Socorro Independent School District student artists showcased their talents at the third annual Día de los Muertos Reception and Awards on Nov. 5. The event celebrated their creativity while honoring the cultural traditions of the community with heartfelt tributes to both the living and the dead.
Eileen Razo, a senior at Socorro High School, painted some of her favorite childhood memories. Her artwork included elements such as chocolate cake, a grape juice box, butterflies and a portrait of herself as a child dressed in a pink coat with fur lining. Her painting titled “Querido Yo” won first place in the high school division, showcasing her talent and creativity.
“For my artwork, I want to represent my childhood, an era that is no longer, but I just wanted to remember that, and I think that’s the meaning of Dia de los Muertos,” Razo explained.
Featuring 230 entries, including an altar contest for high schools, the districtwide art competition focused on Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday that honors deceased loved ones and reflects the belief that the spirits of the deceased return to visit the living on Nov. 1 and 2.
The annual event allowed students like Sofia Aguilar to explore their heritage and share their artistic interpretations of the holiday.
Aguilar, a sophomore at Socorro High School, created a self-portrait of herself holding a candle and embracing a Catrina, an elegant female skeleton figure adorned with wings.
“It really just talks about like how it feels, you know, the Day of the Dead. How you just want to like go back with those people that aren't here anymore, how much you love them, how much you miss them, and how much you would appreciate just like five seconds just to be with them back again,” Aguilar said about her artwork, which earned third place in the high school division.
Aguilar’s mom, Dalila Aguilar, said she was proud of her daughter’s accomplishments and was excited that everyone could see her talent shine.
This spring, Sofia Aguilar was one of two students from SISD who received the Outstanding Performer Award after performing at the 2025 UIL State Mariachi Festival.
“I'm so proud of her because I know she puts all her effort, her heart, into everything she does. She loves art, painting, drawing, since she was two years old,” Dalila Aguilar said.
The reception at the SISD District Service Center featured a performance by Ballet Folklorico De Las Americas. Additionally, winners for first, second and third places were announced in the elementary, middle school, high school and best of show divisions.
Pebble Hills High School won the altar contest’s Best of Show. The altar, known as an ofrenda, honors loved ones who have passed away. The Spartans dedicated their altar to their cherished animals that have transitioned to Mictlán, the Aztec realm of eternal rest for souls who have departed.
SISD Fine Arts Assistant Director Candace Printz said the art show was not only colorful but also personal for many students.
“They're remembering those that have passed, whether it's animals or humans. It's kind of a teaching moment about culture and just remembering loved ones and their families,” Printz said. “This is important for this community because it's a part of the culture.”
Students showcased their talents through a variety of art forms, including painting, drawing, sculpture and repujado, a traditional Mexican metal embossing technique, where a thin sheet of metal is pushed from behind to create a raised, three-dimensional design.
Antonella Nuñez, an 8th grader at Col. John O. Ensor Middle School, applied the repujado technique to create her artwork titled “Hope,” which won third place in the middle school division. This was Nuñez's first time participating in the competition. Not only was she proud to represent her school, but the win also boosted her confidence in her artistic talents.
“It was just really interesting and fascinating to me because I remember looking at this one artwork of like metal. It looked really beautiful, and I was really inspired by it so, I wanted to try it out,” Nuñez said of her repujado art piece.
2025 SISD Dia De Los Muertos art show winners
High School
1st Place
Ileen Razo
Socorro High School
2nd Place
Addison Adams-Payan
Americas High School
3rd Place
Sofia Aguilar
Socorro High School
Honorable Mention
Yessenia Garcia Najera
Americas High School
Middle School Division
1st Place
Ian Chairez-Marquez
Eastlake Middle School
2nd Place
Bryanna Sanchez
Salvador H. Sanchez Middle School
3rd Place
Antonella Nuñez
Col. John O. Ensor Middle School
Honorable Mention
Abigail Ramirez Gerrero
SSG Manuel R. Puentes Middle
Elementary Division
1st Place
Kaylen Hardy
Sgt. Jose F. Carrasco Elementary School
2nd Place
Avery Azcarate
Escontrias STEAM Academy
3rd Place
Adeline Alaniz
Cactus Trails Elementary School
Altar Design
Best of Show
Pebble Hills High School
Isabella Barraza
Leyah Ford
Destiny Hernandez
Sarah Isokpan
Layla Longoria
Jiseele Montes
Jimena Ochoa
Lauren Olivas
Delyla Ornelas
Emilia Penn
William Rashleigh
Evan Sanchez
April Segura
Avery Shearer
Julia Thurman
Click here to watch a video of this story on SISD-TV News.
Third annual Día de los Muertos Reception and Awards event photos