SISD students, athletes recognized in December board honors for art, cross country
Traditionally, each month at the Socorro ISD Board of Trustees meeting, the board members and superintendent honor outstanding SISD students and staff who have earned local, regional, state, or national accolades and recognition.
That honor has now gone virtual, with a monthly video presentation by SISD officials.
“Due to the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure the health and wellbeing of students and staff, it has not been possible to bring in these exceptional individuals and teams,” SISD officials share. “However, they are still deserving of a moment in the spotlight for their outstanding achievements…”
Eight SISD students were recognized by the Texas Art Education Association for having their artwork selected for a statewide gallery as part of the 2020 Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of School Boards State Art Competition.
The TASA/TASB exhibit provides an avenue for artwork by Texas children to be showcased and to promote the importance of art in education across the state.
The students represented Team SISD among 66 other school districts and had their artwork selected from more than 300 entries from across Texas.
Roussel Acosta, El Dorado High School
Teacher: Virginia Castaneda
Oscar Alvarez, John Drugan School
Teacher: Laura Aragon
Valeria Castellanos, Desert Wind School
Teacher: Karen Perez
Sofia Cedillo, SSG. Manuel R. Puentes Middle School
Teacher: Karina Alvarez
Esmeralda Chavarria, Eastlake High School
Teacher: Claudia Castaneda
Isabella Hebler, Col. John O. Ensor Middle School
Teacher: Melissa Arellano
Angelica Soto, Pebble Hills High School
Teacher: Rosa Villarreal
Idali Villegas, El Dorado High School
Teacher: Miguel Picos
Six SISD students were awarded in the 2020 El Paso Community College K-12 Salute to the Arts competition. The citywide contest celebrates the creativity and talent of art students in our region. The SISD winning artists were selected out of hundreds of students across the city who entered the contest.
Four SISD students were awarded in Division III and two were awarded in Division IV. Two SISD students claimed the prestigious President’s Award.
Division III
Zebastian Gerardo, Col. John O. Ensor Middle School – 3rd Place
Isabella Hebler, Col. John O. Ensor Middle School – President’s Award
Teacher: Melissa Arellano
Dustin Perez, Montwood Middle School – 1st Place
Teacher: Abel Saucedo
Jeffery Hernandez, Desert Wind School – 1st Place 3D
Teacher: Karen Perez
Division IV
Megen Trevino, Socorro High School – 1st Place 3D
Teacher: Lourdes Aguilar
Emiliano Aguirre, Americas High School – President’s Award
Teacher: Samuel Munoz
Four SISD artists showed their creativity and talent in the 2020 Winter Holiday Art Contest. Their artwork featured colorful scenes of the holiday season with a tribute to students seizing their opportunities in Team SISD. The winning entries will be professionally framed and made into a holiday postcard. All participants will receive a certificate of participation.
K-2 category
Natalia Scarlett Chavez-Valdez, Robert R. Rojas Elementary School
Teacher: Luz Olave
3-5 category
Vivian Esparza, Horizon Heights Elementary School
Teacher: Lori Berumen
6-8 category
Renata Lerma Marquez, Desert Wind School
Teacher: Karen Perez
9-12 category
Katelin Lonvelin, Socorro High School
Teacher: Rodolfo Royval
Team SISD had four talented student-athletes qualify for and compete in the UIL cross country state competition in Round Rock, Texas. Two of the athletes were competing for the third time at state and the other two were there for the first time. All the SISD student-athletes gave outstanding performances at state, especially Israel David from Eastlake High School who finished in third place.
Israel David, Eastlake High School
Coach: Keith Quinonez
Kassandra Jimenez-Esparza, Montwood High School
Coach: Dean Cardon
Jared Laverty, Americas High School
Michael Mier, Americas High School
Coach: Ken Lucero
