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Chilton students named to UIL state One-Act Play honor crew
by Denise Schoppe
Staff writer
The Marlin Democrat
May 18, 2005
Two juniors from Chilton High School were recently named to the 2005 UIL State One-Act Play (OAP) Honor Crew.
David Fernandez and Renay Ford were nominated for the honor by their theater teacher, Michael McCord, for their academic and steady excellence in the school's theater arts program. The students are the first from Chilton ISD to receive the honor
"These are two wonderful kids," McCord said. "They are responsible, mature and always there when I need them. They are punctual, and I never have to tell them twice to do something. You don't find [students] any better. They have a lot of potential."
The students were two of 40 students on the Honor Crew, and Chilton was one of 27 schools represented.
The students went to Austin on Wednesday, May 4, for orientation and then worked Thursday through Saturday. During that time, the students were expected to do a lot of hard work as they help with eight shows from each of the five classes totaling 40 productions.
"I had no worries about these two," McCord said. "I told them they were Representing Chilton High School. They were professional."
McCord has been at Chilton for four years and has had a close eye on his students in hopes of having two to nominate to State Honor Crew. Fernandez and Ford were his choice.
Both Fernandez and Ford were named to best crew, along with two other students, at Zone Competition their freshmen year.
"I trust them implicitly," McCord said. "They have super parents behind them."
Fernandez is the son of Josefina and Fernando has been involved with theater arts since eighth grade. He has served as stage manager for six productions and assistant director for two productions. He also played two spring sports for Chilton High School.
Ford is the daughter of Vari Nay Ford and one of the top students in her class. She is very involved in athletics and has served as a sound tech for several productions. She has been involved with the theater arts program since her freshmen year.
The OAP Honor Crew began in 1977 when the State Office invited Austin ISD high school theatre arts students to serve on the State Meet One-Act Play Contest production staff. Then, in 1982, the program was made available to students from all UIL member high schools and students from twenty-four districts were chosen in the first competitive process.
Now in its 23rd year, the program is open to sophomores and juniors that have been nominated for the honor. Each year, a maximum of 40 students from schools across the Lone Star State are chosen to participate.
McCord has been a teacher for 20 years - 14 of those years have been spent teaching theater arts. This is his third time to have students make honor crew in ten years.
He said he feels lucky to have the administrative support he has in Chilton and that upon approaching the school administration about wanting to nominate the students for Honor Crew, they told him that if it is good for the students they would do it.
"It's a pleasant situation," McCord said.
McCord teaches junior high students through high school - something that caught the attention of other teachers at the One Act Play meet in Austin this year.
"I have a very special group of students," he said. "The kids are there. They want to do this."
The money the department has is raised by the students, and during the school year they raised over $1000 through fundraisers. He said everyone is supportive of the program and the students.
One surprise supporter came in the form of State Representative Jim Dunnam, who recognized the students from the House Floor upon their arrival in Austin.
"The look on their faces was priceless," McCord said. "I wish I'd had my camera."
McCord had been in contact with Dunnam and asked if there was anything he could do for the two students. He made House Resolution 1641 to recognize and honor Fernandez and Ford for their success in making OAP State Honor Crew.
by Denise Schoppe
Staff writer
The Marlin Democrat
May 18, 2005
Two juniors from Chilton High School were recently named to the 2005 UIL State One-Act Play (OAP) Honor Crew.
David Fernandez and Renay Ford were nominated for the honor by their theater teacher, Michael McCord, for their academic and steady excellence in the school's theater arts program. The students are the first from Chilton ISD to receive the honor
"These are two wonderful kids," McCord said. "They are responsible, mature and always there when I need them. They are punctual, and I never have to tell them twice to do something. You don't find [students] any better. They have a lot of potential."
The students were two of 40 students on the Honor Crew, and Chilton was one of 27 schools represented.
The students went to Austin on Wednesday, May 4, for orientation and then worked Thursday through Saturday. During that time, the students were expected to do a lot of hard work as they help with eight shows from each of the five classes totaling 40 productions.
"I had no worries about these two," McCord said. "I told them they were Representing Chilton High School. They were professional."
McCord has been at Chilton for four years and has had a close eye on his students in hopes of having two to nominate to State Honor Crew. Fernandez and Ford were his choice.
Both Fernandez and Ford were named to best crew, along with two other students, at Zone Competition their freshmen year.
"I trust them implicitly," McCord said. "They have super parents behind them."
Fernandez is the son of Josefina and Fernando has been involved with theater arts since eighth grade. He has served as stage manager for six productions and assistant director for two productions. He also played two spring sports for Chilton High School.
Ford is the daughter of Vari Nay Ford and one of the top students in her class. She is very involved in athletics and has served as a sound tech for several productions. She has been involved with the theater arts program since her freshmen year.
The OAP Honor Crew began in 1977 when the State Office invited Austin ISD high school theatre arts students to serve on the State Meet One-Act Play Contest production staff. Then, in 1982, the program was made available to students from all UIL member high schools and students from twenty-four districts were chosen in the first competitive process.
Now in its 23rd year, the program is open to sophomores and juniors that have been nominated for the honor. Each year, a maximum of 40 students from schools across the Lone Star State are chosen to participate.
McCord has been a teacher for 20 years - 14 of those years have been spent teaching theater arts. This is his third time to have students make honor crew in ten years.
He said he feels lucky to have the administrative support he has in Chilton and that upon approaching the school administration about wanting to nominate the students for Honor Crew, they told him that if it is good for the students they would do it.
"It's a pleasant situation," McCord said.
McCord teaches junior high students through high school - something that caught the attention of other teachers at the One Act Play meet in Austin this year.
"I have a very special group of students," he said. "The kids are there. They want to do this."
The money the department has is raised by the students, and during the school year they raised over $1000 through fundraisers. He said everyone is supportive of the program and the students.
One surprise supporter came in the form of State Representative Jim Dunnam, who recognized the students from the House Floor upon their arrival in Austin.
"The look on their faces was priceless," McCord said. "I wish I'd had my camera."
McCord had been in contact with Dunnam and asked if there was anything he could do for the two students. He made House Resolution 1641 to recognize and honor Fernandez and Ford for their success in making OAP State Honor Crew.
