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2001 STATE CONVENTION @ BC HIGH And so began the 2001 MJCL State Convention at Boston College High School with the convention theme "Vultus ac frons animi ianua" - The face and its expression are the door of the soul. The date is Saturday, May 12th, 2001. The convention officially began at 8:30 am; however, that did not stop delegates from arriving early. The earliest ones to arrive at BCH are always the officers, advisors, teachers, parents, and MaSCLers. Everyone was busy trying to get everything done before the delegates arrived. As delegates arrived, things began to get hectic. Crowds of delegates stormed into Cushing Foyer, where registration was held. Some were registering their art projects, which included pottery and models. Others were signing up for creative contests, such as dramatic interpretation and costume contests, and athletic events, such as track and swimming. After about an hour or two, finally the opening assembly began. The assembly began with opening remarks by MJCL President Ryan Bersani, in which Ryan welcomed everyone to State Convention. Then he introduced the 2000-2001 MJCL State Officers. Following the introduction, the state officers led the everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance in Latin (of course), then the JCL Creed, followed by the JCL Song. Afterwards, MJCL Secretary Randy Souza conducted Roll Call. During Roll Call a student from each school announces how many delegates, chaperones, parents, state officers, and candidates for office that school has. Then MJCL Co-Chair, Ms. Tamara Bauer of Pierce Middle, announced that next year, there will be three co-chairs on the MJCL Executive Board, Mrs. Keeley of Mount Greylock, Ms. Fillion of Boston Latin Academy, and herself. Then Parliamentarian Bunty Thakkar announced the candidates for officer. This year, the candidates for state office were . . . . For President Zara-Marie Spooner Boston Latin Academy Shannon Murtagh Mount Greylock HS For 1st VP Irina Feldman Wakefield HS For 2nd VP Kimberly Luciani Wakefield For Parliamentarian Jeffrey Hyland Tewksbury HS For Treasurer Mary McGovern Pierce Middle For Secretary Nina Huynh Lynn English HS For Historian Mark Ivey Brookline HS For Publications Editor Burke Giordano Mount Greylock HS Alexandra Saridis Boston Latin Academy After the candidates' speeches, Ryan made announcements about changes in contest rooms and then he ended the opening assembly. Then everyone proceeded on his or her own way. Some went to take academic tests. Others prepare for their dramatic interpretation, English Oratory, or Sight Latin Reading. Others went to compete in the costume contests. Certamen competitors studied their notes. Those delegates who had nothing to do in the morning accompanied their friends to contest rooms or got something to eat, while others sat outside and enjoyed the peaceful BCH campus. At noon, it was time for the toga parade, in which delegates, wearing their togas or other ancient dress, paraded around the BCH campus to show their spirit for Latin and MJCL. This event, which mirrors the NJCL Convention, was started by Matthew Harrison, 1998-1999 MJCL President and it has continued for three year now. After the parade, it was time to for voting for State officers. Each chapter had four voting delegates who will represent his or her school in voting. In the afternoon, delegates prepared for athletic events. Some ran track, while others swam. There were also fun events, such as high jump, tennis, the egg toss, three-legged race, and of course, the chariot races. The chariot races are divided into two categories; four boys pull one girl and four girls pulled one boy in a chariot across the finish line. There was also a contest called the worm, in which a team of three boys and two girls or two boys and three girls sits in a line and locks their legs under the preceding person's arms. Together, they try to slug across the floor to the finish line. Then came the event almost everyone was waiting for, the Competive Certamen Finals. In the Finals, three teams of each level competed against each other. These three teams were determined earlier at the Certamen Preliminaries in April at Wakefield HS. After a set of 20 questions with two bonuses each, the winners of each level were announced at least for the novice and lower levels. At the upper level, things took a turn, which no one expected. After 20 questions, Boston Latin School and Boston Latin Academy were tied and there were no extra questions. The SCLers gathered in a room and created three questions, one history, one grammar, and one myth. BLS and BLA competed in sudden death. The team, which attained the most points after these three new questions, would win first and claim the silver bowl for their school. Finally, the winners of each level were known and they are . . . Novice Level Lower Level Upper Level 1. BLS 1. BLA 1. BLA 2. BLA 2. Lynn English  2. BLS   3. Mount Greylock   3. BB&N 3. Lynn English Then it was time for the closing assembly. Ribbons were distributed to winners in various contests. The newly elected officers were announced. They are . . . President Zara-Marie Spooner Boston Latin Academy First Vice President Irina Feldman Wakefield HS Second Vice President Kimberly Luciani Wakefield Parliamentarian Jeffrey Hyland Tewksbury HS Treasurer Mary McGovern Pierce Middle Secretary Nina Huynh Lynn English HS Publications Editor Alexandra Saridis Boston Latin Academy Historian Mark Ivey Brookline HS The convention trophy was given to Mount Greylock HS. Incoming Publications Editor Alexandra Saridis was announced to be Massachusetts's Socius Notus. Then the 2001 Massachusetts Junior Classical League State Convention officially ended. See everyone next year.