Vanessa Chapa of McAllen ISD’s McAllen High is the only University Interscholastic League (UIL) sponsor in the Rio Grande Valley to win the 2025 UIL Sponsor Excellence Award. She is one of just 15 winners in Texas, it was announced.
These sponsors have “demonstrated unparalleled commitment to students’ extracurricular development in Texas,” according to a UIL press release.
Chapa has more than 20 years experience coaching UIL speech, debate and academics. She has guided students through multiple events and served as a judge, tabulator, presenter and committee member at district, regional and state levels. She spent 14 years as a UIL Academic Coordinator, building up her program into a team if nearly 100 students. Course offerings were expanded and McAllen High served as host of UIL invitational meets which funded academic travel and growth.
Her coaching success includes more than 100 district placements, dozens of regional qualifiers, multiple state qualifiers and two regional champions.
“Competition provides a multidimensional platform for learning, as students test their own limits, overcome barriers and engage with a world beyond their campus or hometown,” Chapa said. “It provides students with additional sources of motivation, celebrations for success and an avenue to connect with the world around them.”
The award, now in its 35th 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.
A panel of judges selected the winners in the areas of academics, athletics and music. Nominations were submitted by school principals and superintendents across Texas.
“The passion, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication of our sponsors, coaches and directors are what transform interscholastic competition into life-changing opportunities for students,” UIL Executive Director Dr. Jamey Harrison. “Their leadership lights the path for young people to discover their potential and the UIL is honored to celebrate these remarkable individuals with this prestigious award.”
Other UIL Sponsor Excellence Award winners include Ruben Baldazo of Dallas Skyline High, Jerod Fikac of Cuero High, Linus Fuhrmann of Lindsay High, Sylvia Garza of Magnolia West High, Jeremy Gentry of Groveton High, Eric Gray of Gilmer High, Esther Harrison of Shelbyville High, Lyndsay Hodges of Cy-Fair High, Brett Howard of Canyon High, Cheri Jay-Wienecke of Lometa High, Shelby Nickells of Leander Rouse High, Leigh Petty of Tuscola Jim Ned High, Mike Reed of Gordon High and Amberley Tanner of Northwest Steele High.