In one-act plays, two advance from each competition. State qualifiers could be in the running for scholarships, some of which are in the tens of thousands of dollars. Many scholarships will pay for a student's first four years of college, she said. The foundation is funded by private donations. Judy Etheredge, drama director at Highland High School, which won the Class A state one-act play titles in 1999 and 2000, said scholarships also are given for the state's best actor, best actress and outstanding performer in each conference.
Scholarships also are available from colleges that host regional competitions.
But students reap other benefits besides college money. Veteran UIL coach Jerry Cannon said his math and science students at Rule High School have scored high on college entrance exams after working with UIL testing materials. Students and teachers also say getting a chance to discover a potential job skill is valued. Allison Pike, a 1995 Rule High School graduate, chose to pursue accounting after her UIL successes in high school. A state champ in calculator applications her senior year, Pike works as an accountant in Fort Worth.