Seven Socorro Independent School District counseling teams have been recognized with the 2025 Lone Star Awards from the Lone Star State School Counseling Association (LSSSCA) for their commitment to serving students and ensuring their success.
The Lone Star Award is given to effective and outstanding school counseling programs in Texas. It highlights comprehensive counseling programs that are data-driven, developmentally appropriate and delivered to all students with the goal of improving student outcomes, closing achievement and opportunity gaps and preparing students for post-secondary success.
The Lone Star Award features three tiers of recognition: Bronze, Silver, and Gold, which helps prepare programs for national acknowledgment through the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) awards.
Paso del Norte Fine Arts Academy won the Gold award. El Dorado High School, H.D. Hilley Elementary School and Hueco Elementary School earned the Silver award. Americas High School, Eastlake Middle School and Robert R. Rojas Elementary School received the Bronze award.
Monica Dominguez, SISD interim director of school counseling, said the award highlights the incredible work that SISD counselors do to help students thrive.
“The Lone Star School Counseling Awards is a prestigious honor that celebrates excellence in comprehensive school counseling programs across Texas. These awards reflect the dedication, innovation, and heart our counselors and school teams bring to supporting every student’s academic, social, and emotional success,” Dominguez said.
The seven SISD schools that received the award were among 24 campuses selected in the state.
Rebecca Estrada, the school counselor at Paso del Norte Fine Arts Academy, said receiving the highest level Lone Star Gold Award was an incredible honor that affirms the school’s commitment to supporting students' mental health and personal growth.
“As the school counselor at Paso Del Norte Fine Arts Academy, this recognition means even more—it reflects not only the impact of our work, but also the invaluable support I receive from my colleagues, administration, faculty, and staff. Together, we create a caring environment where students can access services such as individual counseling, crisis wellness education, and academic guidance to help students thrive both in and out of the classroom,” Estrada said.
The winners will be recognized at the Lone Star State School Counselor Association Conference in Frisco, Texas, in November.
2025 Lone Star Award School Counseling Winners
Gold
|Paso Del Norte Fine Arts Academy – Rebecca Estrada
Silver
El Dorado High School – Ilka Molina, Brissa Avila, David Wyndham, Sonia Ugarte-Gil, Willie Herrera, Crissy Alferez, Mireya Reyes
H.D. Hilley Elementary School – Carmen Bebon
Hueco Elementary School – Sandra Rulon
Bronze
Americas High School – Claudia Preciado-Ortega, Rosaisela Ortiz, Elizabeth Ochoa-Rivas, Angelica Aldana, Lizbeth Yslas, Aida Mata, Gabriela Shimshock
Eastlake Middle School – Brenda Martinez, Saira Armendariz
Robert R. Rojas Elementary School – Veronica Villanueva