The Texas Education Agency has recognized Delia Medina, a Montwood High School parent and volunteer, with the 2023 Heroes for Children award for the State Board of Education (SBOE) District 1.
The prestigious Heroes for Children award is given to individuals for their contribution of time and effort to support public school students.
The SBOE recognized Medina on Sept. 1 at a special celebration in Austin.
“I feel very blessed being allowed to work with the students and proud of myself, and thankful to my children and my husband,” said Medina, a parent volunteer for 14 years in SISD, who was named the 2023 District Secondary Volunteer of the Year in April.
“I am thankful to the other volunteers for their collaboration and support and to the principals, staff and students,” Medina added. “This has been a great journey as a volunteer.”
Medina began volunteering in Juarez with her oldest son’s baseball team before she and her family moved to the United States. After the move, Medina said she initially felt lost and overwhelmed with the transition, so she began volunteering at her children’s schools and found a sense of belonging.
Medina started volunteering at SISD at Elfida P. Chavez Elementary School before donating her time at Benito Matinez Elementary, Jane A. Hambric School, Ernesto Serna School, and Montwood Middle School.
She eventually began volunteering at Montwood High School, where her youngest son, Carlo Medina de la Cruz, is a senior and a robotics team member. Medina serves as the team’s booster club vice president.
“Mrs. Medina exemplifies what a volunteer is,” said Carlos Guerra, SISD assistant superintendent of schools and former Montwood High School principal. “Her love and dedication to our SISD community and students is evident in everything she does. The fact that Mrs. Medina was chosen as a recipient of the Heroes for Children Award is a testament to her countless hours of dedication to our students. “
Medina said the opportunity to volunteer at SISD has allowed her to be involved in her children’s education and support all students on their academic journey.
Medina de la Cruz was recently accepted into three prestigious summer programs at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Southern California and NASA. Ultimately, he decided to complete the summer program at MIT, where he hopes to continue his higher education.
Medina’s two older sons, both products of SISD, are pursuing impressive career and education paths. One is an aerospace engineer, and the other is attending the University of Texas at El Paso, where he is studying to become a computer systems engineer.
“My children were my inspiration and motivation, so now when I see what they are doing, I’m so satisfied and proud, as a parent and a mother, of what they are doing for themselves and others,” Medina said. “Once I knew I could help my children, I knew I could help and leave a positive mark in the lives of other students.”
Medina works alongside Montwood’s parent and family engagement liaison, Alice Galvan, making phone calls, filing, and helping with decorations for school events.
Galvan said Medina fits the definition of Heroes for Children, which is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, and notable qualities.
“We are extremely excited and proud of our lovely Ms. Delia Medina,” Galvan said. “She is truly worthy and deserving to be our District Volunteer of the Year, and I am more than excited that she was awarded the Heroes for Children Award this year. The Ram family is lucky to have her, and we are proud and happy for all her achievements.”
Aside from being the vice president of the robotics booster club, Medina is a member of the School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) committee and serves as an ambassador for school activities and as a robotics sponsor.
The Montwood robotics team advanced to the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), an international high school robotics tournament, with her assistance last year.
Medina was also named the 2014 Volunteer of the Year at Ernesto Serna School. During her time as a volunteer, she has worked on various projects, sponsoring a class science project in 2015-16 and a recycling project in 2018. She also has worked with student ambassadors at Montwood High School to help decorate the campus for special celebrations and events.
Medina also is an avid community volunteer, assisting with events and fundraising for city churches and El Paso Community College.
In 2020, Medina and other SISD volunteers partnered with EPCC to plan the first annual dance marathon to raise funds for The El Paso Children’s Hospital Cancer Ward. They raised $9,000, surpassing their goal of $2,000.
Medina is the seventh SISD volunteer to win the Heros for Children Award. Past SISD volunteer recipients include Yamile Gonzales, Joe Ramirez, Susan Hill, Flor Gentry, Ofelia Murillo and Stephen Hambric.
“Thank you to SISD for the great opportunities that they offer to the students as well as the parents,” Medina said. “When you do things with love, it always brings great results.”