and 1: 8th  

Creative Arts 

DI Levels 1/2 & I Passage 1: 5th

Graphic Arts

Impromptu Art 6-9: 6th

Lucas Yuan, grade 7 (a long-distance delegate)

Academics 

LDD Mythology ½: 1st 

Creative Arts 

Essay – 6th-9th Grade Prompt 3: 5th

Demi Zheng, grade 8

Academics 

Reading Comprehension 1/2 and 1: 10th