By Christina Leslie | Correspondent

A team of young scholars from St. Paul School, Princeton, proved their academic prowess as they took first place in the Scholastic Olympics held at Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton, Nov. 15.  The annual competition, now in its 31st year, tested the knowledge of students from six diocesan grammar schools as they competed in one of seven subject areas for medals and school-wide recognition.

Open to eighth graders from Catholic schools in Mercer and northern Burlington Counties, the Scholastic Olympics invites teams of 14 students per school to take one-hour written exams in the fields of Art, English, History, Mathematics, Religion, Science and Spelling. Scores are compiled electronically and the top three students in each subject area are awarded gold, silver or bronze medals for their achievements. Individual test scores are compiled to arrive at final overall school team placement. 

Trenton Catholic Academy students from the school’s Monsignor McCorristin Chapter of the National Honor Society sponsor and facilitate the competition from start to finish, explained Kathleen Faraglia, TCA’s longtime Olympics moderator. The high school students assist the Academic Council in administering the tests, providing refreshments, and hosting the awards ceremony.

The St. Paul School team, coached by eighth grade teachers Linda Hogancamp and Gerard Allen, placed first overall and saw three students achieve top individual honors: Julianne DelaCruz (English), Amelia Cura (Mathematics) and Kelly Clark (Science).

St. Gregory the Great Academy, Hamilton Square, took home the silver in the team competition.  Team member Joseph Kale earned top honors in history while Amanda Sorrento placed first among her peers in religion; overall third place winners from St. Raphael School, Trenton, saw team members Cerina Pocino and Kristina Gutierrez outscore their peers in art and spelling respectively.