More than 130 students in early college high school programs in the Socorro Independent School District celebrated their milestone achievement of earning an associate degree while still in high school at special ceremonies during the month of December.
Trailblazers Early College at Americas High School, Falcon Early College at Eastlake High School, Mission Early College High School, Rams Early College at Montwood High School, Pebble Hills Early College at Pebble Hills High School, and Socorro Early College at Socorro High School honored their fall 2022 college graduates by awarding them their stoles signifying the achievement.
The students also walked the stage at the El Paso Community College graduation ceremony to pick up their college diploma Dec. 9 at the Don Haskins Center.
Trailblazers Early College
Twenty Trailblazers Early College students received their stoles at a special stoling ceremony Dec. 5 in the school’s theater, where family, friends, and Trailblazer educators gathered to celebrate the students’ achievement.
John Acosta, a graduate from Trailblazers Early College, said he plans to go on to study electrical or nuclear engineering and credits SISD with helping him get a head start on that journey.
“This program is very beneficial,” Acosta said. “It’s great to be able to graduate high school and go straight into what you want to study going into college, while saving a lot of money.”
Trailblazers Early College stoling ceremony event photos
Falcon Early College
Forty students at Falcon Early College earned their associate degree and are ready to continue their education and career aspirations.
FEC staff, faculty, administrators, and family members recognized their students during a stoling ceremony Dec. 8 in the school’s theater.
Jacqueline Guerra, a Falcon Early College graduate, is working toward a degree in mechanical engineering and minor in aerospace engineering.
“This program gives you the opportunity to earn your associates degree before your high school diploma and start on your bachelor’s degree, so you can possibly earn your college degree in two years rather than four,” Guerra said. “This is the nicest thing that any district could have done because it gives students various options.”
The 2023 early college class is the first official cohort at Eastlake, though last year the school celebrated three juniors who obtained their associates degrees early.
Falcon Early College stoling ceremony event photos
Mission Early College High School
Twenty-eight Mission Early College High School students received their stoles at a special stoling ceremony Dec. 1 in the school’s cafeteria, where family, friends, and MECHS educators gathered to celebrate the students’ achievement.
David Ruvalcaba, a graduate from Mission Early College High School, shared that he is one of four siblings to graduate from the early college at Mission.
“This is a proud moment for me,” Ruvalcaba said. “It’s a refreshing feeling to finish and start this next chapter of my life at the University of Texas at El Paso.”
Mission Early College High School stoling ceremony event photos
Rams Early College
Twenty-three Rams Early College students celebrated receiving their stoles during a special ceremony Dec. 6 in the school’s theater.
Mark Chavez, a Rams Early College graduate, geared his associate degree toward criminal justice and plans to finish his bachelor’s degree at UTEP before going onto law school.
“This is surreal, I never thought I would get here,” Chavez said. “This is such a great thing in the Socorro district that helps students further their careers faster than they normally would have the opportunity to.”
Rams Early College stoling ceremony event photos
Pebble Hills Early College
Pebble Hills Early College had 18 students received their stoles in a special ceremony Dec. 1 in the school’s theater.
Rodolfo Jaramillo, a graduate from Pebble Hills Early College, shared that this moment was especially important to him because his father, who has since passed, was the one who encouraged him to join the program.
“This was so surreal and so awesome,” Jaramillo said. “This program has helped me get ahead, save time and money.”
Pebble Hills Early College stoling ceremony event photos
Socorro Early College
Seven Socorro Early College students received their stoles in a special ceremony Dec. 30 in the school’s Heath Professions Academy collaboration area.
Natalia Kwon, a Socorro Early College graduate, whose focus is in health professions, said she intends to go on to become a surgical oncologist.
“Though the program could seem overwhelming at times, today proves that hard work pays off,” Kwon said. “This has given me so much knowledge and experience. Socorro Early College makes everything so much better going onto the next chapter in college.”
Socorro Early College stoling ceremony event photos
Socorro ISD was the first district in the region to open an early college high school, Mission Early College High School, in 2006.
The district, then, opened three more early college programs within a three-year span, Socorro Early College in 2015, Rams Early College in 2016, and Trailblazers Early College in 2017.
SISD, in partnership with EPCC, offers the most early college programs in the region with a program at all comprehensive high schools in the district, including MECHS.
SISD opened Falcon Early College at Eastlake High School, Empire Early College at El Dorado High School, and Pebble Hills Early College at Pebble Hills High School in July 2019.
Published February 2, 2023
Strategic Direction: College and Career Readiness