AZJCL

2026-2027 Message from the AZJCL President

Salvete, Omnes!

My name is Nadia, and I’ll be your Arizona Junior Classical League (AZJCL) President for this year. I’m so excited to meet everyone at the events we host and look forward to sharing my love of the Classics with you. I’ve been in the Arizona Junior Classical League for almost six years now and was the AZJCL Webmaster last year, so it’s an honor to continue serving on the AZJCL executive Committee as president this year. 

The AZJCL works to spread the love of Classics throughout Arizona. Being involved in the AZJCL allows students to compete in creative contests, meet new people, play Certamen, travel, and interact with history, philosophy, art, and culture in new ways. 

If your school is already a part of the Junior Classical League (JCL), we’re excited to have you! If not, starting a chapter is easy with directions here. You can also reach out to me (azjclpres@gmail.com) or the state chairs, Ms. Receveur and Ms. Oakes (arizonajuniorclassicalleague@gmail.com), about starting a JCL chapter, or visit the AZJCL website to learn more. Being a part of a chapter is a really fun way to participate in the classics on the local level. Students have the chance to run the events they would like to see and participate in fun activities like Roman feasts, Certamen, popsicle-stick catapult building, gingerbread Colosseums, ludi games, and more! This allows students to find a community in a place where they are understood through a shared passion for the ancient world. Students can also take on leadership positions, run events at their school, and build their communication and organization skills.

Not only does involvement with the Junior Classical League benefit students, but it can also help create excitement about the Classics and increase enrollment in your Classics programs. Especially as Classics programs face changes in school curricula, giving students opportunities to build a community around the Classics and share their enthusiasm for the subject is more important than ever.

Throughout the school year, AZJCL hosts several in-person events across the state. These events include academic, creative, and athletic activities, allowing students to compete, learn, and meet other students from across Arizona. The Salvete event, which was the introduction or “welcome” to the AZJCL, was held on September 19 from 9 AM to noon at BASIS Ahwatukee. There were games like pool noodle gladiator fighting and Certamen along with a service project making dog toys. The next event is Fall Forum. It will be at ASU and is one of the largest events the AZJCL puts on. Fall Forum will be on November 20th. In January, Agonalia will have a focus on Certamen, gearing students towards the AZJCL Convention. State Convention will be held on February 20, 2027 with Certamen, testing, creative and graphic arts, colloquia (workshops), and ludi games all available in the day-long gathering. 

These are the major events the AZJCL hosts; however, the National Junior Classical League (NJCL) Convention is the final major JCL event. For 2027, it will run from July 17-23 at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, with students participating in academics, arts, and athletics alongside workshops and lectures by professors. 

Alongside in-person activities, the AZJCL and NJCL also host certain online meetings and competitions. Each month, a school can submit to Club of the Month (COTM) and Photo of the Month (POTM) at the state and national levels. In the AZJCL, participation in both COTM and POTM is highly encouraged, with submission information on the website. The winners of COTM and POTM will be displayed on the AZJCL Instagram and website. 

We look forward to seeing you at Fall Forum. If you have questions, please feel free to email me. For those who have chapters, please email me or the state chairs about registering your chapter’s senator (student representative). Senators are an important part of communication in the AZJCL as they allow students to directly receive information from the AZJCL executive committee. This includes reminders about upcoming events and any resources that the AZJCL makes available to students. Each school needs one representative who will receive emails from the committee throughout the year; it is important that these students regularly check their email and communicate with their chapter. A brochure is also available to give to students to learn more about the AZJCL.

Valete!

Nadia, 2026-2027 AZJCL President

azjclpres@gmail.com