Page 9 of 51 pages ‹ First < 7 8 9 10 11 > Last ›
Speaking Events Continue to Evolve and Grow
By Jana Riggins, Speech and Debate Director | Tuesday, September 09, 2014 10:37 AM
It’s the dawn of a new day, a new school year and I hope you are as excited as I am to begin the journey of this new competition year! The academic department at UIL is always seeking ways to bring growth and progress to our program, so my column this month is full of important changes and updates in every speaking event. Indulge in what will seem like a potpourri bulletin board.
The biggest news in Cross-Examination Debate is the confirmation of our site and location for the CX Debate State Tournament. You may have noticed on our original tentative calendar that two weeks were marked for state debate with a “TBD” notification. That is because for some time now, I have been exploring the possibility of alternative sites. This summer, I notified all debate coaches registered in the UIL speech coach database of our decision that, for 2015, the state debate tournament will remain at UT-Austin and will be hosted during the week of March 16 – 21.
Introduction to the CX Debate Oceans Topic: Time to Dive In
By Noah Recker, La Vernia High School | Tuesday, September 09, 2014 10:35 AM
Author: Noah Recker, Debate coach at La Vernia High School and UIL representative to the NFHS National CX Debate Topic Selection Committee who authored the study report over Oceans. Noah’s paper developed into the resolution which debaters throughout the nation will be debating during the 2014-2015 school year: Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its non-military exploration and/or development of the Earth's oceans.
When asked to write for the National CX Debate Topic Selection Committee, I had some nervous trepidation. It felt like a huge weight had been put on my shoulders. I knew what I wanted in a topic and I hoped that my topic paper could convey those wants and needs. Across the state, I continuously heard coaches complain about the changing nature of CX debate and how it is getting tougher and tougher to recruit high school students into the event. It was time to create some waves with my topic paper, and I eventually settled on oceans. The breadth of the topic can help novices explore their imaginations with topic ideas and senior debaters can really dive into a wide range of research opportunities.
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.