Edinburgh School District celebrates students' achievements in chess and fine arts competitions

The Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District (ECISD) held its regular board meeting on April 22, 2025, celebrating numerous student achievements across various disciplines, particularly in chess, fine arts, and music.

The meeting commenced with acknowledgments of local sponsors, including Billy Salazar and Michael Aralde, for their support of student programs. The board recognized the Bill Garza chess team and the South Middle School chess team for their qualifications to compete at the state tournament. Additionally, the Robert Vela High School chess teams, both the junior varsity and championship divisions, were celebrated for advancing to the Super Nationals in Orlando, marking a significant achievement for the district.

Following the chess recognitions, the meeting shifted focus to the fine arts. The board highlighted the success of Edinburgh North High School students in the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show Western Art Contest, where they secured both the overall grand champion and reserve grand champion titles. Students Cassandra Pedasa and Hannah Hernandez were specifically acknowledged for their artistic accomplishments, each receiving scholarships worth $11,500.

The meeting also featured a presentation from the Edinburgh Fire Marshal's Office regarding the annual fire prevention poster contest. Fire Marshal Anthony Rojas and Lieutenant Salinas emphasized the importance of fire safety education in schools. They announced the winners from various divisions, including Delilah Moon from Hargill Elementary and Maggie Lynn Bostick from Florida Zapata Elementary, who will advance to the state competition.

In the latter part of the meeting, the board recognized the music programs across the district for achieving UIL sweepstakes ratings, indicating mastery in music literacy and performance. Each participating school’s orchestra was acknowledged, with directors and student representatives stepping forward to receive trophies for their accomplishments.

Overall, the meeting underscored the district's commitment to fostering excellence in academics, arts, and extracurricular activities, with plans for continued support and recognition of student achievements in future events.