On April 22-23, the Latin team traveled to Atascocita High School in Houston to partake in the Texas State Junior Classical League (TSJCL) state convention. Of the 29 students who went to the convention, 14 advanced to nationals. The Latin team will travel to Indiana University this summer to participate in the national convention from July 25-30.

TSJCL is a chapter of the National Junior Classical League (NJCL), which is second to the Boy Scouts of America as the largest youth organization in the nation.

“It was a great accomplishment for us,” Latin club president Jun Jang said. “We were competing against private academies across the state that have more funding and focus on the classics than we do.”

At competitions, students compete in fields of academics, speaking, art and sports.

“Latin competitions sound vague, but it’s essentially a bunch of students who took Latin and want to promote the culture,” Jang said. “There’s a perception that Latin is a dead language that nobody speaks, but I think it lives on through organizations like our Latin club. Some people don’t see a need for it even though it can improve your reading and grammar.”

The team’s widespread success is now known throughout the state, and Jang said he hopes it attracts new members.

“I would tell {prospective members} that if they’re looking for a community that’s really supportive of one another, dedicated to learning and appreciative of classical civilizations, then I would strongly recommend them to join the Latin club,” Jang said.