News and Updates

Houstonfest Scholarships: Winners Announced

Scholarships at State

NEW: Houstonfest history

Changes and updates for 2024

Contest promo video #1 (students from one school tell why they love contest)

Contest promo video #2 (one student tells why she loves contest)

State promo video contest

Teacher-to-teacher tips

Tips for Pair Discussion

Arrival at Kingwood High School

Lunch options
 

Photo gallery

Daily log of changes to State-qualifier list

Important Dates

Mon. Jan. 8, 2024, 4:00 p.m.: Application for transportation grants from Houston Saengerbund opens (teachers will be sent a link to a Google Form).

Thur., Jan. 18, 2024, 11:59 p.m. (extended by 2 days, previous deadline 1/16):  Houstonfest registration spreadsheet due for regular price of $12/student (payment does not have to be mailed until 1/22).

Mon., Jan. 22, 2024, 11:59 p.m.: Houstonfest registration spreadsheet due for late price of $15/student. Deadline to postmark Houstonfest payment.

Sat., Jan. 27, 2024, 9:00 a.m.: Submission of entries in the 7 virtual Houstonfest events due (get link to Google Form from your teacher - it was sent to them on Wed., Jan. 24).

Tue., Jan. 30, 2024, 11:59 p.m.: Remote judging of the 7 virtual Houstonfest events ends.

Wed., Jan. 31, 2024, 9:30 p.m.: Houstonfest changes (adds, drops, substitutions) due. After this point, no more changes will be allowed.

Sat., Feb. 3, 2024:  Houstonfest, Heights High School, Houston.

Fri., Feb. 9, 2024, 11:59 p.m.: State online registration due for "early bird" price of $12/student (payment does not have to be mailed until 2/14).

Wed., Feb. 14, 2024, 11:59 p.m.: State online registration due for regular price of $15/student. Deadline to postmark your State payment.

Sat., Feb. 17, 2024, 9:00 a.m.: Submission of entries in the 7 virtual State events due (get the link to a Google Form from your teacher; it was emailed to them on 2/7 by the State director). Also, Mary El-Beheri Memorial Scholarship and Sandra Dieckman GTHS Memorial Scholarship applications due (to submit the application, get the link to a Google Form from your teacher; it was emailed to them on 2/10 by the State director).

Mon., Feb. 19, 2024, 8:00 p.m.: Entries in State promotional video contest due to State director.

Tue., Feb. 20, 2024, 11:59 p.m.: Remote judging of the 7 virtual State events ends.

Sat., Feb. 24, 2024:  Texas State German Contest, Texas State University, San Marcos.

Sat., Mar. 2, 2024, 11:59 p.m.: Houstonfest Scholarship applications due.

Sun., Mar. 10, 2024: Gail Cope State Scholarship applications due.

rolling basis but no later than Tue., Apr. 30, for payment this school year: submit Gail Cope Teacher Grant applications.

Scholarships at State

Gail Cope Scholarships

Retired German teacher Gail Cope (formerly of W.T. White High School in Dallas) generously funds scholarships for the top winners at the Texas State German Contest. Scholarship winners are determined by the number of sweepstakes points the students earn for their schools by winning first- through fifth-place awards. At least five scholarships are awarded with the top scholarship worth at least $550.

Each school is allowed to nominate one student per year for this scholarship, but the selected student can fill out the Google Form application rather than the teacher having to fill it out. The application process is quite simple, and schools are encouraged to take advantage of this wonderful program.

For more information, visit the Gail Cope Scholarships page of the State website.

Mary El-Beheri Memorial Scholarship

A scholarship of at least $1000 (amount increased for 2024!) is given annually in memory of founding State director Mary El-Beheri (1938-2012).

• The scholarship goes only to a current senior who has attended State at least three years (including the current year) and intends to continue his/her study of German after high school.

• Each school is allowed to submit up to three nominees.

• Applications are submitted the week after the regional contests, i.e., the application process occurs BEFORE State and not afterwards.

• The winner is determined partially by the number of sweepstakes points that the applicants have earned in their best three years of attending State. Applicants will indicate what they won at all previous State contests on the application, and their results at the current year's State contest will be added to the mix in the tab room before the winner is determined. However, other aspects of the applicants' German-learning "careers," which they will detail in the applications, will also play a substantial role. 

• The winner is announced at the State awards ceremony.

• Payment is made directly to the institution where the winner enrolls to study.

See the State website for the rules and application form.

Sandra Dieckman GTHS Memorial Scholarship (new in 2024)

A scholarship of $1000 will be given annually by the German-Texan Heritage Society (GTHS) in memory of Sandra "Sandie" Dieckman (1968-2023), a beloved German teacher at several schools across the state, a TSGC steering committee member, and a GTHS board member.

• The scholarship goes only to a current senior who has attended State at least three years (including the current year) and who has submitted a Research Paper at least once in their contest career to Houstonfest, Sprachfest, or Winterfest (regardless of whether it advanced to State).

• Each school is allowed to submit up to three nominees.

• Applications are submitted the week after the regional contests, i.e., the application process occurs BEFORE State and not afterwards.

• For 2024 (likely to change in future years), the application is combined with the Mary El-Beheri Memorial Scholarship application, although there are some questions in the application that apply uniquely either to the MEB Scholarship or the SD Scholarship. Students may submit one application to apply for both scholarships (if they meet the criteria for both) or for the one or the other scholarship.

• The winner is announced at the State awards ceremony.

• Payment is made directly to the institution where the winner enrolls to study.

See the State website for the rules and application form.

Mary El-Beheri German Heritage Essay Award

for Winning Research Papers at State

The winners of first through fifth place in the research paper contest at the Texas State German Contest receive scholarships funded by the German-Texan Heritage Society (GTHS) and the Texas State German Contest. Amounts are $500 for first, $250 for second, $125 for third, $100 for fourth, and $75 for fifth. Click here for more information.

Visit the GTHS website for more information about the benefits of membership or to join.  Teachers are encouraged to join, but teacher membership is not a requirement for students to win a scholarship.

Texas German Society

While this contest is not directly related to Houstonfest, we are pleased to help the Texas German Society publicize their annual essay contest, which awards scholarships of $1500, $1000, and $750. The 2024 application is linked here and is due on March 1, 2024 (deadline passed but the information is left here for future reference).

Application Guidelines and Application Form