Pecos High School students are proving once again that academic excellence runs deep in Eagle Nation. Congratulations to the Social Studies team, coached by Hallie McCulloch, for successfully defending their district championship and qualifying for the 2024 Regional UIL Academic Meet. Additionally, congratulations to senior Britney Gomez for defending her district title and placing 1st in Persuasive Speaking. The team will head to Texas Tech University in Lubbock on April 25-26 to compete against the best in the region.
The Social Studies team—composed of Britney Gomez, freshman Jayvon Thompson, junior Amanda Rodriguez Ramirez, sophomore Ashley Crow, freshmen Art Selimi and Yadhira Terrazas, and freshman alternate Yovany Maria—earned 1st place overall. Gomez also placed 1st individually, with Thompson taking 2nd.
Joining the Social Studies team and our Speech competitors at Regionals are several high-achieving Eagles who placed in the top spots across other categories:
Math & Science
Charles Viray (Senior) – 4th place in Number Sense, 6th in Calculator Applications, and 3rd in Computer Science
Milian Morales (Sophomore) – 3rd place in Calculator Applications
2nd Place Calculator Team: Milian Morales, Charles Viray, Emily Barragan, Joshua Contreras, Aizelcai Ansagay, and Jayvon Thompson
Isaiah Vasquez (Senior) – 6th place in Accounting
Xaela Bradfield (Junior) – Top Physics Score in Science
Number Sense and Calculator Applications are coached by Diomil Haro. Accounting is coached by Elena Valencia. Science is coached by Emee Grace Suarnaba. Computer Science is coached by Jose Morey.
Writing & Literary Events
Ayhner Alpedez (Senior) – 4th place in Ready Writing
Damaris Candia (Senior) – 5th place in Ready Writing
Tariku Snyder (Freshman) – 4th place in Literary Criticism
2nd Place Literary Criticism Team : Tariku Snyder, Samantha Arreguy, Ayhner Alpedez, Jetzabel Ruiz, Carmela Tapac, and Jacob Sorensen
Ready Writing is coached by Guadalupe McCall. Literary Criticism is coached by Dr. Eilen Abellera.
Journalism
Samantha Arreguy (Senior) – 6th place in Headline Writing
Journalism events are coached by Dr. Eilen Abellera and Maricella Maledon.
Speech & Debate
Britney Gomez (Senior) - 1st in Persuasive Speaking and will represent PHS at Regionals once again. She is coached by Janet Shelton.
Congratulations also go to our regional alternates in Speech:
Mherie Tubonggan (Freshman) – 5th place in Informative Speaking
Halle Sparkman (Senior) – 5th place in Prose Interpretation
Valeria Ramirez (Junior) – 6th place in Poetry Interpretation
Prose and Poetry events are coached by Katie Henson.
We are incredibly proud of all these outstanding students and the dedicated coaches who support them. Best of luck at Regionals, Eagles—you’ve made your school and community proud!