Leon High School Speech Team
UIL State Student Congress
Pounding the Podium at the Texas Capitol
On Tuesday, January 6, three state qualifiers and an alternate from Leon High School debated in Austin at the UIL State Student Congress competition. Maranda Bailey, Pawandeep Singh, Skye Anzaldua and alternate Weston Prior addressed their 1A counterparts in hopes of getting a spot in the final Super Congress which would be showcased in the Texas capitol building.
Each was to prepare to speak on 30 different pieces of legislation ranging from the educator credentials of State Board of Education members to the relevance of NAFTA to Supreme Court recusals. Those students fortunate enough to advance to the second day of competition endured a total of 12 hours of political debate. While they may have had two to three opportunities to speak, they had to be engaged in questioning and be proficient in parliamentary procedure.
After the first day of competition only two schools advanced three students to the Super Congress round, and Leon High School was one of those schools. With the Super Congress being held at the Texas capitol building, Representatives Bailey, Singh, and Anzaldua debated in congressional committee chambers where their very own state senators and representatives hold hearings.
At the end of the second day, Maranda Bailey received sixth place making that her second UIL State medal. Not to lessen Rep. Bailey's achievement is the fact that these three students will go down in the history books at both UIL and Leon ISD as being the first to advance and place in the first ever UIL State Student Congress.
These students did an amazing job representing our school, and I am certain that these students made some lasting memories. We are also grateful for the continuous support we receive from our district, our parents, and our community. We are glad we can return home with these accolades to demonstrate how Leon ISD is a great place to live and to learn.