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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF
THE UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE

General News

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Winners Announced for 2014-15 UIL Lone Star Cup

By Chris Schmidt, Public Affairs Representative | Wednesday, September 09, 2015 9:58 AM

The University Interscholastic League announced the six winners of the 2014-15 UIL Lone Star Cup presented by State Farm.

In Conference 6A, Southlake Carroll High School won its sixth overall and fourth consecutive UIL Lone Star Cup earning 100 total points. The Dragon boys cross country, golf and swimming and diving teams each took home state championships while the girls cross country team placed fourth at state. Southlake Carroll won district and regional championships in academics and had regional finalist teams in football and girls soccer.

Reigning marching band state champion, Austin Vandegrift, added state titles in boys golf and girls swimming and diving on its way to the first Conference 5A UIL Lone Star Cup victory in school history. In addition to top five finishes at state in girls golf and boys swimming and diving, the Vipers were also state finalists in girls soccer and state semifinalists in football.

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Dr. Susan Elza Named UIL Director of Athletics

By Kate Y. Hector, Media Coordinator | Wednesday, September 09, 2015 9:54 AM

Dr. Susan Elza
Dr. Susan Elza

Dr. Susan Elza has been hired as the University Interscholastic League Director of Athletics the League announced Monday.

Elza, who was previously Executive Director of Athletics at Northwest Independent School District, began in August and will oversee the UIL athletic department and administer athletic activities for member schools. Elza fills the position recently vacated by Dr. Mark Cousins, who moved into a new role as UIL Director of Compliance, Eligibility and Education on July 1.

“It is a tremendous honor to be hired as the Director of Athletics of the University Interscholastic League,” Elza said. “I am grateful for the vote of confidence to lead an athletic program that is known as one of the best in the nation. I am dedicated to contributing to help shape the future of this organization so that we can better serve the schools and athletes of the state of Texas.”

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Former Speech Teacher Says Goodbye to Mentor

By Ann Shofner, former speech teacher | Tuesday, February 10, 2015 2:47 PM

My junior year in college at West Texas State University, I joined the WT Speech Team, and it is then that I first met Guy Paul Yates. On one particular trip to Arizona to compete, we stopped in El Paso to spend the night because Guy loved to eat across the border. The morning that we headed out to Tucson, Guy took us to the market in Juarez.

There were 5 five students and Guy in a station wagon filled with luggage and debate tubs. We were literally “packed” into that vehicle. Guy told us that we didn’t have any more room for stuff so we should avoid buying any “ridiculous” souvenirs. Well, as students do, the five of us showed back up to the car with ornamental birdcages, large straw baskets, over-sized sombreros and piñatas (mine was a blue donkey… tucked inside my sombrero). Guy just stared at us in disbelief and told us to pack into the car but that we would have to hold our purchases all the way to Tucson and back to Canyon, Texas. He didn’t get mad, he just solved the problem the only way he knew how. Fortunately, we had a great tournament and on the way home, not only were we holding our Juarez souvenirs, we were holding our trophies too.

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Dr. Waggoner Selected as Council Chair

By Kate Y. Hector, Media Coordinator | Tuesday, February 10, 2015 2:42 PM

Dr. Kay Waggoner, superintendent at Richardson ISD, was selected as the UIL Legislative Council Chair for the 2014-2105 school year. As chair, Waggoner is looking forward to continuing to hear proposals for increased student involvement as well as the opportunity to review UIL rules.

“I think the UIL is one of the best organizations in this nation for students,” Waggoner said. “It is about expanding opportunities for student involvement, developing life skills and strengthening character traits such as commitment, dedication, leadership and sportsmanship. It is about learning to win but also learning to lose.”

Dr. Charles Breithaupt, UIL executive director, said Waggoner’s leadership and dedication to doing what is best for all the students in Texas make her an excellent chair for the Council.

“She has served on the Council for several years and always puts the needs and best interests of all young people first and foremost,” Breithaupt said of Waggoner. “We have an exciting opportunity with the UIL Constitution rewrite process this year, and I believe Dr. Waggoner will lead us through it with flying colors.”

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Music Associate Retires After Almost Two Decades at League

By Lauren Kelley, UIL intern | Tuesday, February 10, 2015 2:30 PM

Former Music Director Richard Floyd (pictured left) and current Music Director Dr. Brad Kent honored Patty Esfandiari at the 2014 State Marching Band Contest at the Alamodome.
Former Music Director Richard Floyd (pictured left) and current Music Director Dr. Brad Kent honored Patty Esfandiari at the 2014 State Marching Band Contest at the Alamodome.

For 19 years, Patty Esfandiari embodied the UIL motto, “Making A World of Difference” as she served the state’s high school band directors, music directors, students and more.

