UIL champ Cavender meets Texas governor

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Mildred sophomore Zane Cavender paused for a picture with UIL Executive Director Dr. Bill Farney at the ‘Champions Conference’ last Wednesday. Courtesy photo

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June 22, 2008

By Chase Springer The Corsicana Daily Sun Sun Jun 22, 2008, 07:16 PM CDT

Zane Cavender — who will be entering his junior year at Mildred this fall — was given the opportunity to meet Texas governor Rick Perry last Wednesday after receiving first in Headline Writing at state last May.

Joining Cavender in the ceremony were other state champions from all five school classifications. Over fifty U.I.L. gold medalists were in attendance at the event.

“I got a letter from the governor’s office congratulating me on winning state and inviting me to attend a ceremony at the state capitol where I would be given the opportunity to meet Governor Perry and have my picture taken with him,” Cavender said. “Of course I was surprised, but I was humbled as well. I know the governor is incredibly busy, and to have such an opportunity was amazing.”

Cavender and his fellow state champions were given a tour of the Capitol building in Austin at 10 a.m. and then met with Perry in the House of Representatives where individual and group pictures were later taken.

“We all met in the House of Representatives where Perry spoke to us all about how important it was to us, our families, and our friends that we were successful,” Cavender said. “He told us that in the crowd of champions, there were future doctors, lawyers, teachers, Olympic athletes, and even governors, and that, by achieving the highest possible rank in our events, we showed the rest of the world what it meant to be a Texan.”

Also in attendance at the event was long-standing U.I.L. Executive Director Dr. Bill Farney, whom Cavender also had a chance to speak with in depth about his future.

“It was great talking to Dr. Farney,” Cavender said. “He operates the largest organization of its kind in the world and still finds time to talk to me about my ambitions and what I plan to do with my life. I really hope to enter politics right out of college, and he did nothing but encourage my ambitions.”

As for the immediate future, Cavender hopes to defend his title in Headline Writing next year as well as continuing his efforts in other U.I.L. events.

“From all this, I learned how important it is to go that extra bit, to practice just that much more, and to keep pushing myself,” Cavender said. “Through all that, I got to meet the governor of Texas, so I will definitely be defending my title next year, and hopefully I’ll get to relive this experience at least on more time.”

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Chase Springer may be contacted via e-mail at chase@corsicanadailysun.com