You've probably heard the term "Sweepstakes" used a lot when talking about the Judson High School music program, but this award is a first.  Now it's associated with Judson High School's first full orchestra. This is the first time band members have joined forces with the school orchestra students to make up a true, full orchestral ensemble.  Orchestra Director Richard Helsley and Band Director Jeffrey Keyes put together the group that included strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion pieces.  They entered the 2015 UIL Concert and Sight Reading Competition at Reagan High School prepared, but knowing not many schools were doing this.  They came away with highest marks from all judges earning a Sweepstakes in the competition.  This is truly a milestone for the Judson High School music program. They are part of a very small group of high schools in the area who are combining students in this kind of ensemble and going to competition with them.  Congratulations to everyone.

The Science and Engineering field is getting to be such a hot area of interest for both students and those considering careers and students from the Judson Early College Academy were all over it at the recent Alamo Regional Academy of Science and Engineering Fair (ARASE).  JECA took three teams to the event and did very well competing in Behavioral and Social Sciences and Physics Divisions.  Freshmen- Jesse Gutierrez and Amaya Harris in the Behavioral and Social Sciences Division; Juniors – Destiny Cruz and Phoebe Ballard in the Physics Division; Ashley McCoy and Annelise Cornwell in the Physics Division.  When it was over, Ashley McCoy and Annelise Cornwell took 1st place in the Teams Division for their project, "Which Bullets Work Best For Hunting?"  They go on to the next level, the Exxon Mobile Texas Science and engineering Fair on March 26th- March 29th at the Gonzalez Convention Center.

1st place team Ashley McCoy and Annelise Cornwell

The Wagner Athletic Department was proud to announce that another one of its football players has signed to play at the collegiate level next year.  Ladarian McFarland signed to play next fall for the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. We want to congratulate him and his family for this great step in continuing his career as a student-athlete. 

Julie Mata on the Championship platform. Two-time State Girls Wrestling Champ

Wagner senior Julie Mata did it again. For the second straight year she is the UIL Girls State Wrestling Champion. She has had a dominating season going 37-0, even though she says the competition was noticeable tougher this year.  This last match at the Culwell Center Julie dispatched with her Corpus Christi King opponent by PIN with 39 seconds left in the gold medal round.  Last year Julie only lost once on her way to her first state title. Julie is currently ranked as the #1 high school girl wrestler in the country.  Congratulations to Julie Mata and her Wagner Wrestling Coaches Benjamin Lenyard (Outstanding Girls Wrestling Coach for 2015 Region IV, District 15-6A)  and Melissa Palomo.

Julie Mata with Assistant Coach Melissa Palomo and Head Coach Benjamin Lenyard

UIL Theater/Performance contests are in full force and the Judson High School Theater students are breaking more legs each performance than a mashed caterpillar!  In other words, they're doing very well at each competition. They recently performed at the UIL Contest at Clemens High School and made a big impression. The entire prose and poetry team broke to the final round placing 2 first, 2 second, 1 Third,1 fourth, and 1 sixth place medal.
Coaches Larry Bailey and Vanessa White are very proud of their  performances.