Houstonfest - State Scholarships

News and Updates

Important Dates

Sat., Mar. 6, 2021: State online awards ceremony posted. Also, Houstonfest Scholarship applications due.

Fri., Mar. 12, 2021: Gail Cope Scholarship applications due.

Fri., April 30, 2021: Gail Cope Teacher Grant applications due.

The rest of this will be updated for 2022 some time soon:

Sat., Jan. 16, 2021: Regular deadline to submit registration spreadsheet in order to pay regular price of $10/student (payment does not have to be mailed until 1/25).

Mon., Jan. 25, 2021: Final deadline to submit registration spreadsheet for late price of $12/student and deadline to postmark payment.

Wed., Feb. 3, 2021, 8:00 p.m.: Deadline to submit changes (adds, drops, substitutions). After this point, no more additions or substitutions will be allowed.

Sat., Feb. 6, 2021: Houstonfest (100% remote): some events conducted "live" (online) that day, all others submitted digitally by 9:00 a.m.

Thur., Feb. 11, 2021: Houstonfest online awards show emailed to teachers.

Wed., Feb. 17, 2021: State online registration due by 11:59 p.m. for "early bird" price of $10/student (payment does not have to be mailed yet). Also, deadline to apply for the Mary El-Beheri Memorial Scholarship.

Mon., Feb. 22, 2021: State online registration due by 11:59 p.m. at regular price of $12/student. Also, entries for promotional video contest due to State director Jennifer Christianson by 8:00 p.m. and deadline to postmark payment.

Sat., Feb. 27, 2021: Texas State German Contest (100% remote): some events conducted "live" (online) that day, all others submitted digitally by 9:00 a.m.

Scholarships at State

Gail Cope Scholarships

Retired German teacher Gail Cope (formerly of W.T. White High School in Dallas) generously funds scholarships for the top winners at the Texas State German Contest. Scholarship winners are determined by the number of sweepstakes points the students earn for their schools by winning first- through fifth-place awards. At least five scholarships are awarded with the top scholarship worth at least $500.

Each teacher is allowed to nominate one student per year for this scholarship. The nomination process is quite simple, and teachers are encouraged to participate in this wonderful program.

For more information, visit the Gail Cope Scholarships page of the State website.

Mary El-Beheri Memorial Scholarship

A scholarship of at least $500 is given annually in memory of founding State director Mary El-Beheri (1938-2012).

The scholarship goes only to a current senior who has attended State at least three years (including the current year) and intends to continue his/her study of German after high school.
Each school is allowed to submit up to three nominees.
Applications are submitted the week after the regional contests, i.e., the application process occurs BEFORE State and not afterwards.
Judging is based on the sweepstakes points that the nominee has earned in his/her best three years of attending State. Nominees will indicate what they won at all previous State contests on the application, and their results at the current year's State contest will be added to the mix in the tab room before the winner is determined.
The finalists are recognized on stage and the winner announced at the State awards ceremony.
Payment is made directly to the institution where the winner enrolls to study.

See the State website for the rules and application form.

Mary El-Beheri German Heritage Essay Award

for Winning Research Papers at State

The winners of first through fifth place in the research paper contest at the Texas State German Contest receive scholarships funded by the German-Texan Heritage Society (GTHS) and the Texas State German Contest. Amounts are $500 for first, $250 for second, $125 for third, $100 for fourth, and $75 for fifth. Click here for more information.

Visit the GTHS website for more information about the benefits of membership or to join. Teachers are encouraged to join, but teacher membership is not a requirement for students to win a scholarship.

Houston Saengerbund

After its introduction in 2019, the Houston Saengerbund's scholarship program for seniors continued in 2020 with some changes to the format. There were two branches of the competition: singing and language. If/when details about the program become available for 2021, they will be posted here.

Texas German Society

While this contest is not directly related to Houstonfest, we are pleased to help the Texas German Society publicize their annual essay contest, which awards scholarships of $1000, $750, and $500. The entry deadline is March 15, 2021. Here are the application guidelines and the application form (follow the directions carefully):

Application Guidelines

Application Form

When is the next Houstonfest?

Saturday,

February 5, 2022

Where is Houstonfest?

Due to COVID-19, the 2021 contest was conducted entirely REMOTELY. We hope to be back at our usual venue, Heights High School in Houston, in 2022.

Link to Texas State German Contest

Texas State German Contest on Facebook