MONMOUTH, Ill. — Monmouth College students were joined by over 131,000 students from all 50 states and nine foreign countries as they participated in the National Latin Exam earlier this semester.

Matt Katsenes, a senior from Frankfort, earned a silver medal by achieving a maxima cum laude score on the Latin V exam.

Three students – sophomores Ana Fisher of Erie and Jacob Donley of Emington and freshman Savannah Dorsett of Pasadena, Texas – achieved a magna cum laude score on the Latin I exam. Junior Mathew Underwood of Cary and freshmen Lisa Adams of McHenry and Erin Luder of Burlington, Iowa, received cum laude scores in Latin I, and freshman Michelle Anstett of Peoria scored at that level on the Latin II exam.

Participation in the exam has increased each year since its inception in 1978, when approximately 6,000 students enrolled. Exams are given for Latin I through Latin VI. Students in each level answer 40 questions: 20 on Latin grammar; 15 on mythology, Roman life, history, geography and derivatives; and five based on reading a passage in Latin. The time limit for the exam is 40 minutes.

The National Latin Exam is offered each year during the second week in March. Monmouth College is one of only five colleges to administer the exam to its students.