Legacy will host a UIL tournament Saturday, Feb. 8. Forty-three schools registered, and 23 events have been scheduled. The tournament will be the seventh held at Legacy. Rounds begin at 7:30 a.m., and the sweepstakes presentation starts at 7 p.m.

Ms. Sykes and the UIL Academics team have been preparing for this tournament since the beginning of the school year. The high anticipation surrounding it directly stems from the sizable revenue generated by hosting a UIL tournament. Last year’s tournament raised $8,000, and estimates show a similar profit for this year’s. The proceeds from entry fees go toward UIL Academics.

“We do it for the money so that we can treat our students to what they need to be treated to,” Ms. Amanda Sykes said.

Clubs and organizations also get in on the action, setting up snack stands and volunteering members to slave the day away in service to Ms. Sykes. Key Club manned the food table last year and raked in the money, prompting them to take up the position again this year. National Honor Society expects many of its members to offer themselves up to work as reparation for failure to meet last semester’s service requirements. The debate team has been working hard to recruit judges.

Student volunteers do not receive financial compensation for their toil, but may visit the hospitality room, where hired judges congregate between rounds. The room holds many glorious foodstuffs, and the prospect of being fed and receiving community service hours have helped boost the number of student volunteers.

Legacy plans to host another UIL tournament next year, as they have every year since opening.

“It’s a lot of work and a lot of headache and it’s very stressful but we do it so that we don’t have to stress out about money for the rest of the year,” Ms. Sykes said.