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Sophomores’ Essays Honored by Writing Contest

Two sophomore Latin students received Honorable Mention recognition for essays they submitted to a national writing contest.
Two GPS sophomores recently earned Honorable Mentions for their essays submitted to the Bernice L. Fox Classics Writing Contest. Since its inception in the mid-1980s, thousands of high school students from across the globe with an interest in the ancient world have competed in the contest named in honor of the late Bernice Fox who taught English, Latin, and Greek at Monmouth College in Illinois. The essay contest is open to any student enrolled in high school.

The topic for this year’s essay was “A Figure from Classical History, Literature, or Mythology as the Next President of the United States.” Participants could cover a classical figure acting as president or while on the campaign trail. As in every year’s contest, students were encouraged to make “frequent, specific, accurate, and appropriate references” to ancient history or mythology as well as to current events.

GPS’s first Honorable Mention went to Latin III student Gracyn Davis for her submission based on Horace’s Ode 2.10 which she had recently translated for class. Her piece featured a transcript of the poet Horace’s inaugural speech as newly elected president wherein he outlines a stoic approach to governance, carefully echoing the philosophical ideas found in his poetry.

The second Honorable Mention was earned by Honors Latin III student Claire Calhoun whose contest submission took the form of an imagined dialog between the Emperor Claudius and a reporter on the campaign trail. Drawing effectively from Suetonius’ Life of Claudius (and including a clever cameo by Robert Graves, author of the famous I, Claudius [1934], as the reporter), her essay showed her to be a keen observer of both the form of campaign interviews as well as politicians’ responses, according to GPS Latin teacher Dr. Ralph Covino.

“I am always thrilled when my girls bring home the prizes, be they big or small,” he said in sharing the results. “As an Ancient Historian myself, it especially gladdens my heart see the girls throwing themselves into projects like essays for the Fox Classics Contest and letting their talents and creativity loose on a hitherto unsuspecting world. GPS Latin is greatly looking forward to competing again with next year’s topic!”
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