Cano Freshman Academy

Sponsor:  Debra Castillo  Email: debra.castillo@hcisd.org

Room: ILC

For the ‘tech’ generation: Become technologically savvy while testing your word processing, database and spreadsheet skills. You’ll become familiar with the finer points of computer skills such as formatting copy, editing, creating charts and integrating applications. Computer Applications focuses on word processing speed and accuracy, computer skills in database and spreadsheet, and integration of applications. Skills tested include formatting copy, mail merge, headers/footers, editing, proofreading, spreadsheet, graphs/charts, and integration of all applications.

Source: Brief Overview of UIL High School Academic Contests

In order to sign up for this event and receive more information, please click on the following link and complete the form.

The sponsor for this event will contact you as soon as possible. If you don't hear from him/her, please feel free to email him/her directly.  

Sponsor:  James Guenther  Email: Email James Guenther

Room: B109 

You’ll go around the world in 40 multiple-choice questions as you test your knowledge on current state, national and global events. Watching news shows will pay off when you answer the essay question at the end and take a closer look at one current event. The contest focuses on a basic knowledge of current state, national and world events and issues. The contest consists of 40 multiple-choice questions and an essay that challenges students to understand not just what is happening in the world today, but why and how it’s happening and what it means to us as citizens of the United States.

Source: Brief Overview of UIL High School Academic Contests

In order to sign up for this event and receive more information, please click on the following link and complete the form.

The sponsor for this event will contact you as soon as possible. If you don't hear from him/her, please feel free to email him/her directly.  

Sponsor:  Michelle Rodriguez   EMAIL:    michelle.rodriguez3@hcisd.org

Room: C204/C207

This contest gives you a chance to win a medal just for sharing your opinion. In editorial writing, you’ll take a stand on a controversial school issue and back up your stance with facts and examples. This contest teaches students to read critically, to digest and prioritize information quickly and to write clearly, accurately and succinctly. Emphasis is placed on mechanical and stylistic precision, lead writing, use of direct and indirect quotes, news judgment, and the ability to think deeply, to compare and contrast and to argue or defend a point of view persuasively.

Source: Brief Overview of UIL High School Academic Contests

In order to sign up for this event and receive more information, please click on the following link and complete the form.

The sponsor for this event will contact you as soon as possible. If you don't hear from him/her, please feel free to email him/her directly.  

Sponsor: Michelle Rodriguez  EMAIL:    michelle.rodriguez3@hcisd.org

Room:  C204/C207

If you’ve got a knack for developing a story, this contest is for you. You’ll be provided with the facts and quotes you need, and then it’s up to you to piece together a journalistic feature story your readers will remember. The Feature Writing Contest teaches students to read critically, to digest and prioritize information quickly and to write clearly, accurately and succinctly. Emphasis is placed on the same writing skills as in other UIL journalism contests, as well as the ability to write descriptively.

Source: Brief Overview of UIL High School Academic Contests

In order to sign up for this event and receive more information, please click on the following link and complete the form.

The sponsor for this event will contact you as soon as possible. If you don't hear from him/her, please feel free to email him/her directly.  

Sponsor:  Michelle Rodriguez    EMAIL:   michelle.rodriguez3@hcisd.org
Room: C204/C207

Put the finishing touches on the news as you decide what’s most important about six news stories and top them off with headlines. The challenge is to be creative in your word choice and adhere to the word and line counts as you write tomorrow’s headlines. The contest teaches students to read critically, to digest and prioritize information quickly and to write clearly, accurately and succinctly. Emphasis is placed on the ability to discern key facts and to write with flair and style in order to tell and sell a story.

Source: Brief Overview of UIL High School Academic Contests

In order to sign up for this event and receive more information, please click on the following link and complete the form.

The sponsor for this event will contact you as soon as possible. If you don't hear from him/her, please feel free to email him/her directly.  

Sponsor: Monica Herrera    EMAIL:  monica.herrera@hcisd.org

Room: C104

You’ll need a critical eye as you scan through literary history. You’ll analyze literature from a provided reading list as well as literary passages not on the list. A short essay serves as the tiebreaker that could put you over the top. The contest requires knowledge of literary history and of critical terms, and ability in literary criticism. Students are required to select the best answers involving judgment in literary criticism and to analyze literary passages from both the reading list and other sources. A tiebreaker is required in which the student must write an essay dealing with a specified topic about a selected literary passage.

Source: Brief Overview of UIL High School Academic Contests

In order to sign up for this event and receive more information, please click on the following link and complete the form.

The sponsor for this event will contact you as soon as possible. If you don't hear from him/her, please feel free to email him/her directly. 

Sponsor:  Carlos Garza Email:  carlos.garza3@hcisd.org

Room: C108

Algebra, geometry, pre-calculus, oh my! Come armed for this test with your knowledge and understanding of a variety of mathematical subjects such as geometry and trigonometry as you compete against your peers. This 40-minute, 60-question contest is designed to test knowledge and understanding in the areas of Algebra I and II, geometry, trigonometry, math analysis, analytic geometry, pre-calculus and elementary calculus.

