The University Interscholastic League is proud to recognize
15 of the best UIL sponsors in Texas as the 2019 UIL Sponsor Excellence
Award winners.
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 award, now in its 29th 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.
“Coaches and teachers have such a difficult job, and they go beyond
the call of duty to serve as UIL sponsors, coaches and directors,”
said UIL Executive Director Dr. Charles Breithaupt. “UIL events
function and thrive on the dedication and immense effort from sponsors
like these. On behalf of the UIL, I commend these outstanding
educators.”
Each winner will receive $1,000 and a symbolic memento from the UIL in
recognition of their outstanding 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 2019 ARE AS FOLLOWS:
CINDY BERRY – BRIDGEPORT HIGH SCHOOL
Cindy Berry has dedicated 28 years to UIL academics. She has been the
UIL Coordinator for the past 10 years at both Bridgeport High School and
Decatur High School. Berry has hosted UIL Academic District meets
numerous times and served on the inaugural All-State UIL/ILPC Journalism
staff committee in 1998. She has led her teams to three state titles in
headline writing and editorial writing and placed 23 students on the
UIL/ILPC All-State team.
“Not only do my personal past UIL experiences rank high among my
favorite high school memories, but my students tell me the same about
their experiences,” Berry said. “It’s an incredible feeling to
coach these kids to great success, while creating traditions that will
carry on through the years.”
RYAN BURGARD, THRALL HIGH SCHOOL
Ryan Burgard has spent the past 12 years at Thrall High School as
sponsor of the school’s science team. Burgard has led his teams to 12
district titles, three regional titles and a science team state
championship in two of the last three years. He has also led his
students to 32 individual district titles, 11 individual regional titles
and two individual state titles.
“I can honestly say at the end of the day it is not about the number
of awards you receive or the amount of state championships you have,”
Burgard said. “It is about developing students’ minds so that when
they graduate and go off to college or the work force, they will have
the educational background and critical thinking skills that make them
successful in life.”
TRIVA CORRALES, CONVERSE JUDSON HIGH SCHOOL
Triva Corrales has been head coach of the Converse Judson High School
girls basketball team for the past 10 years. While at the helm, she led
the team to three state tournaments in the past three seasons. In 2018,
Corrales led the team to a state runner-up finish before taking home the
school’s first state title in 2019. She has coached two McDonald’s
All-American nominees, three all-state players, 10 all-region
selections, and had 59 players named all-district. Over 25 of her former
players have earned college basketball scholarships.
“My philosophy of athletics is centered around the coach-to-player
relationship,” Corrales said. “This is a very special area for me
because it is a relationship that goes beyond X’s and O’s, and one
that I cherish. I enjoy teaching and guiding young people toward their
destiny. To see a young person work and improve themselves is the
greatest of joys for me.”
JOSH GIBSON, TEXARKANA PLEASANT GROVE HIGH SCHOOL
Throughout his six years at Texarkana Pleasant Grove as the athletic
director and head football coach, Gibson has led the athletic program to
a school record in points and final standings in the UIL Lone Star Cup.
In four of the last five seasons, 100 percent of boys and girls teams
have made the playoffs. As a football coach, Gibson has guided his team
to two-straight state championship games, winning the title in 2017.
“Our philosophy with extracurricular competition is to grow our
student-athletes as people, students and athletes,” Gibson said. “We
will use our platform to make an impact in our school, on our teams, and
in our community. The “extra” time that we get with these students
gives us more time to foster the growth process and hold them
accountable in their educational experiences.”
LESLIE GRAHAM, ARCHER CITY HIGH SCHOOL
Leslie Graham has been the UIL coordinator for Archer City ISD for the
past 13 years. During that time, Graham has led her teams to nine
district championships and one regional title. She was also the director
for the district in one-act play. Her casts advanced to the district
meet eight times, the area round twice and the regional meet once. The
regional appearance was the school’s first in its 25-year history.
“I believe competition through UIL academics and one-act play meets
every point we strive to reach,” Graham said. “Our students have to
be self-disciplined and motivated to put the time, effort and energy to
participate in academics and OAP. Through these activities, students
develop skills of independence and self-sufficiency as they work through
problems, learn new skills and explore new opportunities. The
competition is not just about winning and losing awards.”
SCOTT HIPPENSTEEL, LOCKHART HIGH SCHOOL
Scott Hippensteel has served as the head boys cross country and track
coach at Lockhart High School for the past 31 years. During his tenure
he has led his cross country teams to 23 district titles, 11 regional
titles and two state championships. His track and field teams have won
11 district titles, five regional championships and had two state
runner-up finishes. Throughout his career, Hippensteel has led over 150
runners to the state cross country meet and over 100 athletes to the
state track and field meet.
“I believe that our mission is to develop student-athletes who are
prepared to be our next generation of leaders in our society,”
Hippensteel said.
TANA HOWARD, ACKERLY SANDS HIGH SCHOOL
Tana Howard has led the one-act play program and has been a fine arts
instructor at Ackerly Sands High School for the past 14 years. Howard
has directed the one-act play program to four regional meets and one
runner-up state meet finish. Her speech teams qualified for regionals in
2017 and 2019 and her number sense team won the state title in 2012.
“Winning or losing in this game is not up to you, but what you take
from the journey and what you carry on with you in life is,” Howard
said. “Medals will fade and tarnish, but what you leave on people’s
hearts will last a lifetime, and hopefully you can instill that in
future generations to come. Be the Good, Be the Kind, and always Shine
Bright in the Spotlight on the Stage of Life.”
