Union Bands NEWS — Union Bands

Charles Pisarra

UHS Bands March 31 Update

Spring has sprung! 

 

PICTURED: (center left) 2025 Miss Union Ellie Thralls and (center right) Mr. Union Owen Grass, joined by Mr. Pisarra (left) and Mr. Dwyer (right)

Grass & Thralls Crowned Mr. & Miss Union

2025 UHS Mr. & Miss Union Owen Grass and Ellie Thralls (center), and royalty finalists.

On Fri Mar 28 our very own Owen Grass and Ellie Thralls were named Mr. & Miss Union for 2025!   Based on teacher recommendation, academic excellence, school spirit & involvement, faculty feedback, input from the student body, and advancing from a field of 10+ semifinalists and 5 finalists, being named Mr. or Miss Union is considered the highest honor that a Union student can attain. 

We are particularly proud of Owen & Ellie and how they have represented the Union Bands in the context of the bigger picture of the Union community, as 2025 marks the first year since 2019 that the band program has "swept" the Mr./Miss Union crowns!  

Among numerous other honors and achievements, Owen and Ellie are both perennial members of the NBDA District Honor Band, multi-year members of the Union HS Wind Ensemble, multi-year earners of Superior ratings at the State level music solo contest, multi-year performers with the highly-regarded Union HS Indoor Drumline, and have served on the Renegade Regiment's Executive Student Leadership Team, a small group of highly influential leaders. 

The Union Bands community is overjoyed that Owen & Ellie were selected as this year's Mr. & Miss Union; we are admittedly biased, but seeing them both chosen for this honor was a "no-brainer"!   

Owen is the son of Timothy & Briane Grass, and Elli is the daughter of Raymond & Abby Thralls.

CONGRATS AGAIN TO OWEN & ELLIE and their families! 

PICTURED: (center left) 2025 Miss Union Ellie Thralls and (center right) Mr. Union Owen Grass, joined by Mr. Pisarra (left) and Mr. Dwyer (right)

2025 Winter Guard Success in Texas

The Union Varsity Winter Guard’s 2025 competitive season featuring its program “L’arena” continued in Coppell, TX on Sat-Sun, March 22-23 at the WGI Southwest Regional Championship. The ensemble made a strong showing at the event, including a Finalist appearance, a 5th Place finish (in a field 35+ skilled competitors), and a particularly strong Finals performance earning a score of 86.61.  The ensemble’s season concludes on Sat April 12 at the WGPO Circuit/State Championship event, held at the Union Freshman Academy.

photos credit: UBPC Photographer Megan Setter