Coins, Campaigns, and Creativity at 11th Annual Evening with the Emperors
On Feb. 26, 8th grade Latin students continued their yearlong quest to rescue their emperor from the fiery depths of the Underworld at EA's 11th Annual Evening with the Emperors.
Working in teams, students campaigned for their emperor by presenting models of ancient Roman coins, monuments, and backboards created after extensive research. Their goal was to highlight their emperor's strengths, undermine their competitors, and secure the top spot in the emperor power rankings.
At this year's event, campaign posters covered the walls as families, faculty, and peers circulated through the O'Neill Gymnasium, listening to presentations and casting their votes.
"Each year, the students find a way to make the event their own, and this year was no different," said Classics Chair Dr. Melanie Subacus. "Many parents commented that they were most impressed with how well the students knew their material and could speak about their emperors. Of special note was the collective knowledge of each team, with all group members equally well-versed in the life and achievements of their emperor."
"I had a lot of fun talking to the parents about my emperor because I got to show them what I learned and what was unique about Marcus Aurelius," said Dev Patel '30. "I also enjoyed seeing my friends' projects and spending time with them after school to prepare for the night."
Dr. Subacus said this year's monuments were "particularly impressive," featuring some of the most detailed bath complexes in the event's history. "One included an aqueduct-fed system, while another offered a complimentary Minecraft walkthrough," she said. "Bling won the day for the coins, with Constantine's bedazzling coin taking home the win."
"I had a lot of fun and was proud of all the hard work we did to get there," said Caroline Quinn '30, a member of the winning team Nerva. "The best part of Emperor Night was how hard my team worked, and seeing all of the things we did come together."
Last year's 10th anniversary celebration, known as 'Project X,' introduced new competitive elements to the longstanding project, and the Classics Department was excited to bring back several of those features, including a corrupt judge. "Students knew one judge had been bribed, but not which one," Dr. Subacus said. "Team Commodus ultimately earned the 'Most Corrupt' distinction after bribing Dr. Lee Burnett, Hon. with cookies made by team member Justin Lim."
The EA community was also joined by Brian Burke '62, the namesake of the Brian Burke '62 Classics Fund. The Fund, which benefits the study of Latin and Greek by supporting interdisciplinary projects at EA, aligns with a core belief of the department: Classics should excite students and instill a lifelong love of learning.
During the evening, Mr. Burke shared his knowledge of ancient coins with parents and students and guided them through a hands-on tour of EA's collection, donated by Warren Smith. The collection allows students to hold and examine real ancient coins, using them as inspiration for their own designs.
"Emperor Night would be best described as 'electric,'" said Naod Shebel '30. "The competitive setting, combined with the light-hearted nature, made for a night of fun rivalry."
Head of Middle School Laurie Piette praised both the students and the Classics Department for the evening's success.
"Thank you to the Classics Department for hosting another fantastic Evening with the Emperors event," Ms. Piette said. "Our 8th grade students put their scholarship and creativity on full display as they presented the coins, monuments, and posters they created after researching their chosen emperor. The energy in the room was wonderful, and the competition for votes was—as always—spirited. Well done to everyone involved, and a special thank you to Matthew Ying '30 for helping to document the evening with his camera!"
Congratulations to this year's winners:
- Best Overall: Nerva
- Popular Vote: Tiberius
- Best Coin: Constantine
- Best Monument: Hadrian
- Most Corrupt: Commodus