RYAN LOVELL, AMARILLO TASCOSA HIGH SCHOOL
For the past six years, Ryan Lovell has led UIL academics at Amarillo
Tascosa High School. Lovell has had 17 qualifiers and two finalists at
State Congress, two qualifiers for State Debate, one qualifier to State
Speech, and led four teams to State CX Debate. During his tenure, Lovell
has grown the academic program from a team that scored 36 points at the
district meet in his first year to a team that amassed nearly 400 points
in this past year’s district meet.
“My basic philosophy is that students learn and achieve best when
teachers are able to tap into the students’ passions,” Lovell said.
“UIL contests provide frameworks in which students can pursue
excellence, and are the driving force attracting students to
competition, and a chance to explore their passions.”
JACKI MAENIUS, MASON HIGH SCHOOL
For over 30 years, Jacki Maenius has coached nearly every aspect of UIL
academics. She has advanced numerous teams and individuals to the
regional and state meets. In one-act play, Maenius led her casts to
four-straight state titles from 2013-2016. She has also led multiple
prose and poetry participants to district championships and appearances
in the regional tournament.
“I believe competition is a motivation best utilized in education when
it is employed internally rather than focusing on the defeat of another
person or team,” Maenius said. “Personal and artistic growth is the
ultimate goal that comes from the continual drive to be better, and to
hone skills in one craft.”
SANDRA PEEK, WEST HARDIN HIGH SCHOOL
Sandra Peek has been a UIL academic coach for the last 20 years. She
has coached journalism, speech and one-act play, as well as being the
schools’ UIL Academic Coordinator for the past eight years. During her
tenure, she has led her teams to three state championships in congress,
and a state title in CX debate, Lincoln-Douglas debate, and persuasive
speaking. Her OAP casts have qualified for regionals twice.
“Most of my success stories aren’t top-three state medalists,”
Peek said. “The reality is that the children who struggle with
competition events often turn out to be the best college students and
lifetime leaders. My unproven hypothesis is that in UIL competition they
developed determination and perseverance. These are both vital to life
success. Academic, fine arts and sports competition should always be a
part of a school’s mission.”
REBECCA PLUMLEY, MCDADE HIGH SCHOOL
Rebecca Plumley has been involved with UIL academics for the past 21
years, with the past six years as UIL Academic Coordinator at both Round
Rock Stony Point High School and McDade High School. During her career,
Plumley has led her teams to numerous district and regional
championships, and two state championships in feature writing and
headline writing.
“Unlike some aspects of public education, competition doesn’t focus
on the minimum,” Plumley said. “Instead it pushes for its
competitors to do more for themselves and for others. By providing its
participants the chance to look for and push beyond what they know,
competition, such as that provided by the UIL, fosters educational
excellence.”
GLORIA RAMIREZ, LANGHAM CREEK HIGH SCHOOL
With over 38 years of service, Gloria Ramirez has spent the past 17
years as the Director of Bands at Houston Langham Creek High School.
Ramirez has led numerous individuals to honors in the State Solo and
Ensemble, State Wind Ensemble, and sight-reading contest. The Langham
Creek Marching Band has received a 1st Division rating every year for
the last 30 years and has advanced to the State Marching Band Contest
four times.
“Competition plays a vital role in our school’s basic educational
mission statement as we strive to help students reach their maximum
potential,” Ramirez said. “I have always believed that skills, such
as learning to be independent thinkers, problem solvers, and learning
what it means to be a team player are much more important than winning
or losing.”
JOLENE TAYLOR, PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL
Jolene Taylor has been involved in UIL academics since 2005. Taylor has
led almost all academic events at Plains High School and has been the
UIL Academic Coordinator and the District Academic Coordinator for the
past six years. She has guided her teams to 20 district titles, two
regional championships and state championships in headline writing and
ready writing.
“I am passionate about student success, whether in UIL competition or
in my classroom,” Taylor said. “Success to me is not simply passing
a class or winning a plaque, medal, or ribbon. Success is helping a
student see the potential he or she possesses and helping them reach
that potential.”
EVELIO VILLAREAL, PLANO EAST HIGH SCHOOL
Evelio Villareal has led the Plano East Senior High School marching band
since 1996. Villareal guided Plano East to a UIL Sweepstakes award in
each of the past 15 years and five appearances in the State Marching
Band Contest. He has also produced numerous students that have won gold
medals in the State Solo and Ensemble Contest. Villareal has also
directed the school’s concert band for the past 16 years.
“The approach to competition can be invaluable in teaching life
lessons to students,” Villareal said. “As members of an ensemble,
they learn the value of teamwork to achieve a common goal. Along the
way, they learn about the individual responsibility and commitment
needed to achieve that goal. It is never about winning or losing but
giving their best effort in everything they do.”
SAMI WOMACK, HEREFORD HIGH SCHOOL
A 15-year coaching veteran, Sami Womack has participated as a sponsor in
almost every UIL academic contest. She has spent the last 11 years as
the UIL Academic Coordinator at Hereford High School. She has led her
teams to three academic regional championships, three speech regional
championships, and a state title in speech and debate in 2007. During
her tenure, she has guided over 50 individuals to appearances in the
State Academic Meet.
“I believe that all extracurricular activities provide every student
opportunity not available in a regular classroom environment for the
“real world” application of the skills in our school’s vision
statement,” Womack said. “I believe that all students become
empowered to become effective communicators, ethical individuals,
critical thinkers and leaders within their circles of influence.”
