(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT – June 17, 2025) — El Paso ISD students made their mark at the 2025 UIL State Academic Meet held May 19–20 at the University of Texas at Austin, with several competitors placing among the best in Texas. Representing a range of academic disciplines—from headline writing and literary criticism to mental math and poetry interpretation—these students showcased their talent, critical thinking, and academic excellence on a statewide stage.
Congratulations to the following state qualifiers and finalists:
1-5A Division
• Kaylah Belaval, Andress High School
Event: Headline Writing — 2nd Place
Coach: Mary Acosta
This contest emphasizes the ability to craft clear, accurate, and engaging headlines based on key facts.
1-6A Division
• Benjamin Ingram, Coronado High School
Event: Literary Criticism — 10th Place
Coach: Brian Keen
Competitors analyze literary history, terminology, and critique assigned texts through a rigorous exam and essay.
• Yuhee Kim, Coronado High School
Event: Spelling & Vocabulary — 11th Place
Coach: Brian Keen
Students are tested on vocabulary knowledge and spelling accuracy using a UIL-selected word list.
1-4A Division
• Ricardo Lopez, Bowie High School
Event: Number Sense — 23rd Place
Coach: Candelario Barragan Arzola
This mental math contest challenges students to solve 80 problems in 10 minutes without calculators or scratch paper.
Additional State Qualifiers
While these students did not place in the top rankings, their qualification for state represents a major academic achievement:
• Gianna Rosales, Burges High School – Ready Writing
Coach: Eric Olszewski
• Benjamin Ingram, Coronado High School – Ready Writing
Coach: Brian Keen
• Gabriella Thompson, Franklin High School – Poetry Interpretation
Coach: Yolanda Silva
El Paso ISD congratulates all our state qualifiers and their coaches for their hard work and dedication. Your passion for learning continues to make our district proud!