German students will advance to the Texas State Contest Feb. 29 after placing at the German regional contest, or Houstonfest, this past weekend. The school placed eighth out of 21 schools, with 19 students to advance. Overall, 21 individual and group awards were earned, ranging from first to fifth place, making this the first sizable team from TMHS to compete and win.

Houstonfest is an annual contest for German students grades 8-12. With categories for all levels of speaking, the competition includes written and oral tests, declamation, drama, art, and music. This year a total of 561 students registered.

“We won third overall in the small school category and won a team trophy,” German teacher Brenda Bauske said.

Sophomore Sebastian Reyes competed in four different events placing second in Poetry.

“There was a lot to prepare for, but the more I did the more I enjoyed it,” Reyes said. “I competed in direct dialogue, Pass auf, Poetry, and Listening.”

Pass auf is a team competition where members answer trivia questions about Germany, ranging from history to culture.

“I placed fourth in Pass Auf,” junior Madison Draper-Paley said. “We are all really excited to go to state in three weeks. This is the first time that the team has competed at a contest, and we already made it to state.”

Winners include:

Freshman:

• Kurt Bauske: third place Poetry Memory Advantaged Speakers
• Ella Carr: second place Poetry Reading Level 1; fourth place Culture Test Level 1; fourth place Novice “Pass auf!” Trivia Game
• Julian Gonzalez: fourth place Prose Reading Level 1
• Madison Johnson: first place Poetry Reading Level 1; fourth place Novice “Pass auf!” Trivia Game
• Hayden Landry: third place Prose Reading Level 1; fifth place Poetry Reading Level 1; fourth place Novice “Pass auf!” Trivia Game
• Caleb Moore: fourth place Novice “Pass auf!” Trivia Game

Sophomores:

• Izzabel Colwell: third place Prose Reading Level 2; third place Sight Reading Level 2
• Haley Kilcoyne: fifth place Poster; first place Club Album
• Sebastian Reyes: second place Poetry Reading Level 2
• Stephanie Villasenor: first place Poetry Reading Level 2

Juniors:

• Madison Draper-Paley: fourth place Novice “Pass auf!” Trivia Game
• Kaedyn Colton: second place Duet Acting Level 3
• Douglas Haddad: second place Vocabulary Test Level 3
• *Holly Luebsen: first place Club Album; first place Poetry Memory Advantaged Speakers; third place Extemporaneous Speaking Advantaged Speakers; fourth place Advantaged Speaker Test
• Eva Thor: second place Duet Acting Level 3; first place Club Album
• Emma Todd: first place Club Album
• Walter Plantinga: first place Prose Reading Level 2

Seniors:

• Viviana Jiminez: first place Club Album
• Mary Catherine Schmitz: first place Club Album

*Junior Holly Luebsen will be the school’s nominee for a Houstonfest scholarship. To be eligible, a student must be a junior or senior that placed in the top five in three or more events. Luebsen placed top five in four events, and could earn up to $500.