AUSTIN, Texas — Several students across East Texas qualified for the UIL state congressional debate tournament in Austin.
The contest is set for Jan. 7 to 8.
Congress debate is an individual contest that models the legislative process of democracy, specifically seen in U.S. Congress. Contestants draft proposed laws and position statements submitted to the tournament. They research the docket of bills and resolutions that deal with real-world policies before the contest to prepare their speeches.
While at a tournament, students work together in committees, have discussions among each other and respond to arguments.
Below is a list of students who either qualified or are alternates for the state tournament:
1A
- UT Tyler University Academy (Tyler campus) - Mathew Deptula - First place
- Trinidad High School - Alexis Williams - Second place
- UT Tyler University Academy (Tyler campus) - Hassan Danish - Third place
- Trinidad High School - Neco Waters - Fourth place/ state alternate
- Trinidad High School - Jack Stephens - Fifth place/ state alternate
2A (Region 6 State Qualifiers)
- Grapeland High School - Stephen Streetman - Third place
- Grapeland High School - Cooper LeBlanc - Fifth place/ state alternate
2A (Region 7 Qualifiers)
- Ore City High School - Amir Sultan - First place
- Shelbyville High School - Kennedy McArthur - Second place
- Shelbyville High School - Maddie Lout - Third place
- Ore City High School - Sadie Bonette - Fourth place/ state alternate
- Shelbyville High School - Travis Caporali - Fifth place/ state alternate
- Union Grove High School - Colton Mead - Sixth place/ state alternate
3A
- Grand Saline High School - Kes White - First place
- White Oak High School - Kaleb Glenn - Second place
- Quitman High School - Kash Davis - Third place
- White Oak High School - Sophie Fisher - Fourth place/ state alternate
- White Oak High School - Cooper Tucker - Fifth place/ state alternate
- Sabine High School - Olivia Horton - Sixth place/ state alternate
4A
- Athens High School - Isaac Hoch - First place
- Palestine High School - Victoria McFall - Second place
- Lindale High School - Haylie Maccalous - Third place
- Pine Tree High School - Aiden McQueary - Fourth place
- Lindale High School - Madison Barnes - Fifth place
- Palestine High School - Kelsee Hogard - Sixth place/ state alternate
- Athens High School - Cooper Rich - Seventh place/ state alternate
- Lindale High School - Kylon Kincade - Eighth place/ state alternate
5A
- Whitehouse High School - Sahlika Qureshi - First place
- Whitehouse High School - Abigail Zheng - Second place
- Nacogdoches High School - Ja'Brandon Chatman - Third place
- Lufkin High School - Aanvi Manda - Fourth place/ state alternate
- Hallsville High School - Julian Jisha - Fifth place/ state alternate
- Nacogdoches High School - Malachi Anderson - Sixth place/ state alternate
6A
- Tyler Legacy High School - Kenadi Carmichael - First place
- Tyler Legacy High School - Rebecca Dong - Second place
- Longview High School - D'Kirian Allen - Third place
- Longview High School - Cohen Hardison - Fourth place/ state alternate
- Tyler Legacy High School - Aryan Hajiyani - Fifth place/ state alternate
- Tyler Legacy High School - Sanaa Salvi - Sixth place/ state alternate