A Look at the National Latin Exam

 

National Latin Exam
Image: nle.com

An accomplished student, Seth Vitco attends Central Piedmont Community College, where he is pursuing an associates in arts. Prior to his enrollment at Piedmont, Seth Vitco attended Greyfriars Classical Academy where he won several awards for his performance on the National Latin Exam (NLE).

The National Latin Exam (NLE) fosters the study of the Latin language and culture while providing an opportunity for students to celebrate their accomplishments in the subject of Latin. The test, which is sponsored by the American Classical League and the National Junior Classical League, is held each year. Students that participate do not directly compete against one another, but they can win scholarships, medals, and other awards.

The format of the NLE includes 40 multiple choice questions answered over 45 minutes. While each test covers items such as grammar, literature, and history, more advanced tests expose students to Latin passages in the form of prose and poetry. Currently, the tests are available covering seven proficiency levels that include Latin, Latin I, Latin II, Latin III, Latin III/IV Prose, Latin III/IV Poetry, and Latin V/VI+.

North Carolina Science Olympiad Encourages STEM Academic Progress

Now studying the arts at Central Piedmont Community College, Seth Vitco previously handled retail responsibilities at Hobby Lobby in Matthews, North Carolina. Seth Vitco earned several honors in high school and made it to the regional finals of the North Carolina Science Olympiad (NCSO).

NCSO’s mission is to promote education in science, technology, mathematics, and engineering (STEM) for children in kindergarten through high school, in hopes they will pursue those fields of study in college and beyond.

The first ever Science Olympiad was held in 1974 at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, North Carolina. Since then, the tournament has grown significantly, with the 2018 event attracting 980 students from 85 counties. Since its inception, the Science Olympiad has become a national event, encompassing 22 activities ranging from solving crimes to examining fossils.

At one recent competition, teams vied for honors in the Duct Tape Challenge, Ping Pong Parachute, and 21 other activities. Other competitions have covered projects such as Amazing Mechatronics (computer-controlled machines) and Materials Science (plastics).