Page 21 of 51 pages ‹ First < 19 20 21 22 23 > Last ›
Academic Meet Marks a Year of Firsts
By Jeanne Acton, UIL Journalism Director | Friday, May 25, 2012 9:58 AM
At the UIL Academic State Meet, Math Contest Director Larry White congratulates junior Bobby Shen from Dulles High School for his perfect score on the test. Shen won four individual gold medals at the meet.
Photo by Jeanne Acton
It was a year of firsts at the 102th UIL Academic State Meet.
Academic Director David Stevens ran his first State Meet. Junior Bobby Shen from Dulles High School was the first student to achieve a perfect score on a state math test. It was the first year since the 1950s that One-Act Play used panel judging, and the first year extemporaneous speaking allowed computers in the prep room.
And the firsts all appeared to go smoothly.
Dr. Stevens said he was pleased with the success of his first meet. “I didn’t know what to expect so I was prepared for anything,” he said. “For me, it was great. I saw a few minor areas where we can improve and a few major ones.”
2012 TILF Scholarship Banquet
By McKensie Wallesen, UIL Intern | Friday, March 30, 2012 12:45 PM
Video of the 2012 TILF Scholarship Banquet.
2012 UIL Wrestling State Tournament
By McKensie Wallesen, UIL Intern | Friday, March 30, 2012 12:36 PM
2012 UIL Wrestling State Tournament
2012 UIL Swimming and Diving State Meet
By McKensie Wallesen, UIL Intern | Friday, March 30, 2012 12:31 PM
Video from the 2012 UIL Swimming and Diving State Meet
2012 Cross-Examination Debate State Meet
By Chris Schmidt, Communications Officer | Friday, March 30, 2012 12:17 PM
View video from the 2012 UIL CX Debate State Meet.
Shepherd HS Junior Gets Her Golden Ticket and Competes in American Idol
By Chris Schmidt, Communications Officer | Friday, March 30, 2012 11:51 AM
Amber Holcomb, a junior at Shepherd High School, made it to Hollywood to compete in American Idol. Holcomb runs track and field at her high school.
Photo by Photo courtesy of Amber Holcomb
"Congratulations, you’re going to Hollywood!"
For the past decade, aspiring pop divas and rock stars have longed to hear that phrase because it means they have aced their first audition on their way to becoming the next American Idol. On the latest season of the singing competition, Amber Holcomb, a junior at Shepherd High School, heard those very words.
“I was so excited I didn’t know what to do,” Holcomb said. “I’ve been wanting to audition [for American Idol] ever since I was probably about 13 or 14.”
UIL Lone Star Cup Race Reaches Halfway Point
By Chris Schmidt, Communications Officer | Friday, March 30, 2012 11:49 AM
The latest update to the UIL Lone Star Cup standings was posted on March 16 and at the midway point in the season only a few points separate the leaders in each conference. The current standings include State and Area Marching Band, Team Tennis, Cross Country, Volleyball, Football, Swimming & Diving, Wrestling and Basketball.
The UIL Lone Star Cup is awarded annually to five high schools, one in each of the five UIL classifications (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A), based on their team performance in district and state championships. The winning schools in each classification will receive the UIL Lone Star Cup trophy and a $1,000 scholarship, also presented by the UIL.
New Academic Director Welcomes the New Opportunity
By David Stevens, Academic Director | Friday, March 30, 2012 11:36 AM
Starting the new position as the Director of Academics the first week of District Meets would seem foolish. It may be, but I have yet to know. It has been great corresponding with so many teachers and administrators across the state. I also want to offer a public thanks to the UIL Academic staff. They have been extremely helpful in so many ways in this transition. We have a state champion academic team in the UIL office, and it is my privilege to join them.
One of the greatest opportunities about being a student in UIL Academic contests is the opportunity for scholarships. TILF scholarship applications will be available starting April 1. Any student who has competed at the State Meet in Academics at any time during his/her high school career is eligible to apply. Each year TILF gives more than $1 million in scholarships to attend Texas colleges and universities. See the link on the UIL website for more information.
Debate: A Family Affair
By Trudy Richards, Speech and Debate | Friday, March 30, 2012 11:30 AM
Eleanor and coach Russell Kirkscey from Blanco High School. Coach Kristi Hodgkiss and Carver from North Lamar High School. Coach Angela Teachout and Hunter Hall from Farwell and Tra Hall from Munday High School.
Each year, several students coached by their parents make it to the CX State Meet. Their experience is in some ways much like that of their peers. They work hard and put in plenty of time and effort hoping to make it to finals. But in other ways, their experience is very different.
Eleanor Kirkscey vividly remembers her introduction to debate when she was so young she rode in her car seat on the bus to overnight tournaments with her father Russell Kirkscey of Blanco High School.
“I knew I had her hooked when, as a six-year-old, she listened to one of my Super Conference lectures and took notes,” Russell Kirkscey said.
CX Debaters End Season with Capitol Experience
By Jana Riggins, Speech and Debate Director | Friday, March 30, 2012 11:19 AM
State Representative Mark Strama, a member of the House Education Committee, medals a student at the CX State Meet. Rep. Strama spoke to the students about the impact debate had on his life.
Photo by David Trussell
Our two Cross-Examination Debate State Meets in mid-March could not have been more exciting! It was the 102nd state debate tournament hosted by the League and for the first time ever, semi-final and final rounds in all conferences were debated at the Texas State Capitol.
I had been looking for a way to make the championship rounds more celebratory. Debaters do not have a defined season like sports, so they spend an entire year researching a resolution selected by a national balloting process. On any given topic area, there could be 75-100 different cases that demand maintaining the most current, up-to-date evidence files.