2024 UIL Sponsor Excellence Award Winners

Date: Feb 19, 2025
Category: AcademicsAthleticsGeneral Information Music

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUSTIN — The University Interscholastic League is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 UIL Sponsor Excellence Award, celebrating 14 sponsors who have demonstrated unparalleled commitment to students' extracurricular development in Texas.

The award, now in its 34^th 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 education system.

The winners were selected by a panel of judges in the areas of academics, athletics and music from nominations submitted by school principals and superintendents across the state.

“The commitment and dedication of sponsors, coaches and directors are the driving force behind the invaluable benefits of interscholastic competition and student performance,” said UIL Executive Director Dr. Charles Breithaupt. “The UIL takes pride in acknowledging and honoring these exceptional individuals with this prestigious award.”

Each winner will receive $1,000 and a symbolic memento from the UIL in recognition of their achievements in the pursuit of educational excellence through interscholastic competition. The League continually strives to strengthen and promote the role of extracurricular activities in Texas through programs like the UIL Sponsor Excellence Award.

The UIL Sponsor Excellence Award winners for 2024 are as follows:

Jeff Ables – Austin Bowie High School
Jeff Ables has been a coach at Austin Bowie High School for 37 years, serving as athletic coordinator and head football coach for the past 23. During his time at the helm, he has amassed a school record 151 wins, led his teams to four district titles, and been named District Coach of the Year twice. Ables has developed numerous student-athletes who have gone on to attend top universities such as Columbia and Stanford. He has played a significant role in his player’s lives. As a testament to his impact, six of his former players now coach alongside him on staff at Bowie.

“I encourage our student-athletes to participate in as many extracurricular programs as possible in their high school experience,” Ables said. “I believe this prepares them for the next chapter of their lives. I also emphasize the importance of being a leader on and off the field.”

Kara Barbee – Clyde High School
For the last 19 years, Kara Barbee has sponsored debate, one-act play (OAP), and speech at Clyde High School, also serving as the school’s UIL academic coordinator for two years. Throughout her tenure, she has led her students to 21 district titles, 24 regional competitions, and 10 state meet appearances, earning three state medals. In addition to her coaching experience, Barbee has hosted numerous CX debate meets, OAP contests, and speech clinics.

“My philosophy when it comes to competition being used as an educational mission is that competition teaches us how to balance the idea of striving for personal excellence while fostering the practices of collaboration and mutual growth among teachers, coaches, and students,” Barbee said. “Healthy competition motivates students to push their boundaries, enhances creativity, and encourages the pursuit of knowledge.”

Lisa Baucom – Waco Connally High School
Lisa Baucom has been coaching for 43 years, with the past 31 as the head track and field coach at Waco Connally High School where she has led the team to two state titles and had more than 75 athletes qualify for the state meet. Of those qualifiers, 30 earned medals, and 12 captured state titles. In addition to track, Baucom has coached cross country, leading teams to eight regional meet appearances and two state berths, as well as volleyball, leading her squads to nine postseason appearances. Outside of athletics, Baucom has sponsored academic events for 24 years, including poetry & prose and ready writing. Nine of her students have qualified for the state meet, with one finishing as state runner-up. She also served on the Texas Girls Coaches Association Track & Field Committee for four years.

“In today’s age, most people believe competition means to defeat others in a contest,” Baucom said. “I seek to train these young people lifelong principles through the thrill of athletic competitions. These lessons would include teamwork, winning and losing with grace, developing grit, and having an exceptional work ethic.”

Kyle Brenner – Melissa High School
Kyle Brenner has sponsored speech, debate, and one-act play at Melissa High School for 16 years and served as the UIL academic coordinator for 15 years. He has led the school to three runner-up finishes in one-act play, a runner-up finish in the UIL academic state team championship, and sent numerous individuals to the state meet. Brenner has been the district academic meet coordinator for the last 10 years and a member of the regional advisory committee for the past eight years. He also authored a CX debate topic.

