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The El Dorado High School yearbook club, Aztec Gold, is being recognized by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association for winning a Crown Award for its 2016-2017 publication.

The Crown Award is the highest honor that CSPA at Columbia University awards its members.

El Dorado’s yearbook titled “Altered” was one of only 51 print yearbooks (middle and high school) in the nation to win the award. The school is now a finalist for the Gold Crown Award.

“I’m so proud of my students and what they have accomplished by receiving this prestigious recognition,” said Vanessa Martinez, journalism teacher and yearbook advisor. “I’m incredibly honored and humbled to receive this award on behalf of last year’s yearbook staff. They poured their heart, efforts, tears, and dreams into “Altered” and I couldn’t be happier.”

Publications were judged on design, photography, concept, coverage and writing. A total of 1,100 publications were judged in this year’s contest.

“It feels great to know our yearbook has received national recognition,” said Xytlali Compean, copy editor for the El Dorado yearbook. “I was in shock when I heard we won, not because I didn’t believe we could win, but because I know how hard it is to do so. All of our late nights and hard work paid off.”

The yearbook team, 50 members strong, is committed to reaching the highest standards expected of student journalists, Martinez said.

“These students take telling the stories very seriously,” she said. “In this program, we want our work to be great… our team mentality keeps us working hard until the last deadline.”

Compean agreed that creating a yearbook requires time and dedication.

“Yearbook is not just something you just do in class,” she said. “You have to attend afterschool activities, you stare at a screen all day and you are constantly reading the same piece over and over to check for mistakes, but seeing the end product makes it all worth it.”

This is the second time in the school’s history that Aztec Gold has earned the award. The school won its first Crown Award in 2012 with its book titled “The Legend.” It was the first yearbook in district history to receive the award.

Crown winners will be recognized at the CSPA ceremony March 2018 in New York City, where an announcement of Gold and Silver Crown recipients will be made. 

In a much-anticipated match up, the legendary Midland Lee Rebels rolled into town Friday afternoon to take on the home-standing El Dorado Aztecs.

However, as the game got underway, and the Aztecs both turned the ball over to the Rebels via an  interception and lost their team leader Cedarious Barfield, the Rebels took full advantage of the situation – eventually winning 63-0.

Our very own Andres Acosta was there, and brings you his view of the game via this ‘Story in Many Pics.’

In a battle between two of SISD’s – and the Borderland’s – top football teams, Pebble Hills and El Dorado, 4 quarters of football action was just enough to settle the newfound rivalry.

The game, which was a barn-burner for the second half featured a remarkable comeback by the Spartans that was cut short by the play of the Aztecs.

Our very own Andres Acosta was there, and brings you his view of the game in this ‘Story in Many Pics.’

It was an Socorro ISD Shootout at the SAC as the Montwood Rams took on the El Dorado Aztecs Friday night in Far-East El Paso.

The game was a high scoring affair, with the Rams finally besting the Aztecs 61-42.

Our very own Andres Acosta was there, and brings you his view of the game in this ‘Story in Many Pics.’

After three years of domination, the Eastlake Falcons had some speedy surprises for the El Dorado Aztecs, as the High Desert Raptors were victorious 34-12.

Our very own Andres Acosta was at SISD’s SAC Thursday night and brings you his view of the action in tonight’s ‘Story in Many Pics’

It was another big game at Socorro ISD’s Student Activities Center, as the Montwood Rams hosted the El Dorado Aztecs. And it was every bit as exciting as it could be. Check out Andres Acosta’s view of the game via the new gallery!

El Dorado High School has been selected as an AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) National Demonstration School, a model for the non-profit organization whose goal is to close the achievement gap and prepare all students for college and other postsecondary opportunities.

The Socorro Independent School District campus is one of 31 in Texas and 140 nationally to have the distinction.

“I am extremely honored to be part of an organization like this,” said El Dorado Principal Cindy Retana. “It speaks volumes of the great things that go on at El Dorado. It makes you feel so proud of all the work teachers have put into the school, into the classroom and into the kids.”

The school was selected through an application process, a screening and a review that included a local visit. Now, as part of the demonstration site network, the Aztecs will get visits from schools worldwide who will come to observe a highly evolved AVID system.

“El Dorado was selected as an AVID National Demonstration School because it has implemented the AVID system throughout the school and can serve as a model for new sites,” said AVID Chief Executive Officer Sandy Husk, on the significance of attaining demonstration site status.

AVID is implemented in approximately 5,000 schools in 44 states, the District of Columbia, and 16 other countries/territories and impacts more than 800,000 students annually in grades K-12 and postsecondary institutions.

With the Bi-District round of the playoffs underway for many schools from the Sun City, certainly one of the most anticipated was Amarillo Tascosa versus El Dorado. The game featured two high-scoring offensive teams, but it was the physical play of Tascosa that would out-muscle the Aztecs 66 to 40.

“It’s always good to get a win, particularly over a very quality football team. I think El Dorado is probably the best offense we’ve played all
year, certainly the most explosive,” Tascosa head coach, Kenneth Plunk said. “I think we’re physically strong, that’s one of the things we pride ourselves on.”

The Rebels had a 38-13 lead midway through the second quarter after 21-unanswered points, but El Dorado would not be put away that easily.

The Aztecs faced a fourth and goal situation from their own four-yard line with just over three minutes left in the first half.

Quarterback Austyn Hill would roll out to hit Mario Puig for the score to cut the Rebels lead, 38-20.

As time expired, the Rebels attempted a 43-yard field goal that would fall short and give El Dorado’s Jorge Hernandez an opportunity to return the kick.

Hernandez would do just that, going 105 yards for the touchdown for a 38-28 halftime score.

“I think we responded well coming out on the second half,” Plunk said. “We kicked the ball and it got returned for the touchdown, I was really nervous coming out in the second half we would have some struggles and we nearly did, because they went down the field and we were fortunate enough they turned it over.”

The Aztecs had momentum heading into the second half and would begin the third quarter with a promising drive only to be stalled by a Sergio Rodriguez fumble.

Tascosa would take advantage of the turnover and increase their lead by 17.

Hill would find Hernandez for a 41-yard touchdown play, but after a missed extra point the Rebels lead was left at 11. That would be the closest the Aztecs got the remainder of the night as the Rebels pulled away in the fourth quarter for the eventual 26-point victory.

The Rebels were helped by a committee of contributors, with over 10 different players touching the ball at one point, combining for over 400-rusing yards.

Tascosa remains undefeated on the road as they keep their playoff run alive to face Odessa Permian next week and sending the Aztecs home, but not after a successful 2015 campaign that leaves Head Coach James Althoff proud of his team’s efforts and looking forward to a promising 2016.

“Tonight not everything was going our way, but those kids never gave up, they fought like heck and we were playing a really well coached, physical football team” Althoff said.

The Aztecs will return many young players back to the program next season, giving Althoff optimism for what the feature holds and had a message for his seniors, a group he says he’s proud of.

“They made history for El Dorado high school, they will forever be remembered as the team that brought home the first district championship for our football program,” Althoff said. “They have to be so proud, I’m so proud of them and I love them all.”

The Tascosa Rebels rolled into Socorro’s SAC on a mission, and the El Dorado Aztecs came out on the down side of the scoreboard, losing 66 to 40. The Aztecs still put on a great show, and photog Andres Acosta caught all the action.

In a battle of the Socorro ISD heavy hitters, the El Dorado Aztecs beat the Americas Blazers 53 to 40, claiming the 1-6a Championship. Our very own Andres Acosta was there and has all the visual action for you in this Story in Six Pics