At the ninth annual SISD Academic Technology Showcase in February, Sebastian Fraire demonstrated the inner workings of his solar-powered car. The event was also an opportunity for him to sharpen his presentation skills before heading to the Texas Skills Association (TSA) competition in April.
“It uses solar power to run, and it also has a battery function, so that way we could use it inside as well,” Fraire said.
Fraire, a seventh grader at Sun Ridge Middle School, was one of 270 students from the Socorro Independent School District participating in the 2026 Academic Technology Showcase, where they demonstrated how technology has impacted their education and prepared them for future success in an increasingly digital world.
“I think it's amazing,” Fraire said about the showcase. “It encourages people to, like, get into TSA or just explore their options. It gives you a challenge in life, and it shows you, like, the outcomes of hard work and how it pays off.”
The showcase celebrated National Digital Learning Day and highlighted the importance of integrating technology into education. This year’s theme, “Imagine It: Where STEAM Sparks Creativity,” encouraged hands‑on learning, innovation and creative problem‑solving.
“All the scholars here are showcasing their amazing work with the help of technology,” said Adriana Licon, SISD instructional technology specialist. Student-led projects from all grade levels included robots, virtual reality, and animation.
“Every scholar that you see here is just highlighting and showcasing the great things that are happening in the classroom and the amazing opportunities that they're being afforded in the classroom by their teachers,” Licon added.
Second-graders Joyce Qiu and Ezra Villegas from Loma Verde Elementary School challenged visitors to their booth to carefully remove orange slices from a jar filled with water without spilling a single drop. The key was to spin the water with their finger to create a mini tornado, which would lift the orange slices to the top, allowing them to be picked up without spilling any water. The students not only incorporated physics into their project, but they also made sure it was fun.
“I'm happy because I like to see people trying to do this, and then when they don't get it, it's funny,” Qiu said.
As part of the event, students competed in app and digital video challenges, demonstrating their technology skills, creativity, critical thinking, communication and teamwork. Antonio Terrazas, the Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher at Spc. Rafael Hernando III Middle School was honored with the Ed Tech Educator Award in recognition of his commitment to integrating technology into his teaching practices.
Delilah Flores, an 11th grader at Socorro High School, and her teammate, Anthony Melendez, won third place in the high school division for an app they developed to help people lead longer and healthier lives.
As members of the school’s animation club, Flores and Melendez also created a trailer for a game called “Escape the Jungle,” which qualified for a state competition. As an aspiring 3D modeler, Flores said that the showcase was a great opportunity for students to prepare for both state and national competitions.
“I think it's a really great opportunity, and it'll help us, like, learn and grow and just be able to improve our presenting so that we can even maybe make it (to) nationals (or) state or just help people and inspire people to be interested in animation and want to express themselves creatively,” Flores said.
Ninth Annual SISD Academic Technology Showcase Winners
App Challenge Winners
Elementary School Division
1st Place - Kaylen Hardy and Jackson Ragget, Sgt. Jose F. Carrasco Elementary
2nd Place - Robin Mata, Dr. Sue Shook Elementary
3rd Place - Joel Alvarado and Oliver Peña, James P. Butler Elementary
Middle School Division
1st Place - Aria Edmondson and Samantha Alarcon, Capt. Walter E. Clarke
2nd Place - Sofia Nolasco, Col. John O. Ensor Middle School
3rd Place - Adara Martinez and Elena Rodriguez, Desert Wind School
High School Division
1st Place - Amari Allen and Arielle Alemeraz, Montwood High School
2nd Place - Ian Vazquez and Malachi Valenzuela, Eastlake Middle School
3rd Place - Delilah Flores and Anthony Melendez, Socorro High School
Video Challenge Winners
Elementary School Division
1st Place - Emilia Lara, Sonia Lara, Laila Meraz, Nathan Pedregon and Sofia Pedregon, Jane A. Hambric School
2nd Place - Julissa Baeza, Sean Casey, Michael Rodriguez and Violet Verde, Ernesto Serna Fine Arts Academy
3rd Place - Kamden Cena, Paula Rodriguez, Violet Rodriguez and Victoria Rosales, Dr. Sue Shook Elementary
Middle School Division
1st Place - Vida De Avila, Daniela Rosales Gonzalez and Issac Villegas, John Drugan School
2nd Place -Peyton Barraza, Frida Calderon, Imi McLaughlin, Gia Micolosi and Jose Montano, Spec. Rafael Hernando III Middle School
3rd Place - Fabian Cadena, Ryan Marquez, Izaiah Meza, Jazlene Rocha and West Samaniego, Capt. Walter E. Clarke
High School Division
1st Place - Nathaniel Arizpe and Gabriel Solo, Pebble Hills High School
2nd Place - Cassandra Alarcon, Sofia Arellano, Aileene Armendariz, Rosabel Nevarez and Diane Pimental, Mission Early College High School
3rd Place - Katherine Amaro, Armando Sanchez and Adali Valles, Socorro High School
SISD Ed Tech Educator Award
Antonio Terrazas, CTE teacher, Spec. Rafael Hernando III Middle School