Classical studies honorary Eta Sigma Phi brought Hillsdale kleos in five sight translation contests and an essay competition this weekend at the honorary’s national convention.
Assistant Professor of Classics and Eta Sigma Phi adviser Laury Ward and Professor of Classics Joseph Garnjobst accompanied nine students to the convention Saturday and Sunday in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Hillsdale students earned national attention.
“This is one of the larger groups we’ve ever sent,” Ward said. “It’s a real chance for our students to show off on a national stage.”
Show off they did. Senior Noah Diekemper added to his first and second place awards in Advanced Greek and Latin translation last year, placing third of 45 in Advanced Latin translation, second of 30 in Advanced Greek Translation, and first of 22 in Koine Greek translation this year.
Diekemper said the translation competition began at the end of February, when students gathered in Kendall Hall and were given Latin or Greek passages from authors like Cicero or Arrain to translate by sight in two hours.
“Dr. Ward, head of Hillsdale’s Eta Sigma Phi chapter, had orange juice and chocolate milk and snacks in the room, and it was quiet, so it was a fun experience,” Diekemper said.
Senior Anne Begin also collected an award this year, placing third in Koine Greek translation, after earning the Theodore Bedrick Scholarship at last year’s convention, which allowed her to travel to the Vergilian Society tour of southern Italy with professors in July.
Freshman Emma Frank said she tried Intermediate Latin translation for the first time and placed third of 30 in the national competition.
“I was a bit nervous going in,” Frank said. “I wasn’t really trying to win anything. I just wanted more experience with sight translation, so I wasn’t particularly worried.”
The convention also holds an annual paper presentation competition, Ward said. Eta Sigma Phi honorary members are eligible to submit papers to a national committee, which selects five papers to be presented at the national convention. Secret judges at the convention score the quality of the paper and its presentation, Ward said.
This year, junior Emily Barnum’s presentation of her paper on Herodotus’ “Histories” tied for first place.
Barnum said the convention was an opportunity to gather with students and professors united around a shared love of the classics.
“Just about every year one of our students is selected to present a paper nationally,” Ward said. “They don’t always win, but about half the time they do. We have some really awesome students presenting some really awesome papers.”
The convention also featured quiz bowl-style competitions, a trip to the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, and a presentation by Sara Forsdyke, professor of classical studies and history at the University of Michigan.
Ward said the classics department welcomes all interested students to compete in the translation competitions each February. Eta Sigma Phi also welcomes students with a 3.0 GPA in classical language coursework at Hillsdale and a year or more left at school, Ward said.
