Two Washington University in St. Louis students have been recognized for their outstanding performances in the Eta Sigma Phi Maurine Dallas Watkins Sight Translation Contests, a national competition that celebrates excellence in classical languages.

Aaron Held and Elio Sun distinguished themselves in the Intermediate Greek division, with Aaron tying for third place and Elio tying for first place. The competition, held annually by Eta Sigma Phi, the national honor society for students of Latin and Greek, attracts top students from colleges and universities across the country.

Organizers of the contest noted the high caliber of this year’s participants. “The quality of the exams was quite high, and the judges had a difficult time in choosing their winners,” the contest coordinator remarked. Another faculty member echoed the sentiment: “Taking part in the exams is a win in itself.”

Held and Sun’s achievements highlight the strength of WashU’s Classics program and the students’ dedication to the rigorous study of ancient Greek. 

Congratulations to Elio and Aaron on this impressive accomplishment, and thank you to all students who participated in representing WashU on the national stage!