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Journalism Advisory Committee Updates Contests
By Jeanne Acton, Journalism Director | Tuesday, September 09, 2014 10:30 AM
Amazing things happen when you put a group of top-notch journalism advisers together in a room and give them a few hours to work. This summer is proof of that.
In July, 15 or so of your colleagues and I met to discuss, revamp and review the UIL Journalism Contests and the ILPC Contests. The advisory committee, comprised of some of the best advisers across Texas, accomplished more in 8 hours than I could have done all semester long.
Before coming together, I split the committee into five subgroups to focus on the following areas: 1) UIL Journalism Contests 2) ILPC Yearbook Contests 3) ILPC Print Newspaper Contests 4) ILPC Online Newspaper Contests 5) Broadcast Contests.
Each subgroup met for a few hours to discuss proposed changes that advisers emailed to me earlier in the year. Every voice was heard, and every proposal was discussed. Then, the groups came up with recommendations for changes to their area.
Triple Threat: UIL Tradition Starts More than 40 Years Ago
By Sue Jane Mayes, Borden County HS | Thursday, June 05, 2014 9:39 AM
When science teacher Mickey McMeans drove to Austin in 1966 with Borden County High School’s first-ever academic state qualifier, he could not have imagined the tradition he was starting.
In the 70s and 80s business teacher Netta Jarrett coached multiple state champions in 1-A typing and shorthand.
Speech teachers Darrin Ard and Sue Jane Mayes would be the next generation of coaches, carpooling many students the 350-mile distance from Gail to Austin. Between them, they coached two speech championship teams and numerous extemp, interp, and debate gold medalists. Champions in spelling, ready writing, journalism and social studies were also added.
OAP Contest Makes an Impact
By Julie Herman, Arts + Culture Texas | Thursday, June 05, 2014 9:33 AM
Reprinted with permission from Arts + Culture Texas
Theater students from Rogers High School, a small 2A school near Temple, wait in the wings of the auditorium. An official with a stopwatch stands in the corner of the backstage area. “One minute,” she warns. “Go.” The students snap into action, seizing blocks and steps, shifting them into position on the stage. They have seven minutes to build their set, brings in props and complete sound and light checks. Philip Taylor, the school’s director, stands watching. These students have helped craft the script to fit the 40-minute time limit, auditioned for parts, scrounged for props, created costumes, and rehearsed, rehearsed, rehearsed. One or two of them spare a glance up at the light bar high overhead. If their palms are sweaty, it’s because when the curtain goes up, this competition matters.
Some people think that Friday Night Lights defines our state’s youth. But football is not the only contest worth watching in the great state of Texas. According to Luis Muñoz, the state theater director of the University Interscholastic League (UIL), 1,220 schools will bring their best performances to the Texas UIL One Act Play (OAP) Contest this spring: That’s a boatload of thespians. Just like Texas football, this monster of a contest gathers high school teams and pits them in the largest U.S. competition of its kind.
Original Lit Crit State Director Dies at 82
By Jamie Oberg, UIL Intern | Wednesday, May 14, 2014 12:37 PM
Dr. Fred Tarpley was the first state director for the Literary Criticism Contest.
Dr. Fred Tarpley, the first state Literary Criticism Contest director and driving force behind the contest, passed away on March 1 at the age of 82.
Tarpley graduated from high school at 16, received both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M- Commerce) and a Ph. D. from Lousiana State University in 1960. He was a professor at Texas A&M, Commerce from 1957 until his retirement in 1992 and was named Professor Emeritus of Literature and Languages in 2004.
In the early 1980s, Tarpley “instigated the Literary Criticism contest and provided an opportunity that students had not had before,” said Treva Dayton, former UIL Academic Director. “The literary criticism contest is the perfect example of his constant willingness to give.”
Academic State Meet Brings in the Best
By | Tuesday, May 13, 2014 3:17 PM
Thousands of students compete at the Academic State Meet each year.
Photo by Jeanne Acton
The UIL State Academic Meet is set to start Monday May 19 and wrap up in the wee hours of Wednesday, May 21. Thousands of competitors and academic coaches will descend on the University for the meet.
Academic Director David Stevens said he is looking forward to the state meet because it’s his time to reconnect with coaches and students.
