General News
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Barnes Leads Policy and Compliance for League
By Jamie Oberg, UIL Intern | Friday, September 06, 2013 1:52 PM
Leo Barnes is the new Director of Policy and Compliance.
Photo by Kate Y. Hector
Formerly an Associate Vice President for Legal Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, Leo L. Barnes began working at the UIL as the Director of Policy and Compliance in June 2013.
A native Texan who grew up in Houston and attended Spring Branch High School, Barnes received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas and graduated cum laude from the St. Mary’s School of Law in San Antonio.
Munoz and Malone Join League Team
By Jamie Oberg, UIL Intern | Friday, September 06, 2013 1:42 PM
This summer, UIL welcomed many new staff members to our team. Among them, Glenda Munoz was hired as an administrative assistant in the academic department, and Mervin Malone as a Senior Mail Clerk assisting the entire office.
Munoz worked as the administrative assistant at the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center (HCWC) in San Marcos after graduating from Texas State with a degree in Sociology.
“Upon graduating, I wanted to help change the world in social services and began a wonderful experience at HCWC,” Munoz said. “During my five years [there], I realized my administrative strengths and shifted from direct services to office management and event planning duties.”
A Musical Journey: Floyd Retires After Nearly 3 Decades at UIL
By Jamie Oberg, UIL Intern | Friday, May 31, 2013 10:29 AM
Richard Floyd, who started at UIL 29 years ago, will retire this summer. On June 27, Floyd will be one of 13 individuals inducted in the National High School Hall of Fame in Denver, Colorado
UIL Music Director Richard Floyd wears his philosophy close to his heart. In fact, it’s merely inches from it.
It’s a necklace that encourages him daily to always take chances and embrace life’s unpredictability.
“If you turn it certain ways it reads ‘Go for it,’” he explained.
Only Floyd, his wife Cheryl, and his son Weston have the necklaces, which Floyd designed himself and commissioned a local jeweler to create.
“Go for it if you have a vision, just move forward with passion,” Floyd said. “That’s what I’ve tried to do, and I hope people remember me as being passionate and caring and committed.”
And Texas music educators will have no problem remembering that.
Academic State Meet Draws Thousands to Austin to Compete
By Jeanne Acton, Journalism Director | Friday, May 31, 2013 8:15 AM
Lindale High school student Jessie Elliot and White Oak High School student Austin Jordan display their medals and plaques after the journalism awards ceremony at the Academic State Meet. Both students were in all four journalism contests, and both students medaled in each of the four contests.
Photo by Suzanne Bardwell
For the 2013 Academic State Meet, held May 20-22, more than 3,000 Texas students descended on the University of Texas at Austin to compete for the ultimate prize – a State Championship.
And while not every student walked away with a gold medal, every student walked away as a winner, said Academic Director Dr. David Stevens.
“Each year, I am in awe of the talents of the students at the State Meet,” Dr. Stevens said. “You don’t make it to that level of competition without intelligence, dedication and commitment.”
This year to add more prestige to the award ceremonies, Dr. Stevens secured auditoriums for most award ceremonies.
“These students deserve the best, and that is what we strive to give them,” he said.
Sophomore Pole Vaulter Awarded Spirit of Sport Award
By Jamie Oberg, UIL Intern | Friday, May 31, 2013 7:44 AM
As her coach watches, sophomore Charlotte Brown clears the bar at the UIL State Track Meet. Brown, who is legally blind, placed eighth in the 3A competition.
Photo by Jamie Oberg, UIL intern
At this year’s UIL State & Field Championships, Charlotte Brown, a pole-vaulter at Emory Rains High School, was presented with the 2013 Section 6 National High School Spirit of Sport Award by the National Federation of State High School Associations.
The National Federation of State High Schools Associations Spirit of Sport Award was created to recognize those individuals who exemplify the ideals of the spirit of sport that represent the core mission of education-based athletics. The NFHS divides the nation into eight geographical sections, with Texas in Section 6.
Although legally blind, the sophomore placed eighth in the state in pole vaulting.
Brown’s visual abilities are similar to looking through a tiny straw. She cannot distinguish shapes or colors, and has no depth perception.
2013 UIL Swimming and Diving State Meet Slideshow
By | Friday, March 01, 2013 1:23 PM
View photos from the 2013 UIL Swimming and Diving State Championship.
2013 TILF Banquet Slideshow
By | Friday, March 01, 2013 1:18 PM
On Feb. 26, the Texas Interscholastic League Foundation held its annual 2013 Celebration of Academic Excellence Banquet honoring TILF scholarship recipients attending the University of Texas at Austin. The banquet was held at the Alumni Center on the University of Texas campus. TILF, the UIL scholarship foundation, awarded more than $1 million in scholarships last year. TILF donors, UT scholarship recipients and League staff attended the banquet where students had the opportunity to thank their donors and talk about the impact UIL had on their lives.
Todd Named Yearbook Teacher of the Year
By Rhonda Moore, TAJE Executive Director | Friday, March 01, 2013 12:11 PM
After she is presented the Yearbook Teacher of the Year Award, Cindy Todd embraces H.L. Hall at Westlake High School.
Photo by David Oliver, Westlake High School
Cindy Todd thought she was going to a faculty meeting during a staff workday to talk about an upcoming activities fair. When she got to the meeting, her principal said they were going to celebrate some accomplishments and recognize one of the teachers. Then she saw H.L. Hall.
“The minute he introduced H.L. Hall, I knew what was happening,” Todd said. “I couldn’t believe it. I turned to Deanne [Brown, newspaper adviser], who was in on it all along, and asked her if it was really happening. And, of course, I started crying.”
Todd, yearbook adviser at Westlake High School in Austin, was named the H.L. Hall National Yearbook Adviser of the Year Jan. 7. She will be officially honored at the Saturday Advisers Luncheon at the JEA/NSPA convention in San Francisco in April. In addition to a plaque, she will receive $1,000 for her program and $1,000 for herself.
League to Debut Concussion Safety Video in Late Spring
By Jeanne Acton, Journalism Director | Friday, March 01, 2013 11:07 AM
In terms of medical issues, the University Interscholastic League pushes to be ahead of the curve to keep athletes safe.
“We have mandatory trainings for coaches, concussion protocols in place, mandatory physicals and much more” Deputy Director Dr. Jamey Harrison said. “Our coaches and many of our athletes are aware of these things, but our parents and the general public don’t always get that information. We haven’t done a good job advertising what we are doing.”
To solve that problem, Executive Director Charles Breithaupt and his executive team decided to create three-minute videos to provide information regarding processes and procedures the UIL has in place for the health and safety of students.
Riggins Awarded Prestigious NFHS Citation
By Jamie Oberg, UIL Intern | Friday, March 01, 2013 10:55 AM
Jana Riggins has been the UIL Speech and Debate Director for the past 16 years.
Photo by Jeanne Acton
Jana Riggins, Assistant Academic director at UIL, will receive the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) prestigious Citation Award this summer in Denver, Colorado.
Designed to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to high school sports and performing arts, the NFHS Citation is one of the most highly regarded achievements in high school activities. Citation Awards are issued in six categories, including Speech and Debate, where it is the highest honor possible.
When first notified of her recognition, Riggins said she felt “very humbled.”