Tejas '27
Read. Create. Belong — wherever you are in life.
Chapter Two
Questions Everyone Has, But Nobody Has Answers To
These aren't rhetorical questions. Tejas exists to actually answer them.
This is the kind of thing Tejas explores.
Chapter Three
What's New in '27
Three Cohorts Instead of Two
High School stays. The old "Senior" cohort splits into University (19–23) and Professionals (24+). Tejas now has something built for every stage of life, not just students.
AI, Explicitly Welcomed
One of the four challenge formats is any AI tool of your choice. This isn't a competition pretending AI doesn't exist — it's asking what you can build with it.
Chapter Four
The Three Cohorts
Each cohort reads different books, suited to where they are in life.
High School
"The one line on your application nothing else can replace."
Every applicant has clubs. Fewer have a national finalist title for original research and creative work most colleges have never seen a version of.
University
"Reconnect with where you come from — on your own terms."
Not your parents' version. Not your professor's version. Your own read on where you actually come from.
Professionals
"Perspective that actually changes how you live — not more content to scroll past."
You have enough inputs. This is different — ideas old enough to be tested, and specific enough to actually use.
Chapter Five
How It Works
Read Together
One book a month, the whole cohort reads or watches it together.
Pick a Challenge
YouTube Short, Podcast, Poster, or any AI tool/Booklet — your choice.
Create & Submit
Same challenge formats across all 3 cohorts — prompts tailored to your books.
Repeat 3 More Times
4 books, 4 challenges total across the qualifying period.
Chapter Six
Timeline
Chapter Seven
The Prize
Chapter Eight
Internship Opportunities
Real access, not just a competition. Every Tejas participant gets connected to internship opportunities with the very people and institutions behind this content — published authors, media organizations, public intellectuals, and think tanks. You don't have to reach the finale to get access — simply taking part opens the door.
This has a real track record behind it: the internship fair has grown every year — from recruiters pitching in hallway spaces in 2024, to a full ballroom fair in 2025 with 20+ recruiters and paid internship offers.
Chapter Nine
Why Join
Three years of proof, not just a promise.
Chapter Ten
FAQ
Is there a cost to enter?
Yes — $100 per team.
Can I participate solo, or do I need a team?
Either. Solo, or teams of 2–3.
If I make it to the finale, do I need to attend in person?
Yes, finalists attend in person in Houston, TX.
What happens after I join the interest list?
You'll be emailed when registration is about to open.
Is there a cap on how many can register?
Yes — spots are limited to the first 100 teams.
Spots Are Limited
Be part of Tejas '27
Join the interest list now — you'll be emailed the moment registration opens.
