General News
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Reclassification and Realignment Released Feb. 1
By Julianne Coyne | Tuesday, January 12, 2010 11:30 AM
The 2010 Reclassification and Realignment for football and basketball was released at 9 a.m. (CST) Feb. 1 on the UIL website and through regional education service centers.
UIL Honors Its Veterans
By Jeanne Acton | Wednesday, November 11, 2009 12:29 PM
On the 11th day of the 11th month, just 45 minutes before the 11th hour, the UIL staff gathered to commemorate Veteran’s Day. Compliance officer Ed Stidham came in formal military dress. Lt. Col. Stidham served 25 years in the Army Reserve. His duties took him to nine different countries and about 30 different states. He retired April 15, 1995.
League Unveils Historical Marker
By Julianne Coyne | Tuesday, November 10, 2009 12:40 PM
Photo by Julianne Coyne
In connection with the Centennial Celebrations, the UIL unveiled a historical marker on Oct. 26 that details UIL’s history and values. The unveiling followed the annual Legislative Council meeting.
Executive Director’s Update: Centennial Celebrations Continue, Staff Prepare for Legislative Council
By Charles Breithaupt | Thursday, October 08, 2009 1:15 PM
Centennial Celebration
The UIL is proud to be celebrating its 100th anniversary. The Centennial Committee kicked off the Centennial Celebration during the June UIL Legislative Council meeting. Students selected to participate in the Elite 100 Student Leadership Conference were the highlight of the meetings. These students presented their own ideas regarding rule changes and proposals for new activities.
UIL Legislative Council Chairman Curtis Culwell gaveled in the start of the Centennial Celebration and challenged the students of the Elite 100 to continue in their quest for excellence. He also accepted the gratitude of the students for the support for extracurricular activities and for allowing the students an opportunity to present their ideas.
Currently, a book, representing the illustrated history of the 100 years of the UIL, has been sent to the printer for publication. This book, written by author and former UIL Academic Director Bobby Hawthorne, chronicles the origination and development of the UIL through stories and photographs. The book is available for purchase on the UIL Centennial Web site at www.uil100.org.
Following the Legislative Council meeting in October, the UIL will unveil a historical marker, commissioned by the Centennial Committee. This marker will be dedicated by UIL and UT staff, as well as UIL Legislative Council members.
To Celebrate Centennial and Show Appreciation, League Staff Makes Baskets For Area High Schools
By Julianne Coyne | Tuesday, October 06, 2009 12:29 PM
The smell of cookies filled the entire UIL building last month.
As a part of UIL’s Centennial Celebration, League staff delivered baskets filled with goodies to high schools in Travis County to show appreciation for coaches’ and sponsors’ support of UIL activities.
The staff stuffed baskets with three dozen cookies baked by staff members, sugar-free candies and information on National High School Activities Week, UIL Centennial Celebrations and community service projects.
“The project was born out of a desire for the League staff to connect with local schools as well as tell principals in our own backyard how much we value their service,” UIL Executive Director Charles Breithaupt said.
High School Activities Week Offers Schools Chance to Recognize Programs, Coaches, Participants
By Staff | Tuesday, October 06, 2009 12:25 PM
National High School Activities Week was created in 1980 by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) as a means to promote the value of interscholastic activity programs across the country, and in 1983, President Reagan and the U.S. Congress officially set aside one week to recognize the importance of these activities.
For almost three decades, schools across the nation have participated in highlighting their athletic and fine arts programs and recognizing their dedicated coaches, sponsors and directors, fans and officials. This year the designated week is Oct. 11-17.
This annual fall event does not celebrate the record of any individual team or the success of a fine arts group, but rather the overall importance and value of interscholastic activities programs.
• Sunday, Oct. 11—National Be A Sport Day: to encourage awareness and discussion about the importance of sportsmanship, ethics and integrity to the conduct of interscholastic programs.
• Monday, Oct. 12—National Fine Arts Activities Day: to focus on the students, coaches and sponsors involved in fine arts programs.
UIL Welcomes Four New Faces
By Chris Schmidt | Thursday, September 10, 2009 12:51 PM
The University Interscholastic League is proud to welcome four new members to the staff.
Veronica Cantu, Marketing Manager – Cantu came to the UIL in August from Dell where she worked for two years in their Latin American Marketing and U.S. Services departments.
A native of San Antonio, Cantu graduated in 2001 from Texas A&M University where she majored in international business and marketing. She later earned her master's in international business and marketing from Universidad de las Americas in Puebla, Mexico.
Cantu’s duties will include working with UIL vendors, sponsorships and contracts.
Avi Ghosh, Administrative Associate – Ghosh began working at the UIL in March after a successful stint managing the Blackberry music showcase at the 2009 South by Southwest Music Festival. Before moving to Austin he worked at Discover Card for three years as a decision support analyst out of Chicago and Little Rock.
Printing Press Operator Says Farewell to UIL
By Stephanie Ramirez | Friday, August 28, 2009 1:00 PM
After almost 30 years of service to the University Interscholastic League, Carol Finsrud will start the printing press for the last time on Aug. 31. After starting as a student employee in the mailroom in 1979, Finsrud became a full-time employee in 1981 running the printing press and has been a part of the UIL family ever since.
In July, Finsrud announced her retirement.
“I’m very blessed to be able to retire now,” Finsrud said. “I just want more time to expand on other things.”
Those “other things” range from focusing on her discus and shot put throwing to helping her husband with their gym in Lockhart.
Originally from Minneapolis, Finsrud moved to Texas in the fall of 1977 to attend the University of Texas at Austin on an athletic scholarship as one of the University’s first two female throwers for its Track and Field team.
“Texas was a sight unseen,” she said. “I came for better weather to pursue my passion so that I could practice all year round. I still haven’t left.”
Two Former Legislative Council Members Leave Their Mark of UIL
By Jeanne Acton | Monday, August 17, 2009 10:20 AM
The League lost two of its champion supporters this summer.
On July 22, Vernon Newsom, who retired as the Mansfield ISD Superintendent in June, died from injuries sustained from a motorcycle accident in South Dakota.
Then on Aug. 6 in Wichita Falls, Dan Owen, the former superintendent of Holliday ISD, lost his nine-month battle with cancer.
Both men served two four-year terms on the Legislative Council. Newsom resigned in June when he announced his retirement from Mansfield ISD, and Owen served on the Council from 1987 to 1995.
Lessons from the Past Help Shape UIL’s Future
By Charles Breithaupt | Thursday, August 13, 2009 11:54 AM
The UIL Centennial Committee began planning for the celebration of the 100th birthday of the UIL nearly two years ago. The first stage of this celebration was a student leadership conference held in conjunction with the UIL Legislative Council summer meetings. The highlight of the conference and the Council meetings was the presentation by these students we called the Elite 100.
The Elite 100 was made up of 100 of the best and brightest students in our state. Nominated by their principals, these students represented those who currently participate in UIL activities. Their presentations to the Council were significant and served the purpose of opening a dialogue regarding the direction of the League for the next century.
Listening to the desires of our students is an important step in assuring that our activities remain viable. After all, these activities belong to the students. While school leaders sponsor and administer extracurricular activities, if students are not interested in what we offer or how we run them, we risk losing their participation.
The students of the Elite 100 expressed gratitude for the activities already offered. They suggested several new activities as well as modifications to the processes of current activities.