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State Spirit Pilot Recognizes ‘Full Spectrum’ of Friday Night Lights
By Lauren Kelley, UIL Intern | Wednesday, August 24, 2016 1:10 PM
UIL is the first state to hold a “Game-Day” style state competition where squads are given game scenarios and expected to choose and perform the right cheer for the scenario.
Photo by Photo courtesy of Action Moments
350 schools. 4,000 students. Bigger than the UIL State Track Meet, and one of the biggest UIL events so far. And it wasn’t just the size of the event — no meet could match the amount of school spirit at the inaugural UIL State Spirit Pilot this past spring.
“Coaches and teams were just over the top,” Assistant Athletic Director Traci Neely said. “They never really realized what it would feel like to compete and get a medal and how their communities would treat them when they returned from competition.”
UIL is the first state to hold a “Game-Day” style state competition where squads are given game scenarios and expected to choose and perform the right cheer for the scenario.
Journalism Round-Up: Information to Start the New School Year
By Jeanne Acton, Journalism and ILPC Director | Tuesday, August 23, 2016 11:19 AM
And just like that it’s 2016-17. It’s hard to believe how fast time flies. When I started at UIL in 2004, I was pregnant with my first child. This morning, I dropped Charlie off at middle school. Middle school. Crazy.
Time is flying, and so are journalism teachers. Your lives are crazy busy, and yet every year, you manage to inspire your students to create amazing media. I am in awe of you, and I suspect this year will be no different.
As we start the year, I wanted to make sure I give you all of the information you could possibly need or want (plus a little more).
New School Year Starts with Changes in Speech and Debate
By Jana Riggins, Speech and Debate Director | Tuesday, August 23, 2016 10:57 AM
Change. That’s often an overwhelming word teachers hear repeatedly when they reenter the school building after being gone for the summer months. Students show up for the first day of class and they feel the changes too. It’s not just the new clothes and supplies they may have purchased for school; there are new buildings, new teachers, new courses and bell schedules and always, new classroom procedures.
At UIL, you will find changes too. But rest assured, some things haven’t changed. The calendar for UIL speech competitions has not altered. Congress regional competitions are still Nov. 1-15, and the State Meet is Jan. 9-11. CX Districts still begin the first school day in January and end mid-February. CX State Meet is March 13-14, 2017 for Conference 1A-3A and March 17-18, 2017 for Conference 4A-6A at the University of Texas at Austin. Ignore superstition and book your hotel rooms now because the Capitol City is popular during spring break.
Academic Team Gears Up for SACs
By Lauren Kelley, UIL Intern | Tuesday, August 23, 2016 10:38 AM
Each year, UIL hosts four Student Activity Conferences (SAC) to provide information to students, academic coordinators and coaches about contest preparation, demonstrations, performances and contest administration. The conferences feature lectures and presentations from UIL contest directors, college professors and high school teachers.
The SACs for 2016 are:
Sept. 17 at West Texas A&M, Canyon
Sept 24 at Texas A&M at Corpus Christi
Oct 22 at the University of Texas at Austin
Nov 5 at the University of Texas at Arlington
55 Schools Competed at State Mariachi Festival Pilot
By Lauren Kelley, UIL Intern | Tuesday, August 23, 2016 10:27 AM
The State Mariachi Festival pilot was held at Southwest High School in San Antonio.
This past spring the UIL Music Department brought together students from across the state to celebrate the rich history and culture of Mexico through the UIL State Mariachi competition.
“In 2007, UIL began offering mariachi as a medium ensemble on the region level, but there was no advancement to a state event,” Director of Music Dr. Brad Kent said. “We felt like the next step was to create a state event to help continue the growth and development of mariachi programs in our schools.”
Robotics State Championship in July ‘Exceeds’ Expectations
By Lauren Kelley, UIL Intern | Tuesday, August 23, 2016 9:57 AM
The first Robotics State Championship was held at Austin Convention Center in July.
Photo by Photo by Chris Schmidt, Public Affairs Representative
Robots have not taken over the world yet — but they have entered UIL competition.
UIL hosted its first pilot Robotics State Championship in July at the Austin Convention Center.
“I expected we would have a good event, but it really exceeded my expectations in terms of how smoothly everything ran and just being a great experience for the participants,” STEM Activities Director David Trussell said. “I had a number of students and coaches tell me that they really appreciated what UIL is doing with the robotics program to help put a spotlight on the activity and encourage more schools to participate.”
UIL teamed up with FIRST robotics to provide two competitions for the meet: the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) and the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC).
75 Students Named to 2016 All-State Journalism Staff
By | Tuesday, August 23, 2016 9:51 AM
Seventy-five students have been named to the 2016 All-State Journalism Staff. To qualify for the staff, students must have earned 50 points by participating and winning different journalism contests throughout the year. Students can earn points by participating in UIL invitational contests, UIL district, regional and state contests, as well as ILPC and similar type journalism contests.
2016 All-State Journalism Staff:
March/April Official Notices
By | Thursday, April 07, 2016 1:10 PM
Corpus Christi Flour Bluff High School – The State Executive Committee issued Coach Bob Chapman a public reprimand and one-year probation for ejection from a contest.
El Paso Coronado High School – The State Executive Committee voted to issue Coach Raul Lawrence a public reprimand and two-year probation for violations of Section 51, School District Personnel Violations.
La Marque Premier Academy of Learning – The State Executive Committee issued Coach Ronnie Bush a public reprimand and one-year probation for ejection from a contest.
Copy Editing Pilot FAQ
By Jeanne Acton, Journalism Director | Tuesday, January 19, 2016 11:02 AM
The Copy Editing Pilot test begins with the 2016 District Meet. I have received many questions regarding the new pilot contest. Hopefully, this FAQ will be helpful.
1. At what level will the Copy Editing Contest be available? It will be available only at the district level because it is a pilot. An invitational meet can choose to write a test and offer a contest, but the UIL office will not write invitational material.
Contreras has Left the Building: After 26 years, the Assistant Athletic Director Retires
By Lauren Kelley, UIL Intern | Thursday, October 29, 2015 10:02 AM
Peter Contreras retired at the end of September after working at the League for more than two and a half decades.
Photo by First Photo Texas
A college basketball referee, an avid golfer—complete with the shirt tan to prove it—and UIL assistant athletic director. All titles Peter Contreras holds. For 26 years Contreras has been a part of the UIL family, but on September 30, he sat in his office for the last time.
“My greatest memories here are with people,” Contreras said. “That’s an easy one. Over 26 years I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of people inside this office and this building, and I’m going to miss that.”
After a more than two and half decade long career, Contreras retired from UIL this fall.
“I want to do something else,” he said. “I still think I’m young enough, might not look it, but I’m still young enough to do something else. That uncertainty is exciting and scary.”