Last weekend nine students from Latin’s Middle School participated in the Model United Nations Conference held at the National Cathedral School in Northwest Washington. Two of our students received the top awards as the top delegate in their respective committees: Ben Yarkin won the the “Best Delegate’ award for his stellar performance on the Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM). This committee debated the topic on the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. Ben led the committee in exploring possible solutions to this topic, negotiating with other delegates and sponsoring resolutions to this topic. Also Tomas Portilla- Marchiori won the “Best Delegate” award for his outstanding leadership while serving on the African Union committee. Tommy skillfully debated the topic of “Food Security” on the African continent, and used his powerful oratorical skills to build alliances with other delegates to offer solutions to this problem. Both received a wooden gavel with the engraved message, “Best Delegate,” for amazing debating skills. Meanwhile, fellow seventh grader Willa Roemer, attending her very first Model UN conference, was recognized by the chairpersons of her committee for her strong performance as a delegate to the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and received an “Honorable Mention” for her excellent skills in public speaking and her powerful negotiating skills with other delegates. Willa’s committee debated the topic : “Disability and Inclusion Development.” Josie McCartney was also recognized at the Closing Ceremony for het performance as a delegate on the committee of the African Union and received an Honorable Mention” award for strong leadership skills while negotiating with other delegates during the unmoderated caucus phase of the debate. Ganesh Bhojwani earned an “Honorable Mention” award at the Closing Ceremony for his strong performance as delegate to the UN Women committee. Ganesh debated the topic, “Pre-Natal and Post-Natal Care.” Elias Baldwin and Luke Paci gave strong performances as delegates to the United Nations Security Council. They debated the topic: “Terrorist Activity in Europe,” and Lucas Rohde did a great job debating the topic “Israeli- Palestinian Conflict,” while Ella Hankins gave a strong performance as a delegate to the UN Women’s committee. She debated the topic: “Pre-Natal and Post-Natal Care.” The team is advised by seventh grade teacher Mr. Wills.
Junior Jazz Band member Owen Fox-Whelpton, has made it to the semifinal round of DC Capital Stars (DCCAP), a highly competitive citywide performing arts competition. Fox-Whelpton is one of 40 semifinalists competing to perform at the Kennedy Center in April. The 10 finalists to perform at the Kennedy Center are determined by online voting, so check out the website and vote for our favorite semi-finalist at www.dccap.org/gala.
On Saturday 15 Washington Latin policy debaters participated in the fourth local tournament of the year (hosted by the Washington Urban Debate League). Students debated four rounds regarding the resolution: The United States federal government should substantially reduce its restrictions on legal immigration to the United States. Each student won at least two of their rounds. In the JV Division, Aaron Smith and Max Burton won three of four rounds, and in the novice division freshmen Ife Akinsayna and Kayla Park won all four rounds of the debate. In the future, they will join the JV division. Other novice debaters include Lena Webb and Dami Akinsanya, who won three of four rounds, moving them into the JV division as well. Other novice debaters tied winning half their rounds, including Jonah Cohen and Ahmad West-Bey, Sarah Schifferle and Alice Pittard, Belle Steinberg and Claire Campbell, Greer McPhie and Brooke Roberson, and Aaron Gill and Sheridan Easterling, along with sixth grader Niamh O’Donovan, who debated maverick or alone.
The Middle School Girls Basketball team beat Hope PCS 27-6 in their first game of the winter season on Tuesday. The team includes seventh graders Brooke Tate, Kai McFadgion, Kathy Lavado, Shreya Kelly, and eighth graders Daniele Chandler, Elle Waters, Alyssa Wright, Antoine Rogers, Jazsmine Clare, Layla Azam, and Camila Storm. The team is coached by seventh grade math teacher Ms. Lee and science teacher Ms. Olney.
Seniors Nathan Cobbs and DJ Okuleye have have been awarded the acclaimed Posse Scholarship for the University of Rochester and the University of Wisconsin-Madison respectively. This scholarship includes a four-year full-tuition scholarship. For the last half dozen years, a number of Washington Latin students have been awarded this scholarship including Fariss Nabih, to Bucknell and Anaka Osborne to Pepperdine University in 2012. In 2013, Desmond Miller earned a Posse Scholarship to Lafayette College. In 2015, Olivia Boyd earned a Posse Scholarship to Lafayette College, and Maddie Galvez earned on to Bucknell University. In 2016, Conor Moore earned a Posse Scholarship to Bucknell, and in 2017 Serena Jones earned one to Bucknell. Alex Hagan also earned a scholarship that year to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Last year Isaiah Smith earned a scholarship to the University of Rochester. This program allows 57 colleges to choose one or more major U.S. cities in which to offer full-tuition scholarships to 10 students per year. By bringing a “posse” of students in together each year through this program, these colleges hope to improve their overall retention and persistence rates as well as to increase diversity on their campuses. The five schools affiliated with Washington, D.C. are Bucknell (PA), Lafayette College (PA), University of the South-Sewanee (TN), University of Wisconsin-Madison, and University of Rochester (NY). You can find more information at www.possefoundation.org
This Wednesday, Ms. Vercammen took General Music students to see the movie The Green Book. The book focuses on a tour of the deep South with jazz pianist Dr. Don Shirley and his driver and bodyguard. It is a true story written by Nick Vallelonga, the son of the driver Tony Vallelonga. The class is currently studying jazz, like the work of Mr. Shirley. Meanwhile on Tuesday, students in the freshman and sophomore class saw the movie The Hate U Give, a modern adaptation of a young adult novel that deals with issues like racial profiling and police brutality.
