The Competitions Rulebook for MIST 2012 has been released!

Please download this comprehensive guide to all MIST competitions and rules here: http://www.getmistified.com/2012-rule-book/

Do you have what it takes to create a mind-blowing, creative design for the Regional DC MIST 2012 competitions shirts? Well, here is your chance to shine!

DC MIST is proud to present a fun activity to get competitors to show off their artistic abilities and have the winner’s design shown on the DC MIST t-shirt for 2012! Competitors are required to relate their t-shirt design to this year’s theme, “Family: Reconnecting our Hearts to Home”. The t-shirt design may be any two colors that will suit one of the shirt colors seen here. For further guidelines and rules, please see below.

All submissions must be in by 11:59 pm on February 15th to marketing@dcmist.com, and the top three entries (chosen by your very own DC MIST Board!) will be up for votes on Facebook at facebook.com/dcmist! Images of the t-shirt designs will be posted in an album titled – DC MIST T-Shirt Design Challenge – where YOU will be able to vote for your favorite design by clicking the ‘Like’ button!

See previous DC MIST T-shirts by going to this page: http://dcmist.com/2011-theme/previous-themes-2009-2011/ and this page: http://dcmist.com/2011-theme/previous-themes-2006-2009/

May the most creative team win!

Guidelines/Rules for MIST T-shirt submissions

1. The design must include the phrases, “DC MIST 2012,” and “Family: Reconnecting our Hearts to Home.”
2. Only 2012 MIST competitors may submit a design.
3. More than one designer may collaborate on a design, but only ONE submission per team.
4. Designers from different MIST teams may not collaborate on a design.
5. The submission must be in one of the following formats: jpeg, gif, png, tiff, eps, bmp.
6. The design file can not exceed 2 megabytes.
7. The design can not use more than two colors.
8. The designer may chose to indicate what color the shirt should be. For a list of possible colors, visit http://www.companycasuals.com/CharliesTees/b.jsp?id=132381&parentId=627.
9. The design must be appropriate to be placed on the front of the t-shirt.
10. The shirt may not include text on the sleeves or back. Please only use the front of the t-shirt for your submission.
11. The design must be appropriate for a MIST competitor to wear. DC MIST reserves the right to disregard any design submission that it deems inappropriate.
12. Design submission must be emailed to marketing@dcmist.com by 11:59pm on February 15th, 2012. Please, include the designer’s name and team affiliation in the email.

DC MIST 2012 presents the Refer-A-Friend program!

Learn how to get $15 off your registration fee at http://dcmist.com/registration/refer-a-friend/!

We know that you have many questions about the upcoming DC MIST Regional tournament! Here are a few answers to some Frequently Asked Questions.

Q. When is MIST 2012?
A. March 30 – April 1 insha’Allah!

Q: What is the theme for MIST 2012?
A: Family: Reconnecting our Hearts to Home

Q.  How do I register?
A. Visit http://dcmist.com/registration/ for a step-by-step process on how to register! Tutorial videos are included.

Q.  When is the last day to register?
A. The last day for registration is February 4!

Q: Do I need an MSA to compete in MIST?
A: No; MIST teams are created by participants who attend the specific high school. You can even compete as a one-man/one-woman team!

Q: I’m having a hard time paying for my registration fee – is there anything DC MIST can do for me?
A: Please complete the MIST Scholarship Application here: http://dcmist.com/registration/dates-and-fees/scholarship/

Q: Can I compete with a MIST team for another school that I do not attend?
A: No, you must create and/or compete in MIST for the high school you attend. Only home-schooled students are allowed to compete with a MIST team of their choosing.

Q: Do I have to be Muslim to compete?
A: No, you don’t! Every high school student can, and should, get MISTified!

Q: Where can I find the updated Competition Rule Book?
A: As of now it is still being finalized, but you can find last year’s Competition Rule Book here: http://dcmist.com/news/official-dc-mist-2011-competitions-rule-book-released/. We will make an announcement when the new Rule Book comes out, insha’Allah!

Q: When and where will MIST basketball take place?
A: Both Men’s and Women’s tournaments will be held on April 8, 2012 at the University of Maryland, College Park Armory, insha’Allah.

Q: What are the submission guidelines?
A: For emailed submissions: Please format the subject of your email as follows:
“Subject: [Your DC MIST ID]: [Competition] Submission” (an example: 111-111: Short Fiction Submission)

Q: When are the submission deadlines?
A: Email your submissions to competitions@dcmist.com. Please follow the submission guidelines found below:

It’s time now to get your Registrars, recruit your classmates and friends, and find those Coaches that will insha’Allah lead you through another exciting year of the DC Muslim Interscholastic Tournament!

Registration is now open! Don’t be shy – start your team’s registration today!

And be sure to stay tuned to www.dcmist.com and check us out Facebook at facebook.com/dcmist for the latest updates on competitions rule changes, registration updates, and all tournament related news.

“The best of you are those who are best to their families.”

- Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)





Sometimes the stories of our homes are not perfect. Some of us can connect well with strangers yet have distant relationships with our fathers. We can fall in love with movie stars but resent our own mothers. We can be polite all day at school and still come home angry and abusive. It’s as though we’ve reserved our best for everywhere but home–as though the role of family in our lives has been outsourced to others.


“The role of family.” What does this phrase even mean? Throughout history and between lands, a family’s role has been defined differently, yet somehow its concept remains universal and valuable. Why? What exactly do we expect family to be for us? Some say family is meant to provide us a place to call home and a place to belong. Others may think it is more like a nursery, where we grow into adults and then go our separate ways. Some only turn to family in times of need, and yet others consider it a foundational building block of society. What do you think are the ideals of family, and why? What do different cultures and religions have to say on the topic, and how do their ideas compare or contrast with those of Islam?


Having considered these ideals, what are our families really like? Who do we consider to be family, and what is our relationship with these family members? Do they have rights upon us? Do we honor them? Do we have responsibilities towards them? Do we uphold them? Are there any differences between our ideals and our realities? If so, what can we do to bridge those gaps?


We challenge you to take a deeper look into the North American Muslim community and analyze the various concepts surrounding this theme. Be creative! Projects and submissions with the most creativity and insight will receive the highest points. Remember, this theme will encompass all of the MIST competitions and workshops at both the regional and national levels. If you have any questions regarding this theme or anything else MIST-related, please do not hesitate to contact us!

As many competitors may recall, MISTastic is a pep rally geared to boost school spirit and have school mascots come in and partake in various activities, such as Tug-of-War and relay races. Along with enjoying these fun activities, teams are able to receive team spirit points, which are added to the total team score during the MIST weekend.

See pictures from last year’s MISTastic here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcmistmedia/sets/72157625739800002

Keep your eyes open for more details!

Please note that applications for this year’s DC MIST Executive Board are due by November 27th, 2011.