On March 4, 153 high school students participated in Columbia State Community College’s annual High School Competition when students from 11 southern Middle Tennessee high schools competed in different academic areas, including creative writing, vocal performance, algebra and sociology.
"Columbia State's annual High School Competition continues to offer high school students from all over Tennessee an opportunity to compete in various academic categories that are judged by college experts in their related fields,” said Dr. Jessica Evans, Columbia State assistant professor of English. “I'm so pleased that Columbia State has been able to continue to offer this competition even during this pandemic by pivoting and making this event virtual. We were excited to offer it whether in-person or virtually since we know that it is an enriching experience for students."
Dating back to the 1980s, the competition continues to focus on humanities disciplines and has since added math components.
The list of this year's winners includes:
Extemporaneous Speech: First place winner, Mahelet Morgan of Summit High School; second place winner, Allise Moran of Columbia Academy; and third place winner, student from Richland High School.
U.S. Constitution: First place winner, Elijah Shannon of Loretto High School; second place winner, student from Zion Christian Academy; and third place winner, Lillie Pearce of Columbia Academy.
Impromptu Creative Writing – Poetry: First place winner, student from Spring Hill High School; second place winner, Missy Hoggard of Summit High School; and third place winner, student from Richland High School.
Oral Interpretation: First place winner, student from Spring Hill High School; second place winner, Mahelet Morgan of Summit High School; and third place winner, student from Spring Hill High School.
Essay Contest: First place winner, Karly Weathers of Loretto High School; second place winner, Lindsay White of Loretto High School; and third place winner, Taylor Dungey of East Hickman High School.
Archaeology: First place winner, Garvin Benner from East Hickman High School; second place winner, Lucy Grams of Columbia Academy; and third place winner, Abigail Burgess of Columbia Academy.
World Geography: First place winner, student from Summit High School; second place winner, student from Spring Hill High School; and third place winner, Kennedy Pollard of Columbia Academy.
Psychology: First place winner, Ashton Stults of Loretto High School; second place winner, Jaise King of Summit High School; and third place winner, Jacob Novem of Loretto High School.
Sociology: First place winner, Garvin Benner from East Hickman High School; second place winner, Carline Constantine from Summit High School; and third place winner, Keyton Kodatt from Columbia Academy.
Spanish Translation: First place winner, Yaiza Blakely of East Hickman High School; second place winner, student from Spring Hill High School; third place winner(tie), Caroline Constantine of Summit High School; and third place winner(tie), Rebecca Goodwin of Columbia Academy.
Visual Art: First place winner, Bryn Powell of Columbia Academy, second place winner KJ Perry of Summit High School; and third place winner student from Spring Hill High School.
American History: First place winner, Sara Martin of Columbia Academy; second place winner, Lillie Pearce of Columbia Academy; and third place winner, student from Columbia Academy.
Algebra II: First place winner, Emma Hadden of Summit High School; Second place winner, student from Spring Hill High School; and third place winner, Nathan Hoffman of Summit High School.
Trigonometry: First place winner, student from Spring Hill High School; second place winner, Hardison Greene of Columbia Academy; and third place winner student from Spring Hill High School.
Vocal Music: First place winner, student from Spring Hill High School; second place winner, Kailey Thomason of Richland High School; and third place winner, Brooklyn Lippencott of Richland High School.
Mass Communication: First place winner, student from Zion Christian Academy; second place winner, KJ Perry of Summit High School; and third place winner, Edee Johnson of Loretto High School.
Videos: First place winner, student from Spring Hill High School; second place winner, student from Spring Hill High School; and third place winner, Melody Young of Loretto High School.
Impromptu Fiction Writing: First place winner, Mikayla Stolle of Summit High School; second place winner, Sydney Steppe of Loretto High School; and third place winner, Derek Young of Columbia Academy.