SHSU College of Education Student Takes Third in National Children's Literature Competition

SHSU College of Education Student Takes Third in National Children's Literature Competition

Sam Houston State University’s College of Education has achieved two major milestones thanks to Alexis Argueta. The English and education double major was the first student to represent the university at the state level during the Texas Association of Future Educators’ (TAFE) annual meeting, followed by her taking third place in the national children’s literature competition at the 41^st Annual Teach Tomorrow event.

“When I was at the event, they couldn’t recall anyone from Sam Houston doing so before,” Argueta said. “Hearing really drove home what an honor it was to compete at this level and pave the way for future Bearkats.”

Her award-winning submission, “Miles and the Magic of Words: Penny the Pencil and Eddie the Eraser to the Rescue!” came from her deep love of reading and writing. The book features hand-drawn illustrations by Argueta herself and is centered on sparking curiosity, creativity and confidence in young learners. Written for a third-grade audience, the characters model teamwork, self-expression and problem-solving throughout the book.

While preparing for the competition, Argueta intently revisited tremendous amounts of early literacy strategies, illustrations that would connect with children and research-proven language approaches to ensure the story felt both engaging and meaningful. As someone who is active on campus, including serving as the community outreach officer for the SHSU Chapter of TAFE, receiving recognition for her work only drives her to work harder.

“A truly productive student doesn’t just chase grades or accolades; they ignite change, embrace growth and use every opportunity to leave a lasting impact on their community,” Argueta said.

The Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE) is a statewide student organization for students in middle school, high school, and college who share a passion for teaching the next generations and pursue to become teachers upon graduation. TAFE offers opportunities to compete in events with topics such as Children’s Literature, Lesson Planning and Delivery, Job interviewing, Public Speaking, Creative Lecture and Ethical Dilemma at area, state and national levels.