Ahaha so i forgot that i’d queued this post and was halfway through finding links to explain the origin of #kent parson belongs in a volcano before i realised what you were referring to.

Okay so. Disclaimer: this is very much a second-hand story so actual numbers and lava materials may differ from the original truth. The point stands, however.

So at Latin nerd convention there are art contests as well as nerdy grammar and history contests. Some schools (like mine) require students to enter the art contests even if they aren’t terribly skilled artists. i don’t know if that was the case for this kid, because he was from another school. However.

He entered a “small model” of Mt. Vesuvius. How small is small? Approximately the size of a styrofoam coffee cup. Not like XL Dunks. Like those tiny little ones you get at church coffee hours and stuff. This part is definitely true.

So he turns that upside-down, tapes some orange construction paper to it, and submits it.

Every year, over two-hundred middle to high-school students arrive at the Ohio Junior Classical League Convention to compete in the State Certamen Tournament. This quiz bowl style competition, which is based on the Latin curriculum, attracts students from Cleveland all the way to Cincinnati. Ohio is one of the most competitive states when it comes to Certamen, their team of combined players from across the state has been awarded seven National Championship titles since the games founding in 1972.

Certamen is by far, unlike any other sport; certamen caters to what students are passionate about. Highly contrasting to most sports where the athletes adapt their love to the sport. Students who love the Classics are drawn to Certamen:

“Certamen is the classics condensed into a series of intense, electrifying moments. It combines the adrenaline rush of competition with the joy of the culmination of your studying, and the coordination a good team requires can only be built by strong bonds of friendship.” (Ben Robertson, Shaker Heights/University of Chicago, State Champion and National Certamener).

Students are asked a variety of questions revolving around Roman history, mythology, language and literature. Even though this sport revolves around academics, spectators are never in short supply; over 300 people are crammed into a ballroom to watch their classmates compete for the state title. The room grows deadly silent as each questions is asked, gasps follow wrong answers and cheers erupt with those that are correct. The audience holds signs with the names of their favorite players, some spectators even have coordinated cheers. Intensity fills the air as students compete for glory:

“Certamen holds you riveted by each word of the moderator as he reads the question. You concentrate on every syllable, hoping against hope for that one word that ignites the fire of understanding. As the moment arrives the explosive force of  understanding sweeps from every part of your body and rushes into one mighty press of the button. With that single motion you are reaching for that exhilarating chance to expel your knowledge and claim your prize.” (Dustin Argo, Summit Country Day, State Finalist and National Champion).