Academic Organizations

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2011 - 2012

UIL Academic Teams

The University Interscholastic League was created by The University of Texas at Austin to provide leadership and guidance to public school debate and athletic teachers. Since 1909 the UIL has grown into the largest inter-school organization of its kind in the world.

The UIL exists to provide educational extracurricular academic, athletic, and music contests. The initials UIL have come to represent quality educational competition administered by school people on an equitable basis. (http://www.uiltexas.org/about)

We usually have 40 to 45 students on our Academic Team, so almost everyone who tries out will get a spot.

Competition is open to any student who wishes to further his or her expertise in a particular area. Students in Honors English classes are required to try out for at least two events, one of which can be One Act Play. All students are encouraged to try out.

One of the benefits of competing is that the UIL has 90 scholarships, some giving multiple awards. For students interested in Blinn Junior College, Blinn will waive tuition fees for the first year for students competing at the State level in any academic area.

The team events are Accounting, Calculator Applications, Computer Science, Current Issues and Events, Literary Criticism, Math, Number Sense, Science, Social Studies, Cross Examination Debate, and Spelling. Most teams must have at least three members and can have four.

Science teams can have three to six members who can place in overall Science and individually in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

A school can have up to four Cross Examination teams (two members per team), depending on how many teams enter in District competition.

Events with only individual contestants (three per event) are Computer Applications, Lincoln Douglas Debate, Informative Speaking, Persuasive Speaking, Poetry, Prose, Editorial Writing, Feature Writing, Headline Writing, News Writing, and Ready Writing.

Although there are no teams in the individual events, a school can earn 10 extra points per event if they are the high point school in either speaking events or journalism events—5 extra if they place second.

Students who place in the top three of their competition at District advance to Regional; students who place in the top three there advance to State. All members of first place teams advance regardless of individual placing. Second place teams can advance if they are the wild card team—the second highest ranking team in District or Regional.

Students who are interested in competing should pay close attention to the conflict schedule so that they don’t try out in areas that conflict.

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