Former UIL Music Director Richard Floyd said she was the “perfect example of the motto” as the administration associate in UIL.

“Her cheerful voice and caring demeanor will cheer you up immediately,” Floyd said. “She was and is a wonderful musician and it was immediately evident that she could relate with the music educators we serve.”    

In December after almost two decades of working for UIL, Esfandiari retired.

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Sponsor Excellence Award Winner Announced

By Kate Y. Hector, Media Coordinator | Tuesday, February 10, 2015 2:18 PM

Kerry Taylor works with the band at Westlake High School. He has directed the UIL marching band there for more than 30 years.
Kerry Taylor works with the band at Westlake High School. He has directed the UIL marching band there for more than 30 years.

Photo by Lily Painter

The University Interscholastic League is proud to recognize 15 of the best UIL sponsors in Texas as the 2014 UIL Sponsor Excellence Award winners.

The winners were selected by a panel of judges in the areas of academics, athletics and music from nominations submitted by school principals and superintendents across the state.

The award, now in its 24th year, was created to identify and recognize outstanding sponsors who enable students to develop and refine their extracurricular talents to the highest degree possible within the educational system.

“Interscholastic competition and student performance have innumerable benefits that are only possible through the hard work and dedication of sponsors, coaches and directors like these,” said UIL Executive Director Dr. Charles Breithaupt. “On behalf of the UIL I commend these outstanding educators.”

Each winner will receive $1,000 and a symbolic memento from the UIL in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the pursuit of educational excellence through interscholastic competition. The League continually strives to strengthen and promote the role of extracurricular activities in Texas through programs like the UIL Sponsor Excellence Award.

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Johnson, Walls Join League Staff

By Lauren Kelley, UIL intern | Monday, November 17, 2014 1:56 PM

Baylor alumni Kevin Johnson recently joined the UIL staff as the new IT director. After seeing a message on IT talk that the former director Kelly McCollum was leaving, Johnson’s interest was piqued because of the varied responsibilities of the job. “Most job postings are for a very specific skill set, but this was very wide and diverse,” he said.

As a high school student, Johnson participated heavily in UIL activities, stating this was one of his main attractions to the job. He competed in the Calculator contest, the Number Sense contest and the Science contest, where his team won state his senior year.

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Jones Named New Policy Director for League

By Lauren Kelley, UIL intern | Monday, November 17, 2014 1:46 PM


Photo by Lauren Kelley

Kevin Jones may be new to the UIL team, but the organization is not new to him. Since he was a young student, the League has been a fundamental part of his life — from student-athlete to principal and now to UIL policy director.

“I am honored by the opportunity to work for such an influential statewide organization,” Jones said. “Like millions of other Texans, UIL has had a lasting impact on my life.”

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Council Approves New Pilot Contests for 2015-16

By Lauren Kelley, UIL intern | Monday, November 17, 2014 1:37 PM

At the Legislative Council meeting, UIL Deputy Director Dr. Jaime Harrison reviews the plans for the rewrite of the Constitution and Contest Rules.
At the Legislative Council meeting, UIL Deputy Director Dr. Jaime Harrison reviews the plans for the rewrite of the Constitution and Contest Rules.

Photo by Jeanne Acton

The University Interscholastic League will introduce three new pilots to Texas schools for the 2015-16 school year. At the October 2014 Legislative Council meeting, the council approved pilot contests in both academics and music.

To promote the development of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) activities, the academic staff proposed a pilot robotics competition, and the council unanimously approved it.

“Robotics incorporates numerous STEM components, including mechanical and software engineering, computer programming and mathematics,” Academic Director Dr. David Stevens said. “Participation in robotics fosters creativity and innovation, while teaching students to work collaboratively, and to think critically and analytically.”

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Former HS Photographer Talks About his Experience in Liberia

By Jeanne Acton, Journalism Director | Tuesday, September 09, 2014 11:21 AM

While on assignment in Liberia, John Moore wore protective gear to protect himself from getting the Ebola virus.
While on assignment in Liberia, John Moore wore protective gear to protect himself from getting the Ebola virus.

John Moore, a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer who now works for Getty Images, recently returned from Liberia where he documented the Ebola epidemic. In high school, Moore was an award-wining photographer, taking home just about every ILPC photo medal. In college, he shot for the Daily Texan, the University of Texas at Austin newspaper, and the Leaguer.
After returning from Liberia, Moore spoke with Jeanne Acton about his experiences in that country.

Moore will be a featured speaker at the ILPC Spring Convention held April 18-19 at UT-Austin. At the convention, he will present a session with his photos from Liberia.

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