Torch: U.S. LXXIII Fall 2023 | Page 14

Fall 2023 · Torch: U.S. · CONVENTION RECAP

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retirement of the ever-snazzy Catherine Sturgill from the committee. Afterwards, the NJCL Officers announced their successors, and Todd Wegenhart announced NJCL Scholarship results. Two more silver bowls were presented to Martha Pearlman of New Jersey and Ryan Vinson of Tennessee, and longtime convention attendees were recognized. NJCL First Vice President Rupert Chen then recognized the Promotional Video Contest results, followed by a stunning presentation from the NJCL Chorus. Following the day’s spirit results, Jacqueline Huang of Texas gave closing remarks.

The academics continued through dinnertime as the Competitive Certamen semifinals drew a large crowd of JCLers after dinner. The crowd of people then migrated to the entrance of WoodPEC for the 2023 installment of That’s Entertainment!, waiting outside the doors for over half an hour. Featuring amazing acts of singing, dancing, and beatboxing flute as well as skits about Barbie and Spiderman, That’s Entertainment! returned the missing silver bowls and again exceeded expectations

On the dawn of the final day of convention, delegates gathered once again at the crack of dawn for Ludi Soccer, while others went to the awards assembly. While some prepared for Open Certamen, others went to watch the Competitive Certamen finals, the culmination of the academic events at convention. Meanwhile, the final colloquia session began and students could also participate in helping to clean up Emory University as a thank you for hosting.

Knowing that convention was soon to end, everyone then dressed up in classical attire for the Roman Procession at the WoodPEC. States paraded their spirit around the gym, cheering more enthusiastically than ever, and the NJCL Officers judged spirit for the last time. Opening remarks were given by Elizabeth MacQueen of Tennessee before the last two silver bowls were presented to Welby Griffin of Virginia and Lisanne Pierson Thorpe of Indiana.

Following that, NSCL Vice President Amanda Roessler presented the Ludi awards, Agon Co-Chair Gabriel Molina presented the Agon awards, Open Certamen Chair Kendal Ogles presented the Open Certamen awards, NJCL Certamen Chair Jennie Luongo presented the winner of the Certamen machine raffle and the Competitive Certamen results, NJCL Membership Chair Catherine Sturgill

presented the Summa and Maxima Cum Laude winners, and the NJCL Contest Chairs presented the top achievement awards. Yet more awards were then given out, starting with the Academic Decathlon awards, overall sweepstakes awards, and the Lillie B. Hamilton awards. NSCL President Elizabeth Foster then gave the NSCL Report and inaugurated the 2023-2024 NSCL Board. Hena Allaqaband then announced the T-Shirt Contest and Overall Spirit awards before all the officers gave their farewell speeches, and the 2023-2024 NJCL Board was inaugurated. 2023-2024 NJCL President Krish Sharma then gave his address to the convention, introducing the year’s new theme: Multa, quae impedita natura sunt, consilio expediuntur. "Many things, which are naturally difficult, are solved by ingenuity Livy, Histories, XXV.11. At this point, there was only one item of business left in convention: the passing of the torch. With a warm welcome, the TJCL invited us all to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville for the 2024 NJCL Convention, and the meeting closed after one last round of the NJCL Song.

Bittersweet but glad, delegates trickled into the overcrowded Dobbs Common Table one last time for the Day in Old Rome farewell dinner before some headed to World Series of Certamen and the “Under the Sea-You Later!” dance before making the trek to White Hall one more time.

In a flash, the 70th NJCL Convention came to an end. For all those attending, whether it was their 63rd convention or their first, this convention was truly special for each individual person for the friendships, memories, and new experiences they each gained. Vale, Emory University; we will miss your dysfunctional ice cream machine, your stairs, your broken Wifi, and trodding on your sod. Many thanks again to Emory University, the Georgia JCL, and the National Boards and Committee for all your work to make this convention happen, let alone how special it was.