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After 3 Decades, Karen Day Retires From UIL
By Stephanie Ramirez | Friday, May 01, 2009 11:04 AM
At her retirement party, the University Interscholastic League staff joked about how many different times Karen Day had already tried to leave the League and wondered if this was actually Day’s final time to leave. But this time it was.
After 34 years of service with the UIL, Day’s official last day was March 31, 2009.
“My husband retired last year, and this is the time that we can both travel and visit our kids and grandbaby,” Day said.
Henderson Joins Athletic Staff
By Stephanie Ramirez | Wednesday, April 15, 2009 1:13 PM
The University Interscholastic League’s ebsite says that its purpose “aims to provide healthy, character building, educational activities carried out under rules providing for good sportsmanship and fair play for all participants.”
Sheila Henderson, the newest assistant athletic director for the UIL, says her philosophy for her work goes hand in hand with this goal.
A native Texan, Henderson received her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Texas at Austin, which she has used throughout her career in the Austin area. After a year of working for Taylor ISD, Henderson moved to Austin’s Bowie High School in 1988 where she remained until 2002 when she became the assistant athletic director for Austin ISD.
In February 2009, Henderson made another career change and joined the UIL staff where she is now in charge of girls’ basketball, softball, and co-coordinating track and field with Traci Neeley, a former Round Rock ISD assistant athletic director and now fellow assistant athletic director for the League.
Neely Leaves Round Rock ISD for UIL
By Stephanie Ramirez | Wednesday, April 15, 2009 1:12 PM
Whether it was the cold in Kansas or the appeal she saw in Texas the first time she was here for undergraduate studies that would later bring her back to Austin in 1996, the University Interscholastic League benefited either way as Traci Neely was named one of the new assistant athletic directors.
After graduating from Abilene Christian University, Neely went to work at Arlington Martin High School where she coached and taught from 1987 to 1994. When she decided to return to her home state and attend the University of Kansas for her Master’s in Sports Administration, it did not take her long to realize she wanted to return to Texas.
“I got back as fast I possibly could,” Neely said.
After her return to Texas, Neely took a job with Round Rock McNeil High School as the assistant campus coordinator and the girls’ cross country head coach and the track and field head coach. In 2004 she became the Assistant Athletic Director for Round Rock ISD where she worked for almost five years.
Journalism Director Wins Paschal Award
By Staff | Wednesday, April 15, 2009 1:08 PM
UIL Journalism Director and Interscholastic League Press Conference Director Jeanne Acton accepts the James Paschal Award at the the Columbia Scholastic Press Associaton's spring convention in New York City. CSPA honors state or regional school press association officials who have distinguished themselves in the field with with the award named for the late James Frederick Paschal, a former director of the Oklahoma Interscholastic Press Association and a former editor of The CSPAA Bulletin.
Much Ado About Ethics
By Scott Coulson, TMAA Concert Band Vice President | Sunday, March 15, 2009 1:16 PM
The buzzword in the media today is ethics. Headlines are littered with stories about unethical behavior and those lacking integrity. Investors make poor financial decisions. CEOs of major corporations embezzle shareholder funds. Politicians misuse campaign funds or “forget” to pay their taxes! When I used to get the Leaguer in the mail, I confess that I went straight to the back page to see if I recognized anyone’s name under “Official Notices” and “Public Reprimands.” Come on, admit it, you did too!
The dictionary defines ethics as “principles or standards of human conduct, sometimes called morals” and integrity as “possession of firm principles: the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards.” The Texas Music Adjudicators has its own Code of Professional Ethics. As TMAA members, it is our responsibility and even our mandate to maintain our professionalism and to be beyond reproach as we execute our judging duties. Though brief, the expectations of ethical behavior are clearly defined as follows:
Adjudicators shall know and uphold all rules for music competition in the current issue of the
Constitution and Contest Rules published by the University Interscholastic League.
Adjudicators shall be physically, emotionally and mentally fit to discharge their duties at music
contests.
Sponsor Excellence Awards Announced
By Kim Rogers | Wednesday, March 04, 2009 9:50 AM
The University Interscholastic League is proud to recognize 15 of the top UIL sponsors in Texas as the 2008 UIL Sponsor Excellence Award winners.
The winners were selected by a panel of judges in the areas of music, athletics, and academics from nominations submitted by school principals and superintendents across the state.
The award, now in its 18th 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.
Each winner receives $1,000 and a distinctive trophy from the UIL in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the pursuit of educational excellence through interscholastic competition. The University Interscholastic League continually strives to strengthen and promote the role of extracurricular activities in Texas through programs like the UIL Sponsor Excellence Award.
Smith Promoted to Financial Director
By Ty Terrasso | Friday, February 27, 2009 9:59 AM
Dijaira “Di” Smith believes herself to be a pretty lucky person, but luck had little to do with her recent promotion to Financial Director this month. Her willingness to go the extra mile has been instrumental in her professional success over the years.
She grew up in Sao Paulo, Brazil with no desire to claim the United States as her place of residence. It would only be by a stroke of her signature luck that she would come to call Austin home.
Smith first came to the United States in 1995 in pursuit of her masters’ degree in Business Finance. For several years she worked within the private sector as a financial manager in Sao Paulo before making her decision to move to Austin. Di sought the upward mobility a Western education would provide her. The professional climate in Brazil at the time made female advancement in the workplace a difficult proposition. She planned to get her MBA in America and return to Brazil with the competitive edge necessary for a woman to compete in upper management.
Dr. Mark Cousins Appointed Director of Policy
By Stephanie Ramirez | Tuesday, February 17, 2009 11:00 AM
Dr. Mark Cousins has been named director of policy in his 15th year of service at the University Interscholastic League.
As director of policy, Cousins will take on the responsibilities of administering and enforcing eligibility rules, working as the liaison between the UIL and various committees and organizations, revising and updating the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules and various other duties.
Cousins’ said two of his goals for his new position are to continue to implement the rules of the UIL successfully and to ensure that students continue to benefit from participating in events.
Odenwald Named Athletic Director
By Jeanne Acton | Tuesday, February 17, 2009 10:58 AM
While Cliff Odenwald is a relative newcomer to the UIL staff, the newly appointed athletic director certainly is not a newcomer to athletic administration and working with the UIL. For more than 14 years, Odenwald served as an athletic director and coordinator for some of the largest athletic programs in the state.
From 2003-2007, Odenwald was the director of athletics for Plano Independent School District where he was responsible for scheduling and overseeing 460 athletic teams and supervising 250 teachers, coaches and trainers. Prior to that, Odenwald was the assistant athletic director for Garland ISD for 10 years. He also coached high school and college athletics for more than 15 years.
Odenwald joined the League in 2007 as the associate athletic director in charge of the mandated steroid testing program.
Kim Rogers Promoted to Chief of Staff
By Chris Schmidt | Tuesday, February 17, 2009 10:06 AM
Those looking to snag a piece of candy from Kim Rogers’ desk will have to make a slightly longer walk. She’s got a new office and a new job.
On Feb. 1, Rogers was promoted to chief of staff after more than seven years as the director of public information. Prior to her work as a director, Rogers served as public information officer.
The newly created position will allow Rogers to assist Executive Director Charles Breithaupt in changes regarding staff and office procedures. She also will have various duties involving the Legislative Council and elected officials’ offices, including the attorney general.