Staff photographer Nellie Doneva followed several of the Big Country competitors before and after their events at UIL State in Austin May 4 and 5, 2007. She captured Stamford High School students preparing for their performance of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, including Tannon Nauert, left, and Payton Herman.
See more photos of students from Brownwood, Ira, Jayton, Jim Ned and Wylie in the online slide show.
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Members of the Accounting team, which placed first in the 4A division. Pictured are coach Ann Ellis, center, and team members Meosha Brooks and Matt Roddam. Not pictured are Brooke Dalton and Lindsey Shriver.
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Isaiah Cisneroz accepts his medal for finishing second in Computer Applications.
Matt Roddam is presented the fifth place medal in Computer Applications.
Members of the Accounting Team during verification.
"Budding area journalists place in UIL state competition" recaps Thursday's activities.
Additional behind-the-scene coverage is offered in "Colorado City UIL team nears finish line of long race."
On Thursday, a preview of the Austin events was given in "UIL state competitors kick into action today."
Competitors, teachers and family members who are in Austin: If you get a break, send us a quick comment on this blog post to update readers with the latest news.
]]>These students have proven they are some of the brightest young competitors in UIL academics ... and now it's time for the ultimate test.
The meet starts Thursday and ends Saturday at the University of Texas in Austin.
Students make it to state by placing at the local, district and regional levels. Once they get to state, they can earn scholarships, letter jackets and glory for their schools.
Who are these students? What are their events? What's it like to prepare and compete? And, what are some things even their parents and friends don't know about them?
Find out the answers here in a special tribute blog to the Big Country's brightest. Each student is spotlighted, and comments are welcome at the end of each entry. The entries begin below, starting alphabetically by school. Or, click in the Categories section to the lower right to see students in specific events and schools.
Note to competitors: If you have Internet access while in Austin, update readers on the action by posting comments at the end of your Q&A blog entry. Got pictures of the excitement? We'll post those too. E-mail them to webmaster@reporternews.com. (Include your name, phone number, names of people in the photo and a brief description.)
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Age: 15
Grade: 10th
Event: UIL Spelling and Vocabulary
What’s the most challenging/nerve-wracking thing about your event: The most nerve-wracking thing about the event is the night before, because all you can do is think about your event and therefore you can’t get any sleep.
First thing you’ll do when you win: The first thing I’ll do is eat something, because my stomach can’t hold anything up until then!
Past honors in the event: I went to State as a freshman last year and placed fifth, and I have won district every year since 3rd grade (eight years total).
Extracurricular activities/other UIL events: I am a member of my school newspaper staff, serve Wednesday night dinner at my local church, sing in the choir, and write in my spare time.
College plans: Ever since I was seven years old I have wanted to go to Hardin-Simmons University. I plan to get a degree in nursing.
Birthplace: Tyler, Texas USA
One thing your parents, a sibling or even a best friend might not know about you: Often in my dreams I re-enact past episodes of cable’s #1 series The Closer, in which I am the main character and I solve all of the cases.
Age: 16
Grade: Sophomore
Event: Calculator Applications
What’s the most challenging/nerve-wracking thing about your event: Getting to the end of a number cruncher and messing up
First thing you’ll do when you win: Call my parents and tell them we won
Extracurricular activities/other UIL events: Football, basketball, baseball, track, 4-H, National Honors Society
College plans: Angelo State University
Birthplace: San Angelo, TX
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Age: 17
Grade: 11th
Event: Science
What’s the most challenging/nerve-wracking thing about your event: Nothing that I can think of.
First thing you’ll do when you win: First thing I'll do if I win is go home and go to sleep.
Past honors in the event: I went to State last year in UIL. I also placed in District and Regional. This year I placed third at District and fourth at Regional.
College plans: For college, I'm planning on going to Angelo State University. I'll probably major in some kind of math or science, but I'm really not sure what I'll do.
Birthplace: I was born in Odessa, Texas.
