April 20, 2026
This past Saturday forty East Aurora Middle and High School students attended the NYSJCL State Spring Convention held in Skaneateles. Schools as far away as New York City competed, including Stuyvenscant, New Hartford, Pittsford Sutherland and Mendon, Orchard Park, and others. The following EA students won individual and team awards:
7th Grade:
Lucas Calkins won 3rd place on the Latin Derivatives Exam, and 2nd place on the Roman Civilization Exam, and 3rd place in Latin Oratory
Daniel Whitehead won 1st place on the Roman Civilization Exam
8th Grade:
Molly Hannon won 2nd place on the Latin Derivatives Exam, 1st place on the Latin Vocabulary Exam, and 1st place on the Roman Civilization Exam
Raja Vitous won 3rd place on the Roman Civilization Exam
Penny Rausch won 2nd place in the Classically Themed Poster Contest
Addison Fava won 3rd place in the Classically Themed Poster Contest
9th Grade:
Kelsey Trzeciak tied for 2nd place on the Latin Derivatives Exam; she won 1st place on the Mythology Exam; she tied for 1st place on the Pentathlon Exam; she won 3rd place on the Latin Vocabulary Exam, 2nd place on the Roman Civilization Exam, and 1st place in Latin Oratory
Emma Speilman tied for 2nd place on the Latin Derivatives Exam; she won 3rd place on the Pentathlon Exam, and 3rd place on the Roman Civilization Exam
Cameron Gregoire won 2nd place on the Mythology Exam; she tied for 1st Place on the Pentathlon Exam
Thatcher Belka won 3rd place on the Mythology Exam
Felicity Everhart won 2nd place on the Pentathlon Exam
10th Grade:
Olivia Flynn won 3rd place on the Latin Derivatives Exam
Audrey Holtz won 3rd place on the Mythology Exam and 3rd place in Latin Oratory
11th and 12th Grade:
Jonas Trzeciak won 2nd place on the Latin Derivatives Exam, and 2nd place on the Pentathlon Exam, 3rd place on the Roman Civilization Exam, and 1st place in Latin Oratory
In the main event:
Our 7th Grade Certamen Team consisting of River Sendziak, Dan Whitehead, John Roach, and Michael Baker won 3rd place
Our 8th Grade Certamen Team consisting of Penny Rausch, Molly Hannon, Lilly Aungst, Marielle Idland, and Lucy Improta won 1st place
Our Level II Certamen Team consisting of Kelsey Trzeciak, Cameron Gregoire, Emma Spielman, and Serene Tunkey won 1st place
Our Level III Certamen Team consisting of Audrey Holtz, Olivia Flynn, and Benjamin McGarry won 3rd place
Thank you so much to Latin teacher Kate Hannon for helping students prepare for competition, to First Student for providing transportation, and to Administration for their support.
7th Grade:
Lucas Calkins won 3rd place on the Latin Derivatives Exam, and 2nd place on the Roman Civilization Exam, and 3rd place in Latin Oratory
Daniel Whitehead won 1st place on the Roman Civilization Exam
8th Grade:
Molly Hannon won 2nd place on the Latin Derivatives Exam, 1st place on the Latin Vocabulary Exam, and 1st place on the Roman Civilization Exam
Raja Vitous won 3rd place on the Roman Civilization Exam
Penny Rausch won 2nd place in the Classically Themed Poster Contest
Addison Fava won 3rd place in the Classically Themed Poster Contest
9th Grade:
Kelsey Trzeciak tied for 2nd place on the Latin Derivatives Exam; she won 1st place on the Mythology Exam; she tied for 1st place on the Pentathlon Exam; she won 3rd place on the Latin Vocabulary Exam, 2nd place on the Roman Civilization Exam, and 1st place in Latin Oratory
Emma Speilman tied for 2nd place on the Latin Derivatives Exam; she won 3rd place on the Pentathlon Exam, and 3rd place on the Roman Civilization Exam
Cameron Gregoire won 2nd place on the Mythology Exam; she tied for 1st Place on the Pentathlon Exam
Thatcher Belka won 3rd place on the Mythology Exam
Felicity Everhart won 2nd place on the Pentathlon Exam
10th Grade:
Olivia Flynn won 3rd place on the Latin Derivatives Exam
Audrey Holtz won 3rd place on the Mythology Exam and 3rd place in Latin Oratory
11th and 12th Grade:
Jonas Trzeciak won 2nd place on the Latin Derivatives Exam, and 2nd place on the Pentathlon Exam, 3rd place on the Roman Civilization Exam, and 1st place in Latin Oratory
In the main event:
Our 7th Grade Certamen Team consisting of River Sendziak, Dan Whitehead, John Roach, and Michael Baker won 3rd place
Our 8th Grade Certamen Team consisting of Penny Rausch, Molly Hannon, Lilly Aungst, Marielle Idland, and Lucy Improta won 1st place
Our Level II Certamen Team consisting of Kelsey Trzeciak, Cameron Gregoire, Emma Spielman, and Serene Tunkey won 1st place
Our Level III Certamen Team consisting of Audrey Holtz, Olivia Flynn, and Benjamin McGarry won 3rd place
Thank you so much to Latin teacher Kate Hannon for helping students prepare for competition, to First Student for providing transportation, and to Administration for their support.