Fall 2017
Council Approves Mariachi as Official UIL Contest
By Lauren Kelley, UIL intern | Wednesday, November 01, 2017 3:18 PM
After being a pilot contest for two years, the UIL State Mariachi contest will be an official UIL State competition beginning in the 2018-2019 school year if approved by the Commissioner of Education. The UIL Legislative Council approved the contest at its meeting on Oct. 16.
“UIL began a category for mariachi in 2007, but up until 2015-2016 the event was only held on the region level,” Music Director Dr. Brad Kent said. “Because of the growth and development of this activity in our schools we felt like the time was right to expand to a state level event.”
Kent says the contest is unique compared to other UIL music contests.
Academic Calendar Looks Different for 2017-18
By Lauren Kelley, UIL Intern | Wednesday, November 01, 2017 3:32 PM
The UIL Academic department would like to remind schools of important spring dates and events.
The UIL Academics State Meet will take place the first weekend in May, from Thursday May 3 to Saturday May 5. The ILPC State Convention will take place concurrently with the State Meet from May 5-6.
“The State Meet is in May as opposed to April because we try to schedule it so it falls between the academic region meet and state track meet,” UIL Academics Director Dr. David Stevens said.
Copy Editing to Become 5th Journalism Contest in 2018-19
By Lauren Kelley, UIL Intern | Wednesday, November 01, 2017 3:30 PM
Beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, UIL Journalism will have five contests instead of four if approved by the Commissioner of Education. The copy editing pilot was approved as a sanctioned event at the Legislative Council meeting this month.
Jeanne Acton, journalism director, said a summer journalism advisory committee suggested the contest several years ago. Copy editing became a pilot in 2014.
“The contest helps students understand the value of editing and the need for clear, concise communication,” Acton said. “Copy editing skills transcend any job or field, regardless of how jobs may change in the future.”
Robotics Makes Debut as Sanctioned Contest for 2018-19
By Lauren Kelley, UIL Intern | Wednesday, November 01, 2017 3:23 PM
Energy Institute High School in Houston competes in a FIRST division contest.
Photo by David Trussell
If approved by the Commissioner of Education, robotics will be an official contest beginning in the 2018-2019 school year. For the last three years, the contest was a pilot program.
“Robotics is unique in several respects, in particular that we are working with two robotics organizations – BEST Robotics and FIRST Robotics,” David Trussell, robotics director, said. “Competition happens through the qualifier meet structures established with those organizations, so there are no separate UIL district or regional meets for robotics.”
Then, teams that do well in those qualifier meets have the opportunity to earn an invitation to the UIL Robotics State Championships.