A Competition That ‘Texts’ The Limits

By Eliza Hallabeck

After school Newtown High School students assembled in the lobby on Friday, November 7, and held their cellphones at the ready as Peer Leadership’s Fun Friday Texting Competition began.

 Jessica Haitz, Lexi Black, Kayla O’Leary, and Nicole Davis said they were trying to think of an idea for a Fun Friday event at a Peer Leadership meeting when they were told about the Texting Competition that was held last year.

“They told us about that,” said Jessica, a freshman at NHS, “and we thought it was a good idea.”

The four girls, all freshmen, put the competition together along with Lucy Riley, who said she helped make flyers for the event.

Jessica said she wanted an event that would make people excited, and Nicole said she wanted an event that would bring students together.

Fun Friday events are held Friday’s after school, and Jeff Tolson, a guidance counselor, and Eugene Hall, a math teacher, oversee the events. The Peer Leadership group at the school funds the programs and comes up with ideas for events.

The Texting Competition held on Friday had students use their cellphones to type a message to a receiving cell phone quicker than others typing the same message.

The flyers were made, the date was set, and the four girls chose phrases or a mix of words, letters, and punctuation for competitors to type into their cellphones.

None of the girls who put the event together were allowed to enter into the competition, and one of them used her cellphone to receive the incoming text messages from the competitors.

Other rules for the competition included the first correctly typed text message received on Lexi’s phone would be the winner, and an automatic text formatting program, which some cellphones are equipped with, was not allowed. Each competitor had to type each letter and punctuation individually.

Three different rounds were held, and the winner from each round progressed to the final round.

Ben Stoller, a freshman, won the first round of the Texting Competition. He said his tactic for winning was “type fast.”

Alex Caracciolo, a senior, won the second round.

“I text all the time. So I guess I’ve had a lot of practice,” said Alex. “And practice makes perfect.”

Mr Tolson warned the winners of the first two rounds to keep their fingers warm while the third round was underway.

Justina Paproski, a freshman at the school, won the third round and said her trick for texting quickly is to use two fingers.

“I’d like to introduce our finalists for the 2008 Texting Competition,” Mr Tolson said before the final round began.

Volunteers were asked to hold up the final challenge text message for finalists to read as they typed into their cellphones.

The three finalists sat reading off of the cards volunteers held for them, and moved their fingers as quick as they could. Justina was the first to finish typing her text message, and the “judges,” as Mr Tolson called the four girls looking at Lexi’s cellphone, checked the text message for any errors.

“We have a winner,” said Mr Tolson, as he announced for the four girls checking the text message’s on Jessica’s phone.

Justina won the final round of the competition and will be awarded $50 for the honor.