Source: Brief Overview of UIL High School Academic Contests

In order to sign up for this event and receive more information, please click on the following link and complete the form.

The sponsor for this event will contact you as soon as possible. If you don't hear from him/her, please feel free to email him/her directly.  

Sponsor:  Michelle Rodriguez   Email:  michelle.rodriguez3@hcisd.org

Room:  C204/C207

In this contest, you decide what’s fit to print as you make your way through a set of facts and quotes and pick out what’s important. You’ll work on deadline for the newspaper as you create a cohesive story that inquiring minds have a right to know. The News Writing Contest teaches students to read critically, to digest and prioritize information quickly, and to write clearly, accurately and succinctly. Emphasis is placed on mechanical and stylistic precision, lead writing, use of direct and indirect quotes, and news judgment.

Source: Brief Overview of UIL High School Academic Contests

In order to sign up for this event and receive more information, please click on the following link and complete the form.

The sponsor for this event will contact you as soon as possible. If you don't hear from him/her, please feel free to email him/her directly. 

Sponsor:  Carlos Garza   EMAIL:  carlos.garza3 @hcisd.org

Room: C108

Ten minutes is all it takes to find out if you have good number sense. You’ll work with your coach and team to develop and practice shortcuts to solve the mental math test and still beat the clock. Make sense? This 80-question mental math contest covers all high school mathematics curricula. All answers must be derived WITHOUT using scratch paper or a calculator.

Source: Brief Overview of UIL High School Academic Contests

In order to sign up for this event and receive more information, please click on the following link and complete the form.

The sponsor for this event will contact you as soon as possible. If you don't hear from him/her, please feel free to email him/her directly.

Sponsor:  Monica Herrera      Email:  monica.herrera@hcisd.org

Room:  C104 

Ready, set, write! If you like to make your own path, this contest is for you. A short prompt will provide the inspiration for your creative ideas as you explore a topic or prove a point. Students write expository compositions that attempt to explain, prove or explore a topic in a balanced way, allowing the argument and the evidence given to be the deciding factor in the paper. Students are given a choice between two prompts, each an excerpt from literature, publications or speeches. The essay is judged on interest, organization and style.

Source: Brief Overview of UIL High School Academic Contests

In order to sign up for this event and receive more information, please click on the following link and complete the form.

The sponsor for this event will contact you as soon as possible. If you don't hear from him/her, please feel free to email him/her directly.  

Sponsor:   Gracie Gonzalez  Email: gracie.gonzalez@hcisd.org

Room:  A113

Forget just memorizing facts, because the science contest is all about the importance of experiments and scientific discoveries. Your knowledge of biology, chemistry and physics will help you select the correct answers on this 60-question multiple-choice test. Individual awards are given in each subject area, so even students who have not yet taken all the science courses can excel! The Science Contest challenges students to read widely in biology, chemistry and physics, to understand the significance of experiments rather than to recall obscure details and to be alert to new discoveries and information in the areas of science. It is designed to help students gain an understanding of the basic principles as well as knowledge of the history and philosophy of science, and to foster a sense of enthusiasm about science and how it affects our daily lives.

Source: Brief Overview of UIL High School Academic Contests

In order to sign up for this event and receive more information, please click on the following link and complete the form.

The sponsor for this event will contact you as soon as possible. If you don't hear from him/her, please feel free to email him/her directly.  

Sponsor:  James Guenther  Email:  Email James Guenther

Room:  B109

If your interest lies in movements, wars, history and politics, this contest will give you more than enough material to explore. The contest requires you to apply your understanding of history and culture through multiple-choice questions and an essay. The Social Studies Contest requires students to expand and apply their knowledge of governmental systems, historical trends, movements and eras and the physical setting of the earth, particularly as it applies to cultural environments. Each year the contest focuses on a selected topic area, and a reading list is provided.

Source: Brief Overview of UIL High School Academic Contests

In order to sign up for this event and receive more information, please click on the following link and complete the form.

The sponsor for this event will contact you as soon as possible. If you don't hear from him/her, please feel free to email him/her directly.  

Sponsor:  Debra Castillo      EMAIL:  Email Debra Castillo

Room:  ILC

Whether you’ve already aced the SAT verbal section, or you could use some extra practice, this contest keeps you focused on the details. By the end, you may be correcting your teachers’ spelling and using words your coach has never heard. The Spelling & Vocabulary Contest promotes precise and effective use of words. The three-part contest consists of multiple-choice questions covering proofreading and vocabulary, and words that are written from dictation. The vocabulary-building and spelling components of the contest are important complements to the high school academic curriculum and are indicative of vocabulary words contained on standardized tests such as SAT, PSAT and ACT.

Source: Brief Overview of UIL High School Academic Contests

In order to sign up for this event and receive more information, please click on the following link and complete the form.

The sponsor for this event will contact you as soon as possible. If you don't hear from him/her, please feel free to email him/her directly.