1949 Outstanding Player to be Honored at State Baseball Championship
By Jeanne Acton, Journalism Director | Tuesday, May 13, 2014 2:04 PM
1949 State Baseball Championship program
To celebrate the 65th anniversary of the UIL State Baseball Tournament, UIL will honor Robert Leach, who in 1949 was named the first outstanding player in a state championship. Baseball Tournament Director Darryl Beasley will honor Leach with a framed certificate before the 5A state championship game at the Dell Diamond on Saturday, June 7.
“We are going to share his many accomplishments before the crowd,” Beasley said. “Mr. Leach had a pretty amazing life in baseball both during the state tournament and after graduating from Denison High School.”
During the 1949 state tournament, Leach, a 16-year-old left-handed pitched, shut down Marshall High School with 21 strikes outs and a 10-inning no-hitter. Leach’s team won the game 1-0.
Breithaupt Inducted into Texas Sports Hall of Fame
By Kate Y. Hector, Media Coordinator | Tuesday, May 13, 2014 1:52 PM
Dr. Charles Breithaupt was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame this month.
University Interscholastic League Executive Director Dr. Charles Breithaupt has been selected for the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame Class of 2014, announced the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. The hall of fame list includes coaches and administrators who have positively impacted high school football in Texas.
Dr. Breithaupt will be inducted in a class of eight individuals, one coach and one inductee from each decade from 1950-2000. Dr. Breithaupt is being inducted in the category of Dave Campbell Contributor to the Game. The Dave Campbell contributor to the Game is a special category of inductees that has included team doctors, school administrators, media members, among others.
Members are selected by a statewide committee made up of sportswriters, high school football coaches and members of the Texas high School Football Hall of Fame Board of Trustees.
Updates from the Director of Athletics
By Dr. Mark Cousins, Athletic Director | Thursday, March 27, 2014 1:38 PM
February 2014
• Renaming of playing weeks
Beginning with the 2014-15 school year, the playing weeks will be referred to as weeks 1-11 rather than week 0 through week 10.
• 5A & 6A sub-varsity games during Week 1
A proposal passed by the Legislative Council in October 2013 allows sub-varsity football teams in Conferences 5A and 6A to play on Wednesday during week 1 (previously termed zero-week) only if the varsity team plays on Thursday of that same week.
• 40 Second Clock
For the 2014 season, UIL Football will move from 2005 NCAA Football timing rules to current NCAA Football timing rules. This includes the transition from the 25 second play clock to utilizing the 40 second play clock. Additional information on this change will be released following the UIL Football Rules Committee Meeting in April.
Dance Like Nobody’s Watching
By Dr. Brad Kent, Director of Music | Monday, March 10, 2014 12:37 PM
Dance like nobody's watching.
This is a phrase we often hear when we are encouraged to be uninhibited and to express ourselves. But why do we need this reminder? I am often inspired when I see my daughters “dance like nobody’s watching” or do anything “like nobody’s watching.” They have not yet acquired the learned behavior of fearing someone else’s judgment. Therefore, they typically “perform” their best.
At some point we adults learn this element of fear that inhibits us from doing our best. Human beings can be very judgmental by nature, so as we get older, this fear becomes firmly baked into our psyche. Sometimes we are on the giving end of it, and sometimes we are on the receiving end of it. But most agree that when not handled properly this fear becomes a roadblock to achieving maximum results in performance. Yes, we cannot do our best without a defined system of preparation, but we can maximize our performance potential in the moment by letting go of fear. For instance, the performer must know that in order to achieve nirvana in a performance he or she must truly let go of any concerns and know that those concerns serve only to inhibit the performance.
Last-Minute Review Prior to Spring Contests
By Dr. David Stevens, Academic Director | Monday, February 24, 2014 4:23 PM
District meets are just around the corner, and many schools are already entering students online. Remember that your entry is due in the online system at least 10 day prior to your contest, unless your District Executive Committee has set an earlier date.
Academic coordinators entering their school’s contestants need a UT EID but do not need to be authorized by our office. Be careful to type students’ names correctly. Use upper and lower case, and enter last name first, followed by first name. Proof for correct spelling. Don’t use initials unless a student actually prefers initials to a name. Whenever possible, enter substitutes in each event. They will appear on the contest roster as eligible to compete if a replacement is needed.
Coordinators, remember to do another eligibility check before competition! If substitutions must be made, anyone not listed on the original entry, as either a contestant or alternate, must present certification, signed by an administrator, that they are eligible to compete. A substitute form is posted on the UIL academic web page, but a letter signed by an administrator is also acceptable.