Last-Minute UIL Competitor Rises to the Challenge

La Grange Middle School’s UIL Science Team was just about ready to compete in the district competition two weeks ago when one of their members fell ill just before the test. Tadhg McAleer, a special needs seventh grader, signed up at the last minute and wound up winning the contest.

It took some coaxing, though.

“They bribed me with a Dr. Pepper,” McAleer said.

Middle School Principal Dr. Sarah Otto said the lastminute vacancy on the team sent the school into a scramble. UIL Coach Kim Landis needed a warm body, but no one else in the Middle School had signed up for the science exam. Otto said Landis called Middle School Science Teacher Amy Fritz to see if any of her students could fill in.

“Mrs. Fritz was like, ‘What about Tadhg? Tadhg could do it. He’s really good at science,’” Otto said.

At first glance, McAleer might not seem like an ideal candidate for the UIL contest.

“He has severeADHD and level one autism, and he also has sensory processing disorder,” said McAleer’s mother Amanda Gifford.

Despite his challenges, he’s really smart when it comes to math and science.

“I like to learn about how things work,” McAleer said.

Landis reached out to McAleer’s special education teacher Jeanette Sullivan just ahead of the contest, which took place on Jan. 17.

“Mrs. Landis and Mrs. Sullivan spoke to Tadhg, and he was like, ‘I’ll consider it,’” Otto said.

The teachers sweetened the deal with a bottle of Dr. Pepper, McAleer’s favorite drink. He accepted the challenge and took a spot with the team.

“And then he ended up winning it!” Otto said. “He was a little nervous, because he didn’t know what to expect.”

Gifford said her son had no time to prepare or study for the test.

“Before the test, I didn’t know if I would win, but I thought I could,” McAleer said.

The results of the science contest came back on Jan. 24 with McAleer’s name at the top of the list. The school recognized him on the intercom that day. And McAleer’s teachers gave him a gift basket with Dr. Pepper and some Dr. Pepper-flavored jelly beans.

“He was ecstatic,” Otto said.

“What he lacks in social skills, he makes up for in brains,” said Gifford. “He is always impressing me. He’s made so much progress from when we first started. I know he’s going to be something big one day.”

Otto praised the staff at La Grange Middle School, especially Landis, Fritz and Sullivan.

“They were like, ‘He can do it, now let’s figure out a way to make it happen,’” Otto said.

The Record asked McAleer if he will compete in the UIL contest next year.

“I don’t know yet,” he said. The school might want to keep a few Dr. Peppers around just in case.