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Junior Classical League

On the last weekend in January, LPS students along with students from other Wisconsin schools compete at the annual state Junior Classical League convention in Madison. The students compete in tests on
  • Greek and Roman history
  • Mythology
  • Latin literature 
  • Roman private life
  • Greek and Latin derivatives
  • Latin mottos
  • Latin grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension
In addition there is an impromptu essay competition, an impromptu art contest, and competition in all sorts of arts and crafts.

Finally, there is the yearly Certamen competition. Teams from each school compete against each other, 3 at a time in the preliminaries. The 3 preliminary rounds consists of 15-16 toss-up questions with two bonuses each. Whichever team first answers the toss-up correctly gets a chance at the two bonus questions. For each level (1-4), the top 3 teams after the preliminary rounds, compete in the final round: 20 toss-up questions, 2 bonus questions per toss-up.

Year after year our students have demonstrated that LPS is serving them well by giving them a fine classical background necessary for effective ministerial studies. Our students consistently place in the top 5 in the different competitions.

The annual JCL convention hosts about 500 students from these different schools. That is strong evidence that more and more people are realizing the benefit of a true classical education, what it means for the development of the mind, the understanding of culture, and the building of character. Thank God for the great blessing we have!

If a student is interested in joining JCL for the next annual convention, please talk with Prof. Souksamay Phetsanghane.

The 2022 JCL Convention will be held  - Jan. 28, 8:00 am - 9:30 pm.

Wisconsin Junior Classical League 

Convention Summary (2024)

 

The Wisconsin Junior Classical League convention took place on January 25th-27th. Luther Prep’s 16 students were among the 319 students from 11 high schools who attended this year’s convention in Madison, WI.

 

At the convention students take part in a variety of activities, including general assemblies, spirit contests, competitions in art, chess, essays, and oratory, as well as a toga banquet.

 

Students are also tested on their knowledge of the classics of ancient Greece and Rome. This year students took a number of tests and placed highly in the categories listed below: 

 

Category 

Level

Place

Student

Latin Grammar

1

2nd

Lily Schmidt

Latin Derivatives

1

1st

Andrew Bessert
 

1

5th

Lily Schmidt
 

3

3rd

James Norton

Latin Reading Comprehension

1

1st

Lily Schmidt
 

1

3rd

Andrew Bessert
 

3

3rd

Allie Hinz
 

3

4th

James Norton

Greek Derivatives & Vocabulary

1

3rd

Andrew Bessert
 

2

1st

Sophia Stoehr
 

3

1st

David Grunewald
 

3

2nd

James Norton

Greek History, Literature, & Life

3

1st

James Norton
 

4

3rd

Jason Kehren

Roman History

1

2nd

Andrew Bessert
 

1

3rd

Santiago De Santiago Garcia
 

1

4th

Lily Schmidt
 

3

4th

Allie Hinz
 

3

4th

James Norton
 

3

5th

Logon Sellnow
 

4

4th

Jason Kehren

Ancient Geography

1

3rd

Santiago De Santiago Garcia
 

1

5th

Andrew Bessert

Mythology

1

5th

Andrew Bessert

Impromptu Essay

3

3rd

Allie Hinz

Chess

1

2nd

Devin Wilkins



Another highlight of the convention is a competition called certamen. (Certamen is a Jeopardy-style quiz bowl game.) Teams from each school compete against each other, 3 at a time in 3 preliminary rounds. Each preliminary round consists of 15 toss-up questions with 2 bonus questions for each toss-up question. Whichever team answers the toss-up correctly gets a chance at the two bonus questions. For each level (1-4), the top 3 teams after the preliminary rounds, compete in the final round: 20 toss-up questions, 2 bonus questions per toss-up.

 

This year two of our four certamen teams made it to the finals round. Both teams placed 3rd overall in their respective levels: 

 

  • Latin 1 Certamen: Andrew Bessert, Santiago de Santiago Garcia, Lily Schmidt, Xaris Sellnow, Devin Wilkins

 

  • Latin 3 Certamen: David Grunewald, James Norton, Nathan Sauer, Logon Sellnow

 

We thank the organizers of the WJCL for making the convention possible this year. Above all we thank God and give him the glory for the gifts he has given to our students and for the ways in which he is preparing them to be a blessing to his church, as was evident at this year’s convention.