The Fort Bliss Partners in Education Program honored El Dorado High School, Spec. Rafael Hernando III Middle School and Jane A. Hambric School and their partