Thirty-eight Snyder High School students will travel to Wylie High School Wednesdsay to compete in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) District 5-4A academic competition.
Competing in calculator applications are Jaqulynn Craig, Rutik Desai, Andrea Malmsten and Kellee Martini.
The students will have 30 minutes to solve 70 math problems using a handheld calculator. In addition to basic numerical problems, students will also be required to solve stated and geometrical problems.
Bergandi Alvarado, Bryce Redman, Tristan Soliz and AmyAnn Villanueva will compete in current issues.
The current issues competition involves a 40-minute test and essay that assess the participant’s knowledge of current state, national and world issues and events. Test categories include war and conflict; domestic; economics; science, technology and environment; and education, awards, honors, media and deaths.
In computer applications, Matthew Sharp is the sole competitor.
The technology-based competition will test Sharp’s word processing speed and accuracy, skill in the use of database and spreadsheet applications and integration of all four skills. He will be required to produce two printouts and a tiebreaker to show his knowledge of the applications.
Josh Dean, Xavier Gutierrez, Evelyn Kerr, Matthew Porter and substitute Spence Jones are competing in computer science.
The students will compete as both individuals and as a team, completing a 45-minute written exam and a two-hour programming contest. The competition challenges students in programming concepts and skills.
Georgiana Crist, Emmah Hilburn-Herrera and Alondra Tovar will compete in editorial writing.
The students will have 45 minutes to write an editorial, defending a position surrounding a controversial topic using facts and direct quotes.
Feature writing competitors are Soliz, Carolyn Stelluti and Tovar.
Competitors will have one hour to write a feature story based on information and quotes given in a prompt.
Competing in headline writing is Caitlyn Crane. Crane will have 45 minutes to write six headlines based on six stories.
Alvarado will compete in informative speaking. He will give an informative speech over one of five topics. The topics will be based on current news events, and he will have 30 minutes to prepare his speech.
In mathematics, Noah Grant is the sole competitor. Grant will have 40 minutes to complete a 60-question exam that tests competitors’ knowledge of basic math.
Competing in number sense are students Chandler Blair, Desai and Madison Mitchell.
The students will have 10 minutes to complete an 80-question mental math test. Mental short cuts are often practiced to prepare students to complete the test in the allotted time.
Crane, Crist, Randy Hernandez and Stelluti will compete in news writing.
Students will have 45 minutes to write a news story based on quotes and facts they receive from a prompt.
Soliz and Villanueva will compete in persuasive speaking.
Like informative speaking, persuasive speaking gives students the option of five current news events to choose for their speech. Whereas informative speaking involves students presenting information about the topic, students competing in persuasive speaking must persuade listeners to agree with their point of view.
Poetry interpretation competitors are Christian Chavez, Ethan Gowin and Brett Robertson.
In poetry interpretation, competitors must read poetry selections aloud. Their performance, including an introduction and transitions between pieces, must not exceed seven minutes.
Competing in prose interpretation are Samuel Ramirez, Ian Row, Whitney Tubbs and substitutes Grant and Missy Salazar.
Like poetry interpretation, prose interpretation requires students to read prose selections aloud. Their performance may not exceed seven minutes.
Crane and Olivia Haley will compete in ready writing.
The students will have two hours to write expository compositions that provide balanced arguments or evidence of a topic. For their topics, students may choose between two prompts, which can be excerpts from literature, speeches or past or present publications.
Science competitors are Chavez, Skylar Flores, Collin Guynes, Martini, Eli McClain and Jordan Phillips.
The students will compete both as individuals and as a team, taking a two-hour objective test that includes 20 biology questions, 20 chemistry questions and 20 physics questions. The competition tests students about scientific principles and the relevance of science in our daily lives.
Competing in social studies are Nirvana Campos, Flores, Jones, Kerr and substitute Claudia Sauceda.
The students will complete a 45-question test and essay to display general knowledge of social studies concepts and terms. They are also expected to master primary reading selections and documents.
Gowin and Rena Morrell will compete in spelling and vocabulary.
This competition consists of three parts. In the first part, students will have 15 minutes to complete a 30-question test that focuses on vocabulary and proof-reading. In the second and third parts, competitors will have a hand-written spelling test that covers 70 words and a tiebreaker section with an additional 20 words. All words are pronounced aloud.
Students who advance from the district competition will compete at the regional event April 13-14 at Texas Tech University.