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Ursuline earns highest national recognition as Latin students achieve top honors 

Ursuline earns highest national recognition as Latin students achieve top honors 

by Shannon Dufresne
 

The Ursuline School earned the Blue Certificate of Merit, the highest schoolwide recognition from the National Latin Exam. The award honors schools where a significant percentage of students earn top distinctions, highlighting excellence in both instruction and outcomes.

The award recognizes schools where a significant percentage of students earn top honors and reflects excellence in both instruction and outcomes.

More than 100,000 students worldwide take the National Latin Exam each year. The 40-question, multiple-choice test measures proficiency in grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and Roman culture while reinforcing classroom learning.

Ursuline students earned top distinctions across multiple grade levels and demonstrated strong foundational skills and continued academic growth.

Four students earned Gold Medal and Summa Cum Laude honors, the exam's highest distinction: Oonagh Brandon '27, Madeline Chaput '29, Anna Montes '27, and Caitlin Setness '29.

Emily Appleyard '28, Antonietta Cuono '30, Kavya Mahindru '27, and Keira McDonald '27 earned Silver Medal and Maxima Cum Laude honors, while Katie Kelly '28, Sofia Liso '29, Kalani Narayanan '27, and Laura Sanchez '28 received Magna Cum Laude recognition. Allegra Liso '28 and Sophia Wright '27 earned Cum Laude honors.

Dr. Yelena Erez, world languages teacher and Classics Club moderator, said Latin study strengthens students' ability to think, write, and communicate at a high level.

"Latin gives them the tools to understand history, philosophy, and culture and to think more deeply about the world today."
- Dr. Yelena Erez, world languages teacher, Classics Club moderator

"Latin strengthens how students write, read, and engage with complex texts," Erez said. "It gives them the tools to understand history, philosophy, and culture and to think more deeply about the world today."

Erez added that the national recognition reinforces students' confidence. "Students feel proud of their accomplishment and recognize they're on the right track," she said.

Students extend their learning through the Classics Club, which explores the ancient Mediterranean world and its influence on modern culture. Student leaders reestablished the club this year and opened it to all grade levels, including middle school, regardless of whether students take Latin.

"You don’t have to take Latin to be interested in the stories, the history, or the impact these civilizations still have today."
- Oonagh Brandon '27, Classics Club co-vice president

"It's open to everyone," said Brandon, a rising senior and club co-leader. "You don’t have to take Latin to be interested in the stories, the history, or the impact these civilizations still have today."

Club members also bring the ancient world to life through celebrations and hands-on activities. This spring, students marked Rome's birthday and explored the ancient Roman festival of Parilia, connecting classroom learning to lived experience.

Francesca Asche-Godin, a middle school student and the club's youngest member, said the club highlights the school's sense of community.

"The older students really look out for me," she said. "They're role models, and it feels like a sisterhood."

Erez said the club helps students see that the study of Latin extends beyond the classroom.

"There is always more to discover," she said. "Students gain a new perspective and a new set of tools to understand the world."

Students interested in exploring the classics can join the Classics Club next year and take part in discussions, events, and celebrations that bring the ancient world to life.

Together, these achievements highlight a program that challenges students to think deeply, communicate clearly, and connect the ancient world to the questions shaping today.

 

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