(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - March 18, 2013) - - - Columbia State Community College recently held its annual High School Competition with 16 high schools throughout southern Middle Tennessee competing for academic honors. This year, nearly 300 students participated in the event held on the Columbia campus. Students were able to test their knowledge in 18 different academic areas including Spanish translation, trigonometry, American history, piano performance and psychology.

"High School Competition allows us to reach out to the communities we serve," said Susanna Holmes, associate professor of English at Columbia State. "Through their participation in this event, students have the opportunity to work with our faculty and have their work assessed by college instructors. This gives students a glimpse of the college experience."

The competition dates back to the early 1980s and originally focused on humanities disciplines such as music, writing, art and history. Since that time, the event has expanded to include algebra, trigonometry and world geography. Event organizers hope to include something from the sciences next year.


Beginning Spanish Translation
(Left to right): First place winner, Katherine Cruz of Marshall County High School; second place winner, Alison Walker of Frank Hughes High School; and third place winner, Emily Williams of Hickman County High School.


Intermediate Spanish Translation
(Left to right): First place winner, Brenda Sanchez of Loretto High School; second place winner, Miguel Méndez of Culleoka Unit School; and third place winner, Yetsenia Monreal of Spring Hill High School.


Essay
(Left to right): First place winner, Sara Serkownek of Hampshire Unit School; second place winner, Mikaylee Chapman of Mt. Pleasant High School; and third place winner, Brandy Hudgins of Hickman County High School


Creative Writing - Impromptu Fiction
(Left to right): First place winner, Feather Alsup of Mt. Pleasant High School; second place winner, Hannah Lippard of Franklin High School; and third place winner, Anna Shipley of Spring Hill High School.


Creative Writing - Impromptu Poetry
(Left to right): First place winner, Maddie Bouton and second place winner, Sophia Goodwin both of Franklin High School; and third place winner, Justin Story of East Hickman High School.


American History
(Left to right): First place winner, Alyssa Hoover of Franklin High School; second place winner, Bert Harris and third place winner, Evan Burcham both of Santa Fe High School.


Mass Communications
(Left to right): First place winner, Kaitlyn Falconbury and second place winner, Amaya Ashley both of Hampshire Unit School; and third place winner, Paige Kephart of Santa Fe High School.


U.S. Constitution
(Left to right): First place winner, Stephen Smith of Giles County High School; second place winner, Kyle Turner; and third place winner, Alyssa Hoover both of Franklin High School.


Psychology
(Left to right): First place winner, Ben Bergman of Franklin High School; second place winner, Marcia Hines of Richland High School; and third place winner, Alyse Williams of Middle College High School.


Vocal Performance
(Left to right): First place winner, Angie Manning of Columbia Central High School; second place winner, Rookh McClellan of Middle College High School; and third place winner, Ashley Nite of Franklin High School.


Piano Performance
(Left to right): First place winner, Leslie Golden of Columbia Academy; second place winner, Maria Barbosa of Giles County High School; and third place winner, Alexandra Walls of East Hickman High School.


Algebra II
(Left to right): First place winner, Deepak Subramanian of Franklin High School; second place winner, Sarah Gomillion and third place winner, Nicholas Laffey both of Columbia Central High School.


Video
(Left to right): First place winner, Whitt Laxson of Giles County High School and second place winner, Steven Salazaar of Hickman County High School.


Video
(Left to right): Third place winners from Hampshire Unit School, (front row) Clarissa Morales, Blake Rochelle, Chris Cousino and Will Mims; (back row) Conner Smith and Robert Harrison.


Extemporaneous Speech
(Left to right): First place winner, Noble Langley-Orie of Hickman County High School; second place winner, James Howard of Columbia Academy; and third place winner, Maddie Toholsky of Middle College High School.


Oral Interpretation
(Left to right): First place winner, Maddie Bouton of Franklin High School; second place winner, Mariah Nims of Spring Hill High School; and third place winner, Dyllan Wilson of Middle College High School.


Sociology
(Left to right): First place winner, Chelsey Buchanan and second place winner, Kassidy Henson both of Mt. Pleasant High School; and third place winner, Allison Scates of East Hickman High School.


Trigonometry
(Left to right): First place winner, Parker Guthrie of Richland High School and second place winner, Nicole Chambers of Franklin High School. Not pictured, third place winner, Carter McClanahan of Santa Fe High School.


World Geography
(Left to right): First place winner, Carlton Sheets of Richland High School; second place winner, Claire Graves of Culleoka Unit School; and third place winner, Scott Gonzalas of Giles County High School.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in the nation. For more information, please visit http://www.columbiastate.edu.