THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF
THE UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE
Jose Guardiola from Gregory-Portland High School addresses the current issue during finals at State Congress. The finals were held at the Texas State Capitol.
Photo by Jeanne Acton
First State Congress Meet Held in January
By Jamie Oberg, UIL Intern | Monday, February 24, 2014 12:41 PM
This January, UIL hosted the inaugural championship for Congress, a pilot program within the speech and debate umbrella. The preliminary rounds took place at the University of Texas at Austin and the final round took place in the Texas Capitol building.
Congress models the legislative process of democracy, specifically, the United States Congress. Within this mock legislative assembly competition, contestants draft legislation (proposed laws and position statements) submitted to the tournament, and they research the docket of bills and resolutions dealing with real-world social and political policies prior to the contest to prepare their speeches. At the tournament, students caucus in committees, deliver formal discourse on the merits and disadvantages of each piece of legislation and vote to pass or defeat the measures they have examined. Parliamentary procedure forms structure for the discourse, and students extemporaneously respond to others’ arguments over the course of a session.
TILF Scholar, Former Academic State Competitor Takes on New Role in UIL
By Jan Ross Piedad, UIL intern | Monday, February 24, 2014 1:10 PM
Michael Donaldson's passion for UIL started in elementary school and continued throughout his years in public school. After competing in more than four events at the state level in high school and receiving a TILF scholarship, Michael is now an intern for the academic department.
Photo by Jan Ross Piedad
Sitting nervously in a second round of internship interviews last summer, incoming freshman Michael Donaldson attempted to describe his philosophy about the University Interscholastic League.
“UIL is a bridge to success for students,” he said, “And the people who lead them are the lights, but there are pillars—that’s what holds up the bridge—and those are the people you don’t know about. Those are the interns.”
Those words got him the job, and now Michael is one of those pillars, a strong support for the organization’s success.
More Articles in this Issue
- Updates from the Director of Athletics
- Dance Like Nobody’s Watching
- Last-Minute Review Prior to Spring Contests
- Critic Gives Suggestions for Oral Interp Categories
- Adviser Speaks Up for Journalism Classes
Former UIL Music Director Wins ‘Oscar’ of the Band World
By Jamie Oberg, UIL Intern | Monday, February 24, 2014 1:08 PM
Even though former UIL Music Director Richard Floyd officially retired last year, his resume and list of awards continues to expand.
Floyd is a recipient of the National Band Association’s 2013 Academy of Wind and Percussion Arts Award (AWAPA). The nine-inch silver AWAPA award is considered to be the “Oscar” of the band world.
"Knowing personally many of the musical icons who have received the AWAPA Award in the past, I will have to say that I was emotionally stunned to learn I had been so honored,” Floyd said. “I have never considered what I do to be 'award worthy.’ I simply have tried every day to be a ‘positive force’ in the professional world in which I live and work. My goal remains to make the best music I know how and to make a difference in the lives of the students and colleagues around me."
17 Awarded Sponsor Excellence Awards
By Kate Y. Hector, Media Coordinator | Monday, February 24, 2014 1:03 PM
The University Interscholastic League is proud to recognize 17 of the best UIL sponsors in Texas as the 2013 UIL Sponsor Excellence Award winners.
A panel of judges in the areas of academics, athletics and music selected the winners from nominations submitted by school principals and superintendents across the state.
The award, now in its 23rd 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.
“The merits of interscholastic competition and student performance can only be achieved through the hard work and dedication of sponsors, coaches and directors like these,” said UIL Executive Director Dr. Charles Breithaupt. “On behalf of the UIL, I commend these outstanding educators.”