On March 5, more than 100 high school students participated in Columbia State Community College’s annual High School Competition when students from 13 southern Middle Tennessee high schools competed in 19 different academic areas, including creative writing, vocal performance, algebra and sociology.

"Making the competition virtual via Zoom was a challenge, but as is usual at Columbia State, we arose to the obstacles set before us and were able to pull together resources and be able to provide an opportunity for students that is both rewarding and educational,” said Dr. Jessica Evans, Columbia State assistant professor of English. “I learned so much by doing this, and I'm thankful for the support of my colleagues."  

Dating back to the 1980s, the competition continues to focus on humanities disciplines and has since added math components.

Algebra II: First place winner, Isaac Giraldo of Spring Hill High School; second place winner, Ella Weaverling of Mount Pleasant High School; and third place winner, Hardison Greene of Columbia Academy.

Trigonometry: First place winner, Anna Beth Wright of Columbia Academy; second place winner, Katie Mertens of Marshall County High School; and third place winner, Luke Lafferty of Columbia Academy.

Essay: First place winner, Emma Martin of Columbia Academy;  second place winner, Brenna Smith of Columbia Academy; and third place winner, Lily Smith of Marshall County High School. 

Extemporaneous Speech: First place winner, Kyla O’Guin of East Hickman High School; second place winner, student from Richland High School; and third place winner, Emma Bitting of Loretto High School.

Sociology: First place winner, Lucy Grams of Columbia Academy; second place winner, student from Independence High School; and third place winner, Kennedy Pollard of Columbia Academy.

Beginner Spanish/English Translation: First place winner, Maddy Hayes of Zion Christian Academy; second place winner, Ella Fuller of Columbia Academy; and third place winner, Coco Allen of Marshall County High School.

Mass Communications: First place winner, Kimberli Martinez of East Hickman High School; second place winner, Brooklyn LaBelle of East Hickman High School; and third place winner, Sarah Cooper of Zion Christian Academy.

World Geography: First place winner, Cannon Rogers of Santa Fe Unit School; second place winner, Nicholas Earney of East Hickman High School; and third place winner, Benton Williams of Columbia Academy.

U.S. Constitution: First place winner, Jackson Carter of Spring Hill High School; second place winner, Luke Lafferty of Columbia Academy; and third place winner, Alissa Adkison of Santa Fe Unit School.

Impromptu Poetry: First place winner, Abril Chavez of Richland High School; second place winner, Shelby Johnson of Spring Hill High School; and third place winner, Ella Reed of Loretto High School.

Psychology: First place winner, Isaac Tucker of Loretto High School; second place winner, Macey Kimbrell of Loretto High School; and third place winner, Katie Kisiel of Columbia Academy.

Advanced Spanish/English Translation: First place winner, Diego Rico of Loretto High School; second place winner, Paola Adame of Marshall County High School; and third place winner, Soledad Ramirez-Valadez of Marshall County High School.

American History: First place winner, Keyton Kodatt of Columbia Academy; second place winner, Sara Martin of Columbia Academy; and third place winner, Derek Young of Columbia Academy.

Impromptu Fiction: First place winner, Sydney Stepp of Loretto High School; second place winner, Bibi Crane of Zion Christian Academy; and third place winner, Katie Harris of Collinwood High School.

Oral Interpretation: First place winner, Cole Robertson of Loretto High School; second place winner, Macy Short of Loretto High School; and third place winner, Makenzie Chism of Spring Hill High School. 

Piano Performance: First place winner, Isom Wilbanks of Richland High School.

Vocal Competition: First place winner, Aly Wilson of Collinwood High School; first place winner, Faith Manganaro of Spring Hill High School; second place winner, Haley Hixson of Columbia Academy; and third place winner, Lydia Adkins of Richland High School.

Visual Arts: First place winner, student from Richland High School; second place winner, Sarah Woodard of Richland High School; and third place winner, Thora DeLoach of East Hickman High School.