San Marcos High School Students Compete At 1st State Level German Competition

This is the first time in school history that San Marcos High School has competed at the state level for German.

On Saturday, February 25, 2017, six San Marcos High School students competed at the State German arts and academic competition in San Marcos at Texas State University. 

Ben Murdoch placed 1st in Grammar, 2nd in Reading Comprehension, and 3rd in Directed Dialogue.  He also placed in the top 10 in Listening Comprehension and Spelling.

Also competing as a team in the Trivia category were Sarah Storch, John Simmang, Bekah Swann, Nina Luna, and Alex Castillo.  The students’ teacher, Mindy Foster, said that she is proud of their achievements and is excited to be able to work with such amazing students.

This is the first time in school history that San Marcos High School has competed at the state level for German.

According to Foster, each year roughly 1,500 German students from about 90 middle and high schools throughout Texas compete in 36 events representing a wide range of interests, including competitions in music, academic knowledge, arts and crafts, extemporaneous and conversational speaking, skits, and declamation. 

Participants compete at their level of German and are awarded ribbons and trophies in individual and group events.

To qualify for the State level of competition, students compete at one of the three regional contests, Winterfest, Sprachfest, or Houstonfest. 

Winterfest was first held in 1972, Sprachfest was added in 1976, and Houstonfest in 1980. To advance to the State level, students must place in the top five of their event.

San Marcos High School students competed at Sprachfest on February 4.  The Texas State German Contest was introduced in 1982 to allow students to move to the next level of competition.

The three regional contests and state contest comprise the largest German contest system in the United States.

More information on the Texas State German Contest can be found at www.texasstategermancontest.org.

 If you would like more information about the German program at San Marcos High School, please contact Mindy Foster at mindy.foster@smcisd.net.