Just as COVID-19 was invading our lives and causing school to shut down, we had students who excelled in various areas. These students deserve recognition and our congratulations!
National Federation of Music Clubs
Congratulations to Jonathan Lovely whose concerto composition won at the Southeast regional level of the National Federation of Music Clubs Class IV Junior Composer Contest. His piece, “Concerto No. 1: For the Free Man,” is advancing to the national competition. Jonathan is the student of BJU’s Dr. Deanna Moore.
SCBDA All-State Band Clinic and Concert
Due to the COVID-19 threat, the South Carolina Band Director’s Association 2020 All-State Band clinic and concert were canceled shortly before they were scheduled to take place.
These high school students had been chosen to participate in All-State Band, a high honor.
Blair Carrier–flute 
Lydia Scroggins–clarinet
Anna Townsend–trumpet
Nathan Townsend–tuba
Alex Wright is BJA’s band director.
SC Bar High School Mock Trial State Tournament
After qualifying for the State Mock Trial tournament at a regional competition in February, the high school’s mock trial team competed at a two-day event in Columbia. The team competed as one of the top 10 teams in the state. After three highly competitive civil trial rounds, the BJA team ended up eighth in the state. Mock trial competitions are sponsored by the South Carolina Bar Association. BJA’s team is coached by Chuck Nicholas (BJA faculty member), Allen Fretwell (attorney coach), and Ryan Parimi (college coach)
These BJA students won individual awards:
Best Attorney Awards–Ian Hamrick (3 awards), Bella Sanders, Will Goff
Best Witness Awards–Kaylee Whited, Will Goff (2 awards), Josh Cancino, Eli McGee
Speech and Debate SCFCA State Tournament
In early March the Speech and Debate team participated in the 2020 South Carolina Forensic Coaches Associations’ State Tournament. Competing against a wide mixture of 1A to 5A schools, the team came in third place, and, for the fourteenth year in a row, is the top 1A team in the state.
The team brought home the following trophies:
Semifinalists–Josiah Pait, Grace Hand, Kirsten Hansen, Eric Townsend, Eli McGee, Matthew Dale, Arianna Jenks, Cayleigh Woods, Abella Edwards, Graham Edwards, Tricy Yue, Jimmy Chisholm
Final Round Placements:
Tim Brodsky–Impromptu Speaking and Prose Interpretation
Maria Smith–Informative Speaking
Clark Moyer–Program Oral Interpretation
Eric Townsend–Children’s Literature
Jackson Rodman and Jimmy Chisholm–Poetry Interpretation
Stephen Clater–Humorous Interpretation
Bella Sanders and Joshua Cancino–Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate
Will Goff–Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate
Top Novices in the State:
Arianna Jenks–Children’s Literature
Josiah Pait–Informative Speaking
State Champions:
Josiah Pait–Novice Reading
Ian Hamrick–Declamation
National Speech and Debate Qualifiers
Due to the COVID-19 threat, the National Speech and Debate Association’s District Qualifier tournament for our area was cancelled. The national tournament will be held in June in a virtual format. In each NSDA district where the qualifier tournament was cancelled, a non-tournament method was used to choose qualifiers for the national tournament.
Based on their excellent tournament records this tournament season, these BJA students were chosen to represent South Carolina in the national tournament:
Stephen Clater in Humorous Interpretation
Josiah Pait in Informative Speaking
Bella Sanders and Eli McGee in World Schools
These alternates were selected:
Will Goff–Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate and World Schools
Maria Smith and Grace Hand–Informative Speaking
Tim Brodsky–Extemporaneous Speaking
BJA’s Speech and Debate team is coached by Chuck and Gail Nicholas, Shawntel Chisholm, and Clara Bixby.
Elementary Robotics Competition
All six elementary teams, under the direction of Dr. Jenny Copeland, were selected to advance to the final round of this year’s Wonder League International Robotics Competition. Unfortunately, their meeting and work opportunities were significantly cut short when school was abruptly canceled March 15. While losing the extra time to polish and embellish their entries, two elementary robotics did complete the required elements needed to finish the final round. Their work was submitted electronically to the competition headquarters. Winners will be announced in early May. Congratulations to all elementary robotics team members, especially to these two teams for their outstanding work!
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