Four Rhodes students recently represented the college at the annual convention of Eta Sigma Phi, the national honorary society for classical studies. The convention was held March 24-26 in Ann Arbor, MI, at the invitation of the University of Michigan. Attendees presented original research, competed in academic contests, heard scholarly presentations from local faculty, conducted the society’s business, and visited local sites of interest, such as the papyrology collection at the University of Michigan. More than 100 students from 20 institutions around the country attended.
Rhodes was represented by seniors Justin Davis, Alexandra Howell, Adrian Scaife, and Henry Schott. All are Greek and Roman Studies majors. Howell completed her term as the national vice president of the association and helped to preside over the meeting. Davis presented his senior capstone project, “Fractured and Whole: Geography, Greekness, and Religion in Callimachus’ Hymn to Apollo and Aetia,” which was written under the guidance of Prof. Susan Satterfield. Davis, Scaife, and Schott were on the winning certamen team. Certamen is a competition similar to Quiz Bowl but with an emphasis on the Classics. These three, along with a student from Monmouth College, defeated a team of students from the University of Michigan in the final round. Schott also won the contest in Latin declamation for the recitation of Cicero’s Pro Caelio 78-80. As the winner of the competition, he was invited to read the selection again at the final banquet of the meeting.
The students were accompanied by Prof. David Sick of the Department of Greek and Roman Studies.