5 SSHS Students Place In Top 12 In Essay Contests, 1 In Theatrical Design At State
Four Sulphur Springs High School students earned recognition for finishing in the top 6 in essay and theatrical design competitions, and another SSHS students was recognized as a top essay finalist.
Latino, Barbara Jordan Essay Contests
Rachel Bramlett is the new 2020 Latino History Essay Contest State Champion. Bramlett was a finalist in the the contest last year.
Three SSHS students also placed in the top 6 and one in the top 15 in the Barbara Jordan Historical Essay Competition. Annmarie Gunn earned third place honors, Nathan Braddy fourth and Matthew Harper sixth place honors in the Jordan Historical Essay contest. Paige Daniel was also a finalist in this event, placing in the top 12 in the state.
Gunn too is noted to have placed at state in an essay contest for at least the second year in a row. Last year, she went home with the silver medal in the Latino History contest as well fourth placed in ready writing.
This also marks at least the second time Harper has earned state UIL honors as well. Last year he was named the state champion and was a member of the first place state team in literary criticism, marking the fifth year in a row an SSHS team took the lit crit title at state.
Other SSHS students who submitted entries were Brandon Hodges, Lige Leavens, Zoe Westlund, and Isabelle Thesing.
SSHS UIL Coordinator Gerald Grafton offers congratulations to these students as well as their sponsor, Gail Herman.
These essay contests generated an unprecedented number of entries: over 400 essays. Both essay contests are designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop research and interview skills, to improve their writing ability, and to learn more about the contributions that African Americans and Latinos have made to the history and culture of Texas.
Founded in 1995 as an event sponsored by The University of Texas at Austin, the Barbara Jordan Historical Essay Competition moved to its new home with UIL Academics in 2011-2012. The competition provides students an opportunity to explore the contributions of African Americans to Texas history, as well as honoring the legacy of its namesake, Barbara Jordan. The theme of the competition is “African Americans in Texas: Past and Present.”
The Barbara Jordan Historical Essay Competition was founded in 1995 as an event sponsored by The University of Texas at Austin and became part of UIL Academics in 2011-2012. The theme of the competition is “African Americans in Texas: Past and Present.”
The Latino History Essay Competition was founded in 2011 by the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement at UT-Austin and became part of UIL Academics beginning in the 2012-2013 school year. During the first year of the competition, it was open only to students in South Texas. Since the 2012-2013 school year, entries have been accepted from students statewide. The theme of the competition is “historical and cultural legacies of Latinos in Texas history.”
A video of the online awards announcement, including a brief excerpt from read by the SSHS winners and finalists can be viewed at on the UIL website at: https://www.uiltexas.org/academics/essay-contests
Theatrical Design
SSHS Wildcat Theatre student AllieGrace Woodard placed 6th in State Theatrical Design–Division II Costume and Makeup contest.
The UIL Theatrical Design contest celebrates the most talented theatre students in Texas.
The contest featured a record 700 entries and nearly 300 state qualifiers this year, according to Director of Theatre Lesha Woodard.
This year’s Theatrical Design Contest concentrated on creating sustainable, time-traveling designs for Pedro Calderon De La Barca’s “Life is a Dream.” AllieGrace’s state-advancing hair and makeup entry featured Rachel Bramlett, Chase Berry, and Hannah Shultz as models. AllieGrace has advanced to state competition at least twice.
Students in Division II competed against all other 5A and 6A students throughout the state. AllieGrace’s theatrical designs placed sixth in the state among competitors in her division.
“Congratulations to AllieGrace Woodard for her 6th place finish in the State UIL Theatrical Design competition (make-up and hair division). Also, congratulations to her sponsor, Lesha Woodard,” said SSHS UIL Coordinator Gerald Grafton.
A video of the online theatrical awards announcements can be viewed on the UIL website at https://www.uiltexas.org/theatre/theatrical-design
