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Arts and Academics Festivals

• Dates and locations will be posted by September 1!

Academics Festival

What is the Academics Festival?

• The Academics Festival is a single-day event during which schools and homeschool organizations may enter academic teams and projects for competition and adjudication.

What events are included in the Academics Festival for teams?

• Bible Bowl
• Geography Bowl

What events are included in the Academics Festival for individuals?

• Spelling Bee
• Literature Fair, History Fair, Science Fair

Arts Festival

What is the Arts Festival?

• The Arts Festival is a single-day event during which schools and homeschool organizations may enter arts events (see below) for competition and adjudication.

What events are included in the Arts Festival for groups?

• Vocal and Instrumental ensembles
• Play cutting/Chamber Theatre performance

What events are included in the Arts Festival for individuals?

• Vocal and instrumental solos
• Dramatic monologue or poetry performance

Can we enter even if we don't have arts classes?

• Yes!
• Both novice and experienced artists and performers are welcome to enter. If participation grows enough, separate events or time blocks will be set aside for novice and experience artists.

How do we get involved?

• Review the guidelines (links listed below) for each event that sparks your interest. 
• Put together a team or interested students and acquire the proper study materials.
• For the Literature, History, and Science Fairs, consider assigning the projects as part of your curriculum then nominate the top projects to enter the ACEL Fairs.
• For the Vocal Ensembles and Speech Performances, talk to your choir directors, theatre teachers or even interested parents!
• Reach out to parents and advertise-- especially to the parents of students who take private voice or instrumental lessons or who are involved in community theatres.
• For the team and ensemble events, give your group the study materials, then meet periodically to review and practice.
• In December 2025, come back to this page to register your entrants.

What's the cost, and how do we pay?​

• Bee/Fairs: $25
  • covers one student participating in TWO events within the same festival
• Bowl Team: $75
• Pay through website cart or by check:
  • ACEL
    PO Box 8731, Shreveport, La. 71148

2025 Knowledge Competitions

• Bible Bowl (team event)
• Geography Bowl ​(team event)
• Spelling Bee (Individual event)
  • Word List​

2025 Project Competitions

• 2025 Science Exhibit Fair
  • Rules and guidelines align with the Regeneron ISEF
  • Science Fair Abstract Guide
  • Science Fair Research Plan/Summary Guide
• 2025 History Exhibit Fair​
  • Rules align with NHD rules and theme
    • NHD theme
• 2025 Literature Exhibit Fair
  • Rules align with Mississippi DOE

Vocal and Instrumental Performance Art​

• Vocal and Instrumental Soloists, Duets
• Vocal and Instrumental Small Ensembles
• Vocal Large ensembles

Speech Performance Art

• Theatrical Play Cutting (team or individual)
• Poetry Interpretation 
  • Adjudication and selection align with the Poetry Out Loud organization.
• Dramatic Monologue

Visual Art

• Drawing
• Painting
• Sculpture 
• Photography ​

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2025 Academics Festival Results

Bible Bowl
1st - AHAA Team 1

• Kaison Middleton, James Castillo, Quintin Rutherford, Landry Knotts

2nd - AHAA Team 2

• Grayson Willis, Jonah Castillo, Siblee Evans, Jude Sharbono

3rd - OBCA

• Chase McBroom, Kain Lively, Casey Hair, Annabeth Strickland

Geography Bowl
1st - AHAA

• Jude Sharbono, Landry Knotts, Brady Smith, Quintin Rutherford, (alt) CJ Malley

2nd - OBCA

• Chase McBroom, Kain Lively, Casey Hair, Annabeth Strickland

Spelling Bee
1st - Casey Hair (OBCA)
2nd - AnnaBeth Strickland (OBCA)
3rd - Kain Lively ​(OBCA)

2024 Arts & Academics Festival Results

Music
Best in Show Soloist: Lorelai Thompson (AHAA)
Best in Show Ensemble: Open Door Choir

Spelling Bee
1st - Lucy Caillouet (HTA)
2nd - Ansley Anderson (AHAA)
3rd - John Puente (HTA)
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Art
1st - One Moment by Ahhyeon Choi (FTC)
2nd - Highland Cows by Brooklyn Liddell (WOGA)
3rd - Original Characters by Hudson Draker (WOGA)

Bible Bowl
1st - Open Door
2nd - WOGA

ACEL Arts & Academics Commissioner

The purpose of ACEL Arts Festival is to provide each student with an opportunity to demonstrate his skills in an enjoyable, competitive environment. We aim to challenge each student as he develops and disciplines his God-given talents and abilities. Using set standards of excellence combined with the subjective opinion of the judges, each student should leave the festivals with a clear picture of his capabilities and progress. Our prayer is for each performer and scholar to continue striving for excellence to better glorify Christ!

Melanie Lawrence, B.S., M.A., M.S.
Mt. Olive Christian School
​[email protected]