“Teaching students the fundamentals of their event(s), to value hard work and dedication is the key to being successful, whether it is in the competitive environment of UIL or the academic setting.” Brenner said. “Not every student can or will win a medal, but every one of them can take away an appreciation for hard work and dedication. Those skills will translate to their next step.”

Gary Brister – Hico High School
Gary Brister has been involved in one-act play (OAP) and speech and debate for Hico High School for 30 years, with 20 of those as the school’s UIL academic coordinator. He has led his OAP teams to five state appearances with two state runner-up finishes. Brister has also advanced numerous individuals to the state academic meet, capturing five-consecutive district academic titles. He serves on the regional advisory committee and the state speech advisory committee, while also hosting numerous district meets. Brister has presented at the UIL Student Activities Conference and the UIL Capital Conference.

“At Hico ISD, our approach to competition aligns with my personal belief that competition is about much more than winning; it’s about growth, collaboration, and reaching for something greater,” Brister said. “Our mission is to empower students to develop their full potential, enabling them to meaningfully impact an ever-changing world, and competition is one of the tools we use to shape that journey.”

Trenton Davis – Allen High School
Trenton Davis has been involved with Allen High School choir for the past 14 years where he has led his program to 38 sweepstakes awards at the UIL concert and sightreading competition and had 59 students named to Texas all-state choirs. His choirs have participated in tours in Hawaii, New York, Florida, Croatia and Italy. In 2019, the choir was invited to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association Conference. Davis has hosted numerous district and regional competitions while also serving on regional committees and participating as a clinician at numerous events.

“My philosophy is that competition reflects the caliber of preparation within an organization,” Davis said. “Students that compete at the highest level display their standard of excellence. The environment of the competition becomes insignificant because the consistency of hard work prevails under all levels of pressure.”

Pat Dietz – Alvarado High School
Pat Dietz has 31 years of public education service, spending over 20 years at Alvarado High School as band director. Dietz has led the school to three appearances in the state marching band contest, placed 48 individuals in all-state band, and led his program to four top-10 finishes in honor band. He has hosted the UIL concert band contest and has also been a contest adjudicator.

“Success in competition is a result of consistency in fundamentals,” Dietz said. “Inspiring our students to be their personal best daily.”

Sharon Fangman – Vega High School
Sharon Fangman has sponsored UIL computer applications for 25 years and has been the UIL academic coordinator at Vega High School for 12 years. During the past five years, Fangman has led her teams to two accounting state titles, two computer applications state titles, as well as two individual accounting state titles. Overall, she has produced 114 regional qualifiers, 36 state qualifiers and 14 state champions. Fangman also coaches computer science, copy editing, and spelling.

“In support of our school's mission statement, ‘Vega ISD creates a challenging learning environment that encourages high expectations for lifelong success,’ I believe that UIL Academic competitions provide the encouragement for reaching these high expectations,” Fangman said. “From the core subjects to the speaking and journalism events, these contests provide the incentive for students to expand their knowledge and expertise beyond the daily lessons provided in class.

Austin Guest – Midlothian High School
Austin Guest has been a high school soccer coach for 27 years, with the past 20 as the head boys and girls coach at Midlothian High School. Throughout his career, Guest has led his teams to a combined 739-279-113 record, qualified for the state playoffs 42 times, won 26 district championships, and captured two state titles (Red Oak Boys-2003; Midlothian Boys-2024). Individually, he has guided 27 players to play in college, 55 academic all-state players, 13 all-region players, 21 all-state players, and three United Soccer Coaches all-Americans. Guest has been a presenter at numerous clinics, a clinic organizer and five-time TASCO Senior Showcase All-Star Game coach. He has also served as a member and committee chair on the United Soccer Coaches Texas HS Awards Committee.

“Developing good people and good teammates are the keys to developing good players, teams and community members,” Guest said. “It’s important to teach our student athletes individual responsibility, a team first mentality, mental toughness, respect for others, empathy, and a fervor for competition.”

