News and Updates
NEW: Changes and
updates for 2026
Houstonfest Scholarships
Scholarships at State
Houstonfest history
Teacher-to-teacher tips
Tips for Pair Discussion
Arrival at Kingwood High School
Lunch options
State promo video contest
Daily log of changes to
State-qualifier list
Contest
promo video #1 (students from one school tell why they
love contest)
Contest promo
video #2 (one student tells why she loves contest)
Contest promo
video #3
(hilarious 2024 State-winning submission from our own Klein Oak High School!)
Photo gallery
Important Dates
Mon., Jan. 12, 2026, 4:00 p.m.: Application for
transportation grants from the Houston Saengerbund opens (if grants are approved
for 2026); link will be sent to teachers.
Fri., Jan. 16, 2026, 11:59 p.m.: Application for
transportation grants from the Houston Saengerbund closes (if grants are
approved for 2026).
Wed., Jan. 21, 2026, 11:59
p.m.: Houstonfest registration
spreadsheet due for regular price of $15/student (payment does not have
to be mailed until 1/28).
Wed., Jan. 28, 2026, 11:59
p.m.: Houstonfest registration spreadsheet
due
for late price of $20/student. Deadline to postmark Houstonfest payment.
Sat., Jan. 31, 2026, 9:00 a.m.: Submission of entries in the 7 virtual Houstonfest events due (get link to
Google Form from your teacher).
Tue., Feb. 3, 2026, 11:59 p.m.: Remote
judging of the 7 virtual Houstonfest events ends.
Wed., Feb. 4, 2026, 10:00 p.m.: Houstonfest changes (adds,
drops, substitutions) due. After this point, no more changes will be allowed.
Sat., Feb. 7, 2026:
Houstonfest,
Kingwood High School, Houston.
Fri., Feb. 13, 2026, 11:59 p.m.: State
online registration due for "early bird" price of $15/student (payment does not
have to be mailed until 2/21).
Wed., Feb. 18, 2026, 11:59 p.m.: State
online registration due
for
regular price of
$20/student (payment does not have to be mailed until 2/21).
Sat., Feb. 21, 2026, 9:00 a.m.: Submission of entries in the 7 virtual State events due (get
the link to a
Google Form from your teacher). 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). Deadline to postmark your State payment.
Mon., Feb. 23, 2026, 8:00 p.m.:
Entries in
State promotional video
contest
due to State director.
Tue., Feb. 24, 2025, 11:59 p.m.: Remote
judging of the 7 virtual State events ends.
Sat., Feb. 28, 2026:
Texas State German Contest,
Texas State
University, San Marcos.
Sat., Mar. 7, 2026, 11:59 p.m.: Houstonfest
Scholarship applications due.
xxx., Mar. xx, 2026: Gail Cope
State Scholarship applications due.
between Sat., Mar. 1 and Thu., Apr. 30, 2026: submit
Gail Cope Teacher Grant applications.
|
Contact
Houstonfest
Director (since fall 2007):
Rustin Buck

e-mail:
houstonfest@texasstategermancontest.org
At each contest, I give out my cell phone number to the
judges and teachers.
In the meantime, contact me by e-mail. I am usually very prompt in
responding to e-mail.
Use this address for
all written correspondence:
Houstonfest
2507 Slippery Rock Dr.
Sugar Land, TX 77498-1909
Houstonfest Steering Committee
Brenda Bauske*, Tomball Memorial
Rustin Buck*,
retired Seth Hulse, Travis David Kniess*,
Kingwood (host school) Jennifer Martin*,
Jordan Heinz Schmidt*, Tompkins
Yvonne Thomas, Katy
* also on State Steering Committee |
When is the next Houstonfest?
Saturday,
February 7, 2026 Where
is Houstonfest?
Kingwood High School
2701 Kingwood Dr.
Kingwood, TX 77339
Link to Texas State German Contest
Texas
State German Contest on Facebook
Texas
State German Contest 40th Anniversary Facebook Group |