Students from Round Rock ISD elementary schools competed at the District’s third annual elementary University Interscholastic League (UIL) A+ Academics competition, held Feb. 11 at Walsh Middle School.

More than 270 students advanced to compete in nine events, consisting of art, chess puzzles, creative writing, music memory, number sense, oral reading, ready writing, spelling and storytelling. Ten of the students competed in multiple events.

“Academic UIL is one of the many learning opportunities Round Rock ISD provides,” said Enrichment Coordinator Hope Scallan. “We know that when we capture students’ interests early, they are more likely to stay committed toward their academic journey. This was a platform for elementary students from across the District to showcase their academic achievements.”

Round Rock ISD elementary schools are divided into five divisions for academic UIL. On Jan. 21, all five groups held competitions with over 900 students participating. For each division meet, the top three places in each event qualified to move forward to the District level. As Academic UIL has grown, this is the first year that two levels of meets have been held, giving elementary students the opportunity to advance.

“I would like to express my sincere appreciation for Hope Scallan, the assistant principals who served as UIL directors, our campus coordinators and UIL coaches,” said Kristina Snow, director of elementary education. “In just three short years, participation has grown to include all 34 elementary campuses, involving hundreds of students from across the District. What a joy to see students taking pride in their academic talents and strengths in this high level, friendly competition.”

UIL A+ Academics includes a variety of events for grades 2-8 that span the curriculum. They are designed to complement and expand upon what students are learning in the classroom. Students learn specific subject knowledge and skills to apply across disciplines. Approximately 3,000 Texas schools participate in A+ Academics.

Chess

  • Dan Tran, Joe Lee Johnson Elementary STEAM Academy, first place in second grade,
  • Rose Jackson, Joe Lee Johnson Elementary, second place in second grade,
  • William Pendell, Wells Branch Elementary Arts Integration Academy, third place in second grade,
  • Tristan Pennington, Jollyville Elementary, first place in third grade,
  • Micah Godfrey, Union Hill Elementary, second place in third grade,Gabriel Lacey, Caraway Elementary, third place in third grade,
  • Visvesh Raghuraman, Chandler Oaks Elementary, first place in fourth grade,
  • Riya Chauhan, Caraway Elementary, second place in fourth grade,
  • Thor Sammer, Live Oak Elementary, third place in fourth grade,
  • Jun Lee, Caraway Elementary, first place in fifth grade,
  • Leo Carillo, Caraway Elementary, second place in fifth grade and
  • Christian Bridges, Joe Lee Johnson Elementary STEAM Academy, third place in fifth grade.

Art

  • Siyona Jain, Canyon Creek Elementary, first place in fourth grade,
  • Kanishk Sama, Forest North Elementary, second place in fourth grade,
  • Shreya Iyen, Brushy Creek Elementary, third place in fourth grade,
  • Juliet Johnson, Live Oak Elementary, first place in fifth grade,
  • Brian Zhang, Laurel Mountain Elementary, second place in fifth grade and
  • Madhavan Prassana, Forest North Elementary, third place in fifth grade.

Creative Writing

  • Miram Haskins, Callison Elementary, first place in second grade,
  • Faith Pavliska, Deep Wood Elementary, second place in second grade and
  • Yana Cole, Fern Bluff Elementary, third place in second grade.

Music Memory

  • Mina Stephens, Caraway Elementary, first place in third grade,
  • Shivam Mohanty, Cactus Ranch Elementary, second place in third grade,
  • Haley Gobel, Joe Lee Johnson STEAM Academy, third place in third grade,
  • Sahana Iyer, Cactus Ranch Elementary, third place in third grade,
  • Ram Sivataman, Laurel Mountain Elementary, first place in fourth grade,
  • Krithik Sama, Forest North Elementary, first place in fourth grade,
  • Kanishk Sama, Forest North Elementary, third place in fourth grade,
  • Nikhil Prabru, Cactus Ranch Elementary, first place in fifth grade,
  • Swapna Venkat, Cactus Ranch Elementary, second place in fifth grade and
  • Michael Rao, Laurel Mountain Elementary, third place in fifth grade.

Number Sense

  • Allison Yao, Laurel Mountain Elementary, first place in fourth grade,
  • Leo Zhaing, Brushy Creek Elementary, second place in fourth grade,
  • Akaash Reddy, Laurel Mountain Elementary, third place in fourth grade,
  • Shreev Goyal, England Elementary, first place in fifth grade,
  • Ethan Yang, Spicewood Elementary, second place in fifth grade and
  • Anvith Naddipoti, Laurel Mountain Elementary, second place in fifth grade.

Oral Reading

  • Tanvee Athavale, Sommer Elementary, first place in fourth grade,
  • Lola Finney, Bluebonnet Elementary, second place in fourth grade,
  • Natalie Opelia, Caraway Elementary, third place in third grade,
  • Charlotte Hofheins, Callison Elementary, first place in fifth grade,
  • Milo Guevara, Old Town Elementary, second place in fifth grade and
  • Jessica Pena, Live Oak Elementary, third place in fifth grade.

Reading Writing

  • Mayla Montgomery, Caraway Elementary, first place in third grade,
  • Pradhuymna Prakash, Brushy Creek Elementary, second place in third grade,
  • Hersh Singh, Caraway Elementary, third place in third grade,
  • Vinathi Potireddy, Forest Creek Elementary, first place in fourth grade,
  • Sabrina Kim, Caraway Elementary, second place in fourth grade,
  • Annika Kanda, Caraway Elementary, third place in fourth grade,
  • Clara Wilson, Gattis Elementary, first place in fifth grade,
  • Aidan Ahn, Brushy Creek Elementary, second place in fifth grade and
  • Joseph Valasagandle, Forest Creek Elementary, third place in fifth grade.

Spelling

  • Sanjana Shresta, Cactus Ranch Elementary, first place in third grade,
  • Claire Lee, Spicewood Elementary, second place in third grade,
  • Akshaine Kamma, Cactus Ranch Elementary, second place in third grade,
  • Lamya Ujjainwala, Teravista Elementary, first place in fourth grade,
  • Reece Glenn, Caraway Elementary, first place in fourth grade,
  • Tanvi Reedy, Laurel Mountain Elementary, first place in fourth grade,
  • Aravind Shandilya, Teravista Elementary, first place in fourth grade,
  • Neha Thomas, England Elementary, first place in fifth grade,
  • Aimee Wang, Spicewood Elementary, second place in fifth grade and
  • Stanly Bond, Pond Springs Elementary, second place in fifth grade.

Storytelling

  • Twisha Gupta, Cactus Ranch Elementary, first place in second grade,
  • Tracy Tran, Double File Trail Elementary, second place in second grade,
  • Asrini Thivakaran, Brushy Creek Elementary, third place in second grade,
  • Anushka Gupta, Fern Bluff Elementary, first place in third grade,
  • Felix Kim, Sommer Elementary, second place in third grade and
  • Josie Morford, Voigt Elementary, third place in third grade.

Individual winners, by event and grouped by division:

District I: Blackland Prairie, Forest Creek, Herrington, Old Town and Teravista
District II: Brushy Creek, Canyon Creek, Caraway, Chandler Oaks, Fern Bluff, Great Oaks and Pond Springs
District III: Cactus Ranch, England, Laurel Mountain, Spicewood and Sommer
District IV: Bluebonnet, Callison, Gattis, Union Hill and Wells Branch
District V: Berkman, Deep Wood, Forest North, Jollyville, Live Oak, Purple Sage, Robertson, Voigt