By Margaret Lipman (March 31, 2004)

Yet again proving their linguistic prowess, Masonites captured many honors in Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology’s Modern Foreign Language Tournament on Saturday, March 13^th.

Students in grades 8 – 12 enriched their knowledge of French and Spanish by performing and reciting poetry, drama, and original oratories. At the competition, the GMHS students were placed in different classrooms, each containing about 20 students from other area high schools, as well as judges to critique their performances. Although the students who competed ranged in foreign language experience from Level 1 to Level 5, students in all levels of study were mixed together in the classrooms, so that they were all able to experience a variety of pieces and proficiencies. 

Poetry recitation was the most popular category for Mason students, as well as the most awarded and recognized. Daniel Thielman and Adam Gann ranked first and third, respectively, in the Spanish Poetry Level 1 category. Margaret Allen and Holly McAlpin won second and third place awards, respectively, for French poetry recitation, Allen in Level 1 and McAlpin in Level 3. Reed Anzalone took first place in the French Poetry Level 5 category, with Jonathan Byers claiming second. 

Max Kuipers won first place for his composition in the category of French Original Oratory. Eric Casteuble was a close second in the category. Casteuble’s piece detailed the qualities that he seeks in a president. 

Masonites also excelled in the Dramatic Interpretation category. Mayra Terceros and Andrea Guerra took second place for Spanish, while Elisabeth Collins, Andrea Spakauskas, Andrea Arias, and Andrea Montano were awarded 1^st place in the French category. In another theatrical category, French Original Skit, Daniel Burkey, Emma O’Hara, Maggie Person, Emily Walden, and Kim Kohlhepp were also awarded 1^st place honors. 

Though it was understandably nerve-wracking to recite and perform in a foreign language, most of the competing students were pleased with their judges’ amiability. And despite spending as long as five hours at the competition, which started at 8 am and culminated with an afternoon awards ceremony, quite a few were happy to have taken part in the experience. "It was good because there aren’t that many opportunities for you to practice French, actually," commented freshman Elsa Lee, who competed in French Poetry Level 2 with the poem "I Am Like I Am." 

Other winners include:
Daniel Thielman 1^st place Spanish poetry level 1
Adam Gann 3^rd place Spanish poetry level 1
Mayra Terceros & 2^nd place Spanish Dramatic Interpretation
Andrea Guerra 2^nd place Spanish Dramatic Interpretation 
Margaret Allen 3^rd place French poetry level 1
Holly Mc Alpin 3^rd place French poetry level 3 
Reed Anzalone 1^st place French poetry level 5
Jonathan Byers 2^nd place French poetry level 5
Max Kuipers 1^st place French original oratory
Eric Casteuble 2^nd place French original oratory
Elisabeth Collins , Andrea Spakauskas,Andrea Arias , Andrea Montano 1^st place French Dramatic Interpretation