Allison Martin – Aspermont High School
Allison Martin has been the computer science sponsor for Aspermont High School for the past 10 years, while also serving at the school’s UIL academic coordinator for eight years. In computer science she has led her team to the state meet nine times, capturing seven medals, including three state championships. She has also led individuals to eight state medals, including four state champions. Martin has also coached calculator, mathematics and number sense. Across the board, she has led her team to 18 district team titles. In 2024, Aspermont finished second in the academic state meet team awards. She has also been the district academic director for the past six years.

“Aspermont ISD’s mission statement says, “Learning today, for success tomorrow”,” Martin said. “My philosophy has always been goal related. The biggest challenge in coaching UIL and teaching in general is convincing students that they are capable of success.

Gena Smith – Van Vleck High School
Gena Smith is a 34-year veteran in education at Van Vleck ISD. After coaching A+ academics in junior high, Smith has served as the school’s academic coordinator and has been involved with the one-act play, speech & debate, and film programs. During her tenure, she has led her teams to four state appearances in one-act play and two in theatrical design, had multiple students qualify for the state meet in CX debate, congress, and other academic events, and produced three TILF scholarship winners. Smith has served on the regional advisory committee for speech and debate for eight years and has volunteered for multiple positions at the state congress meet. She has also served as a judge at state speech, and hosted numerous district meets.

“Our basic educational mission ought to be to meet a student where they are and bring them forward,” Smith said. “Hopefully, this approach will result in students reaching their personal maximum potential and will help them to define and find personal success. Engaging in competition can help students learn to navigate challenges, work collaboratively, and develop problem-solving skills, thus if we use competition in an educational setting, it can help them to hone those acquired skills and take them to the next level.”

Curt Taylor – Wall High School
Curt Taylor has devoted his professional career to state academics for 15 years, with the last 10 at Wall High School, where he has sponsored the school’s computer science, computer applications, state congress, robotics, and film programs. During his career, he has led teams to the state meet 28 times, guided three teams to state titles in computer science (Booker— 2013,’15; Wall— 2019), won one individual state title, and led Wall’s robotics team to four-straight state appearances.

“Knowledge and skill gain, personal growth, development and discovery...these are abstract concepts that are difficult to communicate,” Taylor said. “Tell a student that this is what you want for them, and they may look at you funny. But competition...this is a solid and tangible goal that is instantly understood. My most enjoyable moments as a teacher are when in the end a student finds that through the latter, they have gained the former.

Melissa Victorick – Friendswood High School
Melissa Victorick has been involved with Friendswood High School’s UIL academic teams for 25 years. including the past 13 as the school’s UIL academic coordinator. During her time, Friendswood has captured seven academic state titles and consistently ranked in the top-10 of the UIL Lone Star Cup standings. She currently serves as the performing and visual arts department head at Friendswood.

“Competition should be viewed as a tool for encouraging growth, resilience, and collaboration rather than merely as a pursuit of personal victory,” Victorick said. “Competition becomes a means of personal growth and community building, aligning with the educational mission to nurture well-rounded, emotionally intelligent, and capable individuals. Our academic team is a family— we travel together, support each other, and celebrate our best parts.

Teresa Wilcox – Brock High School
With over 20 years of experience, Teresa Wilcox has led the Brock High School academic teams since 2015. She has consistently qualified students to the state meet in mathematics, calculator, number sense and computer science since 2008. Her students have won a combined 18 individual state titles and 15 team titles. In the last six years, her academic teams have consistently been ranked in the top-5 at the regional meet.

“I believe healthy competition is a powerful tool for developing students into well-rounded, resilient, lifelong learners,” Wilcox said. “I view competition as an opportunity to showcase their strengths, pursue excellence, and learn valuable life skills such as teamwork, communication skills, and self-discipline.”

-- END --