Eighteen German students from Greenville High School competed this past Saturday, February 24, at the Texas State German contest held at Texas State University in San Marcos. Every year, roughly 1000 German students from 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. Among the popular events are the “Pass auf!” (“Pay attention!”) quiz bowl, folk dancing, polka band, and gingerbread house construction. Participants compete at their level of German, and are awarded ribbons and trophies in individual and group events. Schools receive sweepstakes points based on their success, and compete for overall sweepstakes honors.

To qualify for the state contest, students must have ranked in the top five in an event at one of the three regional contests that were held: Winterfest (North Texas) in the Dallas/Fort Worth area on Jan. 27; and Sprachfest (South Texas) in San Antonio and Houstonfest (East Texas) in Houston on Feb. 3. Within the contest system, approximately 1500 students from 90 schools participated.

Winterfest was first held in 1972, Sprachfest was added in 1976 and Houstonfest in 1980. 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.

The Greenville High School students won:

3rd Place in Traditional Folkdance. Members: Bradley Butcher, Jordan Frimpter, Shea Garland, Anna Guiette, Nic Hazlett, Nantzi Huffman, Levi Prine, Shelbilyn Rich, Nick Ruprecht, Janie Shasteen, Berkley Smith, Gavin Smith, Katie Tolly, and Lane Wofford.

5th Place in Research Paper by Berkley Smith. The theme is a German-Texas Connection. Berkley’s paper was about the founding and expansion of the Collin Street Bakery in 1896 by August Wiederman, an immigrant from Wiesbaden, Germany, with the help of entrepreneur Tom McElwee.

6th Place in Level 4 Duet Skit by Shea Garland and Nick Ruprecht. They enacted a scene from Friedrich Durrenmatt’s Die Physiker.

7th Place in Polka Band. Members: Nantzi Huffman, Onyx Jones, Michael Sisto, Berkley Smith, and Gavin Smith.