Brownwood High School students competed in a University Interscholastic League (UIL) District competition on March 31st at Wylie High School. Thirteen students participated in the categories of Prose, Poetry, Journalism, Ready Writing, Current Events, Informative Speaking, Persuasive Speaking, and One Act Play. Sponsors Larry Mathis and Dee Dee Blagg will accompany the students who ranked 1st through 4th to Texas Tech University on April 15th – 16th for the Region competition.

“UIL Speech Events, and One Act Play, for that matter, are a great challenge to the students,” Mathis said. “It teaches them a great deal about real world challenges and outcomes, about learning how to prepare to compete and to measure their performance against others.”

The UIL was created in 1909 by The University of Texas at Austin to coordinate quality academic, athletic, and music contests for students across the state. The contests are designed to provide educational and leadership opportunities for students to help, “enrich their education and expand their horizons,” the UIL website explains. The contests offer unique opportunities for students to learn the ups and downs of real-world competition.

“The kids get a larger look at evaluating their skill levels with students other than those in Brownwood,” Mathis said.

Students begin competing with their peers and work their way through area, district, regional, and state meets, earning merit and improving their skills along the way. Following the Regional competition in Lubbock, qualifying students will progress to the State Meet held in Austin.

“The kids have to work exceptionally hard to put themselves in a position to excel,” Mathis said. “At the same time though, they realize that there is an ‘X’ factor called a judge. Sometimes their effort is rewarded, sometimes not. They have to learn to delineate between not being as prepared as they should have been and judge subjectivity.” Dreams are made and hearts are broken at UIL meets, but year after year students continue working toward the ultimate goal of learning how to present themselves and their skills with their best effort.

“We are very excited for the kids,” Mathis said. “We coaches and sponsors appreciate the effort these kids give to represent themselves and Brownwood High.”

Following is a list of students who participated and their rankings within each category:

Prose:

• Kayla Stewart – 2nd
• Kim Boswell – 4th
• Caitlyn Morris – 5th

 

Poetry:

• Colbie Crow – 2nd
• Trey Fawcett – 4th

 

Journalism:

• Edith Camp – 3rd (Feature, Editorial)
• Rachel Simon – 1st (Feature)

 

Ready Writing:

• Aimee Hogue – 4th

 

Current Events:

• Kumar Douglas – 5th

 

Informative Speaking:

• Erin Collier – 6th

 

Persuasive Speaking:

• Emily Harding – 5th
• Nick Benny – 6th

 

One Act Play:

• Colbie Crow – All Star Cast
• Meredith Underwood – All Star Cast
• Kayla Stewart – Honorable Mention All Star Cast
• Kim Boswell – Honorable Mention All Star Cast

Pictured above are (left to right):

Back Row: Colbie Crow, Kayla Stewart, Caitlyn Morris, Kimberly Boswell

Front Row:Trey Fawcett, Meredith Underwood