More than 200 student artists from across the El Paso region honored African American filmmakers and performers in the fourth annual Black History Month Art Contest hosted by the Socorro Independent School District.
The contest was an excellent opportunity for elementary, middle school and high school students in the Socorro, Ysleta and Gadsden school districts to showcase their artistic talents while exploring this year’s Black History Month theme: African Americans in Cinema.
Ian Chairez Marquez, a sixth grader at Eastlake Middle School, won best of show in the middle school division for his portrait of actor Chadwick Boseman. His painting titled “The Black Panther Lives” was a tribute to Boseman, who portrayed the titular character in the movie “Black Panther.”
“He was my favorite black actor for a superhero, and I just really wanted to like, commemorate him,” Chairez Marquez said. “He was really important to me because after I saw the movie, I realized how important this culture was and how it stood out to me, because it's a really beautiful culture.”
Students showcased their artistic abilities through portraits of actors Morgan Freeman and Brandy, as well as paintings inspired by the movie “Hidden Figures,” celebrating African American culture.
Following the showcase, first, second and third-place winners were announced in the elementary, middle school, high school and best of show divisions at the exhibition’s awards ceremony on Feb. 5 in the SISD District Service Center's lobby. The event was sponsored by the Theta Delta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and Raiz Federal Credit Union.
Candace Printz, SISD assistant director of fine arts, said the showcase not only highlighted students’ creativity, but also encouraged them to develop their research skills and deepen their understanding of African Americans’ significant contributions throughout history.
“I think opportunities like this allow the kids to hone their skill and their craft as far as artistically, but just the knowledge they gain from the educational research of doing this makes them be better people,” Printz said.
Mateo Quintanar-Gasca, a seventh grader at SSG. Manuel R. Puentes Middle School, proudly showcased his portrait of Caleb McLaghlin, the actor who portrayed Lucas Sinclair in the series “Stranger Things.” He said he was both proud and nervous about people seeing his work.
“It's like a great opportunity for the people to come see what people can do. I mean, it's a pleasure of mine to have my art displayed,” Quintanar-Gasca said,
Krista Bocanegra, a seventh grader at John Drugan School, was inspired by the other students' artwork. Bocanegra's portrait of "Norbit," the main character from the movie of the same name, was displayed at the art show.
“We get inspired a lot because while I'm walking around, I can see a lot of cool ideas that I've never thought of,” Bocanegra said.
“I love the creativity and how there's so much inside of art. Like, you could make yarn with mixed media, or paper or drawing. There's just so much you can do, and you can expand your creativity in every way, and there's never an end to it,” she added.
2026 SISD Black History Month Contest Winners
Best of Show
High School – Angely Silva-Gaucin, Socorro High School
Middle School – Ian Chairez Marquez, Eastlake Middle School
Elementary School – Scarlet Aguero, Ysleta Elementary School
Elementary School Division
1st Place – Ariadne Almeida, Pasodale Elementary School
2nd Place – Jake Romo, Capistrano Elementary School
3rd Place – Alan Baca, Presa Elementary School
Middle School Division
1st Place – Sophia Rodriguez, JM Hanks Middle School
2nd Place – Daniela Rosales Gonzalez, John Drugan School
3rd – Antonella Nuñez, John Ensor Middle School
High School Division
1st Place – Aiden R. Guzman, Gadsden High School
2nd Place – Briana Valdez, Gadsden High School
3rd Place – Evelyn Saldana, Del Valle High School