Photo by Erik Ridd

On March 14, the participants on the Dreyfoos Battle of the Books team celebrated their accomplishments in the media center. Pictured are (L-R front row) digital junior Samantha Marshall, communications juniors Uma Raja and Megan Horan, strings junior Emily Winters, (L-R middle row) visual sophomore Meagan Hostetler, communications junior Kayla Kirschenbaum, media center specialist Ms. Cookie Davis, visual junior Ana Forero, communications sophomores Ashley Brundage, Alicia Mrachek and Riley Sama, (L-R back row), band senior Samuel Finger, digital juniors Floriza Desrosiers and Cudney Chiamardas, and band junior Wyatt Mischler.

Battle of the Books is a competition that features student teams from all over the district competing over their knowledge of 15 books. Out of the 8 years that Dreyfoos has been competing, they have won a total of 7 times. This year, the team Beaux Arts beat the Jupiter High School team–bringing the Battle of the Books trophy to Dreyfoos once again, and marking the first time in Battle of the Books history that the same team has won two years.

“I’m so proud to be a part of Beaux Arts,” said strings junior Emily Winters. “The whole process of preparing for and participating in the competition is rigorous but so rewarding, and it’s allowed me to become really close friends with all of my teammates. The experience is something I wouldn’t change for the world, and the fact that we just broke Palm Beach County history is truly incredible.”

On Monday, Mar. 14, all the students who participated in Battle of the Books gathered in the Media Center during lunch to celebrate their success in the competition. The event, hosted by librarian “Cookie” Davis, featured delectable desserts, medals for each participant, and speeches from the members of Beaux Arts.

“I thought the party was such a sweet gesture,” said communications sophomore Hannah Butcher, who participated in Battle of the Books. “It was nice to get together with all the participants, listen to the speeches, and indulge in ice-cream and cupcakes. It was one of my favorite events of this year.”

Generally, Battle of the Books is seen as a fun but educational event. It allows students to delve into the lives of other characters and to experience the magic of the fictional world. It also allows students to socialize and develop friendships, as they bond over their shared experience. However, the event is educational in that it encourages students to view things from different perspectives and expand their minds.

“I’ve been facilitating Battle of the Books for over 8 years, and it’s been an incredibly rewarding experience,” said Davis. “For the most part, the students always function very well as a team, and they’re very dedicated to winning the trophy and bringing the title to Dreyfoos again. That’s why I think we’ve experienced such success in Battle of the Books.”