Tammi Robinson  936-258-2309 ext. 7111

Contest Dates

Editorial, Ready Writing, and Spelling contest 

During the School Day 

January 21 2026 

All other competitions will be held February 7^th 2026 @ WWJH 

If interested in any of these UIL categories please reach out to the assigned teacher.

Art – Sponsor:Blair Sthram 121 - This contest involves the study of paintings from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and paintings or pictures from selected Texas museums. 

There are 2 parts to the contest. Part A of the contest requires the contestant to identify the names of 15 selected artists and titles of pictures selected randomly by the director from the official list of 40 pictures. Part B consists of 30 questions about art history and art elements characteristic of the 40 art selections.

Calculator Applications – Sponsor: Regina Stanley 423 - The calculator applications contest is designed to stimulate the development of mathematical and calculator skills. Goals are both intellectual and practical: developing mathematical reasoning and knowledge and requiring the application of problem-solving skills toward realistic problems.Students will take a test containing 80 problems in 30 minutes. The contest consists of problems which may include calculations involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, roots, and powers. It also includes straight-forward calculation problems, and simple geometric problems.

Chess Puzzle – Sponsor: Jeffery Hackett 218 - Chess puzzle competition is very different from tournament chess play. Contestants in a chess puzzle contest receive a paper-and-pencil test that includes a series of chess boards with pieces in particular positions. Questions are based on analysis of material or possible moves in each given diagram.

Dictionary Skills – Sponsors: Jaclyn Flanery 202 - Thorough knowledge of the dictionary is a way to increase a student's ability to find the information that is needed for classwork as well as everyday living. Each Dictionary Skills test consists of 40 objective and short answer questions to be completed in 20 minutes. Contestants use dictionaries during the competition, which may be tabbed. Contest questions cover word origins and histories, parts of speech, pronunciation, variant spellings, plurals, alphabetizing and other such elements. Test questions are also taken from charts, tables and lists contained in the dictionary.

Editorial Writing – Sponsor:Kristen Brosey 115 - The Editorial Writing Contest is designed to develop the persuasive writing skills of the participants. Students must advocate a specific point-of-view in response to a prompt. Students have 45 minutes in which to complete their editorials.

Impromptu Speaking – Sponsors:Kandis Eagleton Multipurpose Rooms - This contest provides opportunities for students in grades 6, 7 and 8 to evaluate speeches given by others; to explore the use of the voice and body in speaking situations; to examine the different purposes for speaking; to organize ideas; to prepare and deliver various speeches; and to develop self-confidence. Contestants will draw three topics and have three minutes to prepare a speech, which must be presented without any notes. The contest gives participants experience in thinking, organizing, formulating clear thoughts, and delivering those thoughts to an audience effectively. The maximum time limit for each speech is five minutes.

Listening Skills – Sponsor: Amanda Gonzalez 226 – Listening Skills is designed to help students recognize the importance of effective listening skills and to identify problems they may have in listening effectively. The objective tests will measure skills such as identifying the main idea and supporting ideas, drawing conclusions, distinguishing fact from opinion, and mastering other listening and thinking skills.Contestants will listen to a script ranging from seven to ten minutes in length, take notes as needed, and use their notes to answer 25 multiple choice, true/false and short answer test questions. A variety of subject matter will be used for the listening tests.

Maps, Graphs, & Charts – Sponsor: Karessa Slavens 215 - The maps, graphs & charts contest is designed to help students learn to get information from a variety of maps, graphs and charts including world maps, pie charts, bar charts and local area maps. The objective test will measure skills such as using a reference book to locate information, making comparisons, estimating and approximating, using scale and interpreting grid systems, legends and keys.Students will be given an objective test containing approximately 75 multiple choice, true/false, and fill-in-the-blank questions which must be answered in 45 minutes.

Mathematics – Sponsor: Lisa Crowder 113 - Learning to complete math problems quickly is a valuable skill in all facets of life including engineering, accounting, completing a tax return and even grocery shopping. This contest includes problems covering, but not limited to: numeration systems, arithmetic operations involving whole numbers, integers, fractions, decimals, exponents, order of operations, probability, statistics, number theory, simple interest, measurements and conversions. 

Modern Oratory – Sponsor:Ann Marie Mitchell 100 – In Modern Oratory contestants will select one of the topics, determine the critical issues in the topic and acknowledge both pro and con points citing support discovered in research. Students will choose a side they will defend and support that side with evidence. Along with the skills of analysis, research, note-taking, documentation, evaluation and decision-making come those of delivery and skill of memorization.

Music Memory – Sponsors:Faith Singh 506 - Music Memory contest is an in-depth study of fine pieces of music literature taken from a wide spectrum of music genres to expose students to great composers, their lives and their music. Students will listen to approximately 20 seconds of up to 20 musical selections and identify the name of the major work, selection and the name of the composer. 

Number Sense – Sponsor: Dominique Willliams 203 - Individuals are called upon every day to use their ability to make quick mental calculations to make decisions. The development of such abilities should be an integral part of the math curriculum. Concepts covered include, but are not limited to: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, proportions, and use of mathematic notation. Students will be given a 10-minute, fill-in-the-blank test which they must complete without doing calculations on paper or on a calculator. Erasures and mark-outs are not permitted.

Poetry – Sponsor: Stephanie Wilson 409 - Reading literature out loud provides opportunities for students to analyze the text, to grow and to develop as a performer, to communicate a message to an audience and to perform an artistic creation. Students read a selection of poetry of their choice.

Prose – Sponsor:Tammi Robinson 111 - Reading literature out loud provides opportunities for students to analyze the text, to grow and to develop as a performer, to communicate a message to an audience and to perform an artistic creation. Students read a selection of their choice.

Ready Writing – Sponsor:Alex Halsey 408 – Ready Writing builds upon those skills and helps students refine their writing abilities. In particular, this contest helps them to learn to write clearly and correctly a paper that is interesting and original. Contestants are given a choice between two prompts which defines the audience and provides the purpose for writing.

Science – Sponsor: Brittany Bryson 119 - Emphasis for the Science contest will be placed on knowledge of scientific fact, understanding of scientific principles and the ability to think through scientific problems. The contest was designed to test not only memory but the ability to critically think about science and scientific processes and concepts. Each test will consist of approximately 35 multiple choice questions which will be taken from current state-adopted science textbooks and the curriculum.

Social Studies – Sponsors:Amanda Howard (6th) 224 &Jeffery Hackett (7th & 8th) 218  - Each test will consist of 40 questions which will be taken from current state-adopted science textbooks and the curriculum. Contestants have 30 minutes to complete the test.

Spelling – Sponsor:Penny Emerson 432 - The spelling contest is designed to give students exposure to a wide variety of vocabulary words. Students will write down words given by the pronouncer on their paper at a rate of approximately five words per minute. Grades 6: 80 words; tiebreaker, 20 words and Grades 7 and 8: 110 words; tiebreaker, 30 words.