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Age: 18
Grade: 11th
Event: Calculator
What’s the most challenging/nerve-wracking thing about your event: Getting
the number crunchers right
First thing you’ll do when you win: Give Mrs. Bowman a hug
Extracurricular activities/other UIL events: Number sense, mathematics,
calculator, basketball, cross country
College plans: Undecided
Birthplace: Forth Worth, Texas
One thing your parents, a sibling or even a best friend might not know about you: I'm an open person, they know everything
Age: 18
Grade: 12
Event: Science
What’s the most challenging/nerve-wracking thing about your event: Trying to memorize so many facts
First thing you’ll do when you win: Call my parents
Past honors in the event: 2006 Team District and Region Champions, 2006 3rd Place Team at State, 2006 4th Place Individual at District
Extracurricular activities/other UIL events: Rotary Interact member, National Honors Society member, Bass Clef Baritone in Marching/Concert Band, UIL Computer Application Participant
College plans: Attend University of Texas at Dallas, major in Computer Science, obtain Master's degree
Birthplace: Stephenville, Texas
One thing your parents, a sibling or even a best friend might not know about you: NOTHING!
Age: 16
Grade: Junior
Event: Poetry Interpretation
What’s the most challenging/nerve-wracking thing about your event: The most nerve-wracking part of my event for me personally is the anticipation of waiting to find out if you've advanced to the next level.
First thing you’ll do when you win: First off if I won that would be amazing, but I guess the first thing I would do is call my family and friends that support me in everything I do, to share the exciting news with them.
Past honors in the event: 5th in Poetry at District in 2006, Best Actress in Zone, All Star Cast in District and Area for One Act Play in 2007, 2nd in Poetry at District and 2nd in Poetry at Regionals in 2007
Extracurricular activities/other UIL events: One-Act Play, National Junior Honor Society, Rotary Interact, Junior Chamber of Commerce, Bearcats for Christ, Junior Class Officer, Church Youth Group, Cheerleading, and Band
College plans: To attend college at Texas State University in San Marcos, then attend medical school to become a Psychiatrist.
Birthplace: Winters, TX
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Age: 17
Grade: Junior
Event: Calculator Applications and Science
What’s the most challenging/nerve-wracking thing about your event: Getting through the test as fast as I can
First thing you’ll do when you win: Call my brother
Past honors in the event: State silver medalist team for the past two years
Extracurricular activities/other UIL events: Football, basketball
College plans: Attend Abilene Christian University
Birthplace: San Angelo, TX
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Age: 17
Grade: Senior
Event: Calculator Applications
What’s the most challenging/nerve-wracking thing about your event: Thinking on your feet
First thing you’ll do when you win: Hug my coach
Past honors in the event: 2A State 05-06 - 6th place individual, 2nd place team; Regional 06-07- 1st place individual, 2nd place team
Extracurricular activities/other UIL events: Rotary Interact, National Honors Society
College plans: Attending Texas State University at San Marcos
Birthplace: Rota, Spain
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Age: 18
Grade: 12
Event: Ready Writing
What’s the most challenging/nerve-wracking thing about your event: When your bus driver almost doesn’t get you to the event on time.
First thing you’ll do when you win: Go to prom that same day.
Past honors in the event: 2nd place at District, 3rd place at Regionals
Extracurricular activities/other UIL events: FCA President, study buddy, work program, cross country, local music program, Dead Poet’s Society
College plans: Study music and business at George Mason University in Virginia
Birthplace: Breckenridge
One thing your parents, a sibling or even a best friend might not know about you: I once saved a baby deer that was trapped in some brush on my family’s farm. I hurried when I realized a family of hogs were in intense pursuit ...
MySpace or Personal Web page link: myspace.com/Landon_Adams
Age: 18
Grade: 12
Event: Ready Writing
What’s the most challenging/nerve-wracking thing about your event: The time limit or choosing which prompt is the most nerve-wracking part.
First thing you’ll do when you win: Hug Mr. Clack and call Mr. Moore
Past honors in the event: 3rd place at District, 2nd place at Regionals
Extracurricular activities/other UIL events: Persuasive Speaking, Social Studies, CX Debate.
College plans: Hardin-Simmons University
Birthplace: Abilene
One thing your parents, a sibling or even a best friend might not know about you: I’m a poet, but they don’t know it ...Yes, I’m a dork.
MySpace or Personal Web page link: myspace.com/cutts07
