Students begin to flood into a school in inner city Houston. They are practicing their lines, perfecting their costumes, critiquing their accent and anticipating what is to come. There in the middle of the crowds are the Tompkins German students. Although they do not know it yet, they are about to place second overall at one of the biggest German festivals in the city of Houston. At the end of the competition, the competing students would find out that they made history. With the club’s many officers, such as President Senior Sarah Rogers and German teacher Heinz Schmidt, these German students are ready to compete, when Feb. 24 comes.

“Although, it is not really the club that went, its members helped Houstonfest become a success,” said Schmidt.

Houstonfest was a success and a sweet memory, but the German Club is now focused on one thing and only one thing: state. The German Club is not one to get the most publicity, but they have been very successful in Tompkins history. They have attended the state competition every year since the school opened. State this year is being held at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.

“We have been increasing the number of students participating and the number of events that students compete in,” said Schmidt.

Tompkins has added more students to the team and also different events that the team now competes in. Some might assume that German competitions are strictly speaking the language, but that is not true. The German students compete in a variety of different events that embrace the German culture. Some of these events include: theater based performances like skits or duets, performing music, researching, writing, and even a scavenger hunt. Aside from those events, students of course compete in the writing, speaking, and comprehension competitions, that correspond to what most students learn in German classes. The list goes on, and there are even more competitions that celebrate classical and modern German culture.

“There are less students overall at state than at Houstonfest, but competition is harder because the best schools from all of Texas are represented,” said Schmidt.

The German club has high hopes this year for state, especially because of how successful they were at Houstonfest. Last year at this Houston competition they placed third overall with a total of 596 points. They shattered their record this year with second overall. One can only imagine what they will be capable of next year. Although for now, the focus is the state competition and what they believe they can achieve at it. The team has 60 different entries and they are striving for gold.

“We are trying to get gold medals in several categories and maybe score a few more sweepstake points than last year,” said Schmidt.

UPDATE:

The German students went to the Texas State German contest on Feb. 24. Over 60 schools were competing and Tompkins placed 3rd overall, their best result ever.

Following students placed 1st in their event: Joshua Lake and Charlie Rissky in Einzeltanz, Pedro Prudencio in Vocabulary 1, David Rogers and Alexander Schmidt in Duet Acting 2, Charlie Rissky and Rohana Paracha in Contemporary Music. Alexandra Gioukaris was voted “Best Actress” in Skit Level 1.