Additional photos below / Provided by Ada High School
By Paula Pyzik Scott
One Hundred and Eighteenth Annual Interclass Contest
Founded by Dr. C.H. Freeman
Ada High School Auditorium
March 22, 2024
Interclass–a scholastic competition for the Sophomore, Junior and Senior classes at Ada High School–is 118 years in the making but is not carved in stone. School librarian Chanda Smith told the Icon that the categories–original short story, original poetry, original essay and dramatic reading–have stayed the same, but judging of the first three was expanded.
University professors graded the writing of the stories, poetry and essays. The in-person judges, Denise D’Arca and Alexis Hannah, gave presentation grades. The two scores were then combined to determine the winners of each category.
Also new this year, essays were not read verbatim. Instead, the students made presentations using slides, which Smith called “a huge improvement.”
CONTINUES
For the first time, the English department secured funds from local donors including businesses to present scholarships to the winner, with $100 going to first place, $50 for second place and $25 for third place.
The overall winner for the competition was the senior class, which Smith notes was a group that had not won Interclass before. Individual winners were:
- Short Story “To Your Light I Will Succumb” by Jillian Hazelton, Senior
- Poetry “How Wrong They Are” by Abdallah Al-olimat, Senior
- Essay “Negative Body Image and Low Self Esteem in Teens” by Laenen Ulrey, Sophomore
- Dramatic Reading “And the Psych Ward Says” by Awo Akyeampong, Senior
A full listing of participants is below.
Preparation for the competition often begins with English classes in the fall. Students can revise work done for a class to create an interclass submission.
During the first intermission there was a Senior class skit on video and during the second intermission there were several short films made for Mr. Ames’ film and literature class.
The entire program was livestreamed on Facebook HERE.
Master of Ceremonies, Dakota Gossman, Student Council President
SHORT STORY
Jillian Hazelton "To Your Light I Will Succumb" - Senior
Lily Howard, "He Did It” - Sophomore
Victoria Rausch, "Food For Thought" - Junior
POETRY
Abdallah Al-olimat, "How Wrong They Are" - Senior
Marley Bulerin, "You Are Good Enough" - Sophomore
Isabella Klingler, "A Winter-Spring Morning" - Junior
Intermission - Senior class film and refreshments courtesy of Ada High School Student Council
ESSAY
Ashlyn Madison, "Are Mulan and Hua Zhou Really That Different?" - Senior
Laenen Ulrey, "Negative Body Image and Low Self Esteem in Teens" - Sophomore
Aeris Wever, "The Cruelty of Animal Testing" - Junior
DRAMATIC READING
Awo Akyeampong, "And the Psych Ward Says" - Senior
Luke Archer, "Monty Python Monologue" - Junior
From the film, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" 1975
Justin Bowden, "Forrest Gump Monologue" - Sophomore
From the film, "Forrest Gump" 1994
Intermission - Films from Mr. Ames' class and refreshments provided by Ada High School Student Council
Presentation of Individual Awards and Interclass Cup
2024 INTERCLASS JUDGES
Denise D'Arca, Professor Emeritus from ONU, business owner, Rotary member
Alexis Hannah, AHS alumni, Physician's Assistant at Lima Memorial Health System
