Thread: FIRST in Texas Partners with UIL (University Interscholastic League)
View Single Post
  #10   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 10-12-2015, 16:33
Red2486's Avatar
Red2486 Red2486 is offline
Registered User
AKA: Kinney Anderson
FRC #1011 (CRUSH)
Team Role: Mentor
  
Join Date: Jul 2011
Rookie Year: 2010
Location: Arizona
Posts: 112
Red2486 is a splendid one to beholdRed2486 is a splendid one to beholdRed2486 is a splendid one to beholdRed2486 is a splendid one to beholdRed2486 is a splendid one to beholdRed2486 is a splendid one to beholdRed2486 is a splendid one to behold
Re: FIRST in Texas Partners with UIL (University Interscholastic League)
Quote:
Originally Posted by jessjank. View Post
Hi Ed,

1) The UIL is a huge thing in Texas. It "legitimizes" extra-curricular school activities. It's not just a funding thing. School administrators are more inclined to provide a variety of types of support for existing teams and to start new teams because it is now a UIL activity.

2) It is not creating a separate system. It is joining on with one that already exists. No changes are made to FIRST as it exists; the UIL simply recognizes it as an official activity and joins in to provide further recognition of eligible schools. (As I noted above: The UIL pilot does not in ANY way change or impact the regular FIRST season. All Texas teams will be able to participate in FIRST programs and competitions the same way they have in the past.) You can compare what's happening with Texas with what already occurred in Minnesota, Arizona, and Connecticut; I welcome folks from those areas to chime in with how it has impacted their state, schools, teams, etc.

Also, consider reading more about the UIL here: http://www.uiltexas.org/about
I attended our AIA (Arizona Interscholastic Association) State Championship last year and it was great. You can view the guide to the event from last year here: http://aiaonline.org/files/14680/aia...de-2014-15.pdf .

We did not have to pay entry fee, the event was at a great venue, and the top 30 teams in the state were invited to compete. I believe the scoring system is similar to districts, and it is included in the guide above. It was a lot more low key than official regionals (visitors weren't technically aloud in the pit and spirit from teams was pretty lacking), but still a great opportunity to include a new community in FIRST.

On whether non UIL students will be able to compete: I'm not saying that Texas will turn out just like Arizona, but the team I mentor is a public charter school that previously had no affiliation with the AIA, and we had no issues whatsoever, so hopefully this will not be a problem for you.

edit: sorry, I didn't realize they had already posted the information barring non UIL teams
__________________
Mentor - CRUSH, FRC Team 1011 - 2015 to Present
Student - CocoNuts, FRC Team 2486 - 2010 to 2014
2014 Dean's List Winner
--
"Every child deserves a champion, an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best they can possibly be. We can do this. We're educators. We're born to make a difference." -Rita Pierson
Last edited by Red2486 : 10-12-2015 at 16:44.
Reply With Quote