Each year, the OJCL hosts a convention in Columbus which brings together over 800 students, teachers, and parents from across the state of Ohio to celebrate the study of Latin.  There are a variety of competitive activities at the convention: academic tests, art contests, certamen, and creative performances (in both English and Latin).  In addition, the convention offers a number of social activities, including a dance, a toga banquet, and OJCL’s Got Talent! State Convention is also an opportunity for students to run for the OJCL Executive Board. Delegations compete in various contests to win prizes and recognition in Overall and Per Capita.

Future Convention Dates

THE SEVENTY-FOURTH STATE CONVENTION OF
THE OHIO JUNIOR CLASSICAL LEAGUE

March 7-9, 2025

Crowne Plaza Columbus-North Worthington

Convention Theme:

vivamus, moriendum est
“Let us live, for we must die”
(Seneca, Declamations 2.VI)

Convention Contests

THE SEVENTY-THIRD STATE CONVENTION OF
THE OHIO JUNIOR CLASSICAL LEAGUE

March 8-10, 2024

Crowne Plaza Columbus-North Worthington

Convention Theme:

leve fit, quod bene fertur, onus
“The burden is light if you know how to support it”
(Ovid, Amores 1.2.10)

Gubernator applications for 2024-2025 are available, they are due March 26th. They will be voted on and notified on April 1st prior to our changeover meeting. Editor and Historian applications are also available will be due on April 12th. (updated 3-15-24)

Check out the website version of the program, created by Secretary Sabrina Bong, to get an idea for contest times and colloquia topics! (Make sure you double check times/locations in your print version when you get to convention!)

Students and their parents must complete the Media Release and Conduct form and return it to their sponsors prior to attending convention. NEW this year, sponsors and SCL have their own release.

OJCL’s Got Talent! The talent at the Ohio Junior Classical league convention is amazing. Friday night auditions are 10:30-11:45 PM, and Saturday’s show is 9:30-11:00 PM. Your acts should be school and JCL appropriate. Everyone is looking forward to your participation! THERE WILL BE PRIZES (of some sort).  Sign up for OJCL’s Got Talent!

Check out the SPIRIT THEMES and ROLL CALL GUIDELINES for convention! Email treasurer@ojcl.org with questions!

Does your club want to sell merchandise at convention? Sign-up here!

The new Constitution that was presented last convention will be on the ballot for adoption following this convention (the By-Laws were approved by the board in January). The new documents more accurately reflect the true responsibilities of the officers and State Chairs as well as our status as a non-profit organization. Clubs should review the documents and email parliamentarian@ojcl.org with questions.

The 2024-2025 Pre-File Form is available for students interested in running for office. Some reminders are below, email parliamentarian@ojcl.org with questions. The forms are due by 11:59 PM on February 23rd.
-You may not pre-file for an office that a member of your delegation currently holds.
-You MUST have permission from your sponsor and parent to pre-file and run.
-No more than TWO delegates per delegation may pre-file for office.
-Only ONE delegate from each school may pre-file for each respective office.
-No pre-convention campaigning.
UPDATE (2.28): Now that the Pre-file deadline has passed, we are able to announce the offices in a State of Emergency. State of Emergency occurs when there are fewer than two candidates pre-filed for a particular office, and some of the restrictions regarding who can run for office are dropped. The State of Emergency offices this year are President, 1st Vice-President, Secretary, and Parliamentarian. Students interested in running as a State of Emergency candidate for one of those offices will be able to meet with Parliamentarian Charlie Moser for more information following the first General Assembly
Breakout Game sign-ups:
Congratulations to all of this year’s scholarship winners! Through extra donations this year, they are all full scholarships–thank you to our donors for their generosity!
OJCL
Kenna Scott (Member at Large)
Caroline Critzer (St. Ursula)
Ava Grace (Madeira)
OSCL
Darby Crilly (Bexley)
Dylan McIntyre (Mariemont)
Olivia Biernat (Mt. Notre Dame)
Important Convention Dates/Deadlines:
  • 1/8/24: Amendments due
  • 1/13/24: Winter Planning Meeting
  • 2/2/24: Convention registration closes
  • 2/9/24: Creative arts registration closes
  • 2/9/24: 50% of convention costs due
  • 2/16/24: Preconvention contests due
  • 2/16/24: 100% convention reimbursement
  • 2/23/24: Officer prefile forms due
  • 3/1/24: Certamen registration closes
  • 3/1/24: 50% convention reimbursement
  • 3/2/24: Monologue and English Oratory judging on Zoom
  • 3/7/24: Graphic arts registration closes
  • 3/8/24 – 3/10/23: 2024 OJCL State Convention! (bring 100% of convention payment)

View information from previous state conventions here.