Good News In Schools

Jonesboro High sophomore Mylon Craig achieved a perfect score on the 2011 National Latin Exam, becoming the second Cardinal since the school began to offer the assessment in 2004 to record a faultless mark.

Only 568 students out of the 137,000 who participated in the United States, Australia, Zimbabwe, Canada, England, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Bulgaria, China, Japan, Guam, Virgin Islands, Iran and Malaysia attained this distinction.

Fifteen other students at the school also took the examination, resulting in some of them earning certificates or medals. The annual exam, given each March, covers the material that is introduced to students during that year of Latin. It is offered jointly by the American Classical League and the National Junior Classical League.

The exam is a 45-minute multiple-choice test which consists of 40 questions that cover several categories based on Latin vocabulary, comprehension, life, grammar, Roman history, culture, mythology, and the reading of a short passage in Latin. It is offered to promote Latin and the study of the Classics.

Craig did not spend a great amount of time thinking about the test, and felt confident that she would score well. "I reviewed the night before and the morning of the test," she said. "I was expecting some sort of 'B' or something close to it. I most definitely did not even fathom getting a perfect score."

She's not sure of what, or if any, new doors that a perfect score will open for her in the future, but she reasoned that good scholarship offers and interest from colleges would definitely be favorable for her to consider.

In addition to being in the school's Latin club, Craig is a member of the Mock Trial Team, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Beta Club, and National Honors Society.

Although she has achieved a high degree of perfection, Craig does not feel compelled to stop there. "Yes, I do want to take the exam again next year," she said. "I want to see if I can achieve the same honor."

Craig credits her success on the test to Anna Cox, her Latin teacher and chair of the World Languages Department. "She prepared me with everything that I needed to know to pass the test," she said. "And the things that were challenging on the test, she had taught all of the things needed to solve the problem. She truly is a great teacher - anyone will tell you that."

Cox was just as complementary of Craig as a student: "I was definitely not surprised that Mylon received a perfect score, because she is an excellent student who works hard inside and outside the classroom. Mylon goes above and beyond anything that is asked of her and always works harder than any other student.

"Her success should be credited to her ambition and hard work, and to her family who supports her in her desire and drive to succeed."

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