Mar 31, 2026 | Columbia Campus , Inspiring Success , Featured

Columbia State Hosts 2026 High School Competition

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On March 20, approximately 121 students from seven schools in southern Middle Tennessee gathered at Columbia State Community College for the annual High School Competition.

Students competed in a range of subjects including American history, archaeology, essay, mathematics, music, psychology, U.S. Constitution and more.

“We had a solid turnout for this year's event, and the competition was fierce,” said Daniel Kelley, Columbia State associate professor of English. “The weather was perfect for campus tours. Once again, Columbia State faculty and staff stepped up and helped make the day a tremendous success.”

Dating back to the 1980s, the competition continues to focus on humanities disciplines and has since added math components.

The list of this year's winners includes: 

 

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Essay Winners (left to right): First place winner, Mary Mitra of Hickman County High School; second place winner, Audrey Davidson of Hickman County High School; and third place winner, Caydence Strauss-Bierlair of Hickman County High School.

 

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World Geography Winners (left to right): First place winner, Kitty Bates of Hickman County High School; second place winner, Donovan Len of Columbia Academy; and third place winner, Zackery Yeager of Hickman County High School.

 

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Oral Interpretation Winners (left to right): First place winner, Avery Weathers of Loretto High School; second place winner, Jacey Shaw of Columbia Academy; and third place winner, Abbie Wynn of Columbia Academy.

 

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Algebra II Winners (left to right): First place winner, Lane Schwartz of Columbia Academy; second place winner, Ty Withrow of Columbia Academy; and third place winner, Brayden Armstrong of Hickman County High School.

 

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American History Winners (left to right): First place winner, Callie Ervin of Santa Fe Unit School; second place winner, Emily Campbell of Santa Fe Unit School; and third place winner, Bailee Meade of Santa Fe Unit School.

 

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Video Winners (left to right): First place winners Dane Gilbert, Cooper Tidwell and Judd Rochelle of Hickman County High School. Not pictured: Second place winners, Meredith Kennedy and Liv Burcham of Santa Fe Unit School.

 

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Extemporaneous Speech Winners (left to right): First place winner, Luke Phillips of Columbia Academy and second place winner, Kinleigh Bragg of Hickman County High School. Not pictured: Third place winner, Carol Warren of Hickman County High School.

 

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U.S. Constitution Winners (left to right): Second place winner, Jefferson Takop of Fairview High School and third place winner, Arvie Beard of Santa Fe Unit School. Not pictured: First place winner, Keely Blocker of Hickman County High School.

 

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Visual Art Winners (left to right): First place winner, Addison Cathey of Hickman County High School; second place winner, Luke Thomas of Columbia Academy; and third place winner, Isabella Tincher of Hickman County High School.

 

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Creative Writing: Impromptu Fiction Winners (left to right): First place winner, Sarah Isenberg of Columbia Academy; second place winner, Johnny Chapman of Hickman County High School; and third place winner, Johnathan McCord of Spring Hill High School.

 

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Vocal Performance Winners (left to right): First place winner, Charlotte Recknagel of Zion Christian Academy; second place winner, Kendra Reeves of Loretto High School; and third place winner, Damian Rico of Loretto High School.

 

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Trigonometry Winners (left to right): First place winner, Wyatt Duke of Columbia Academy; second place winner, Nixon Love of Columbia Academy; and third place winner, Nathan Erickson of Zion Christian Academy.

 

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Archaeology Winners (left to right): First place winner, Wyatt Lankford of Fairview High School; second place winner, Wyatt Duke of Columbia Academy; and third place winner, Boone Pollard of Columbia Academy.

 

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Piano Performance Winners (left to right): First place winner, Carter Cornett of Santa Fe Unit School; second place winner, Reva Patel of Fairview High School; and third place winner, Lucas Boshers of Santa Fe Unit School.

 

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Psychology Winners (left to right): First place winner, Reva Patel of Fairview High School; second place winner, Leah Kennedy of Loretto High School; and third place winner, Emma Phillips of Spring Hill High School.

 

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Creative Writing: Impromptu Poetry Winners (left to right): First place winner, CJ Roberts of Spring Hill High School; second place winner, Caroline Crabtree of Santa Fe Unit School; and third place winner, Logan Bell of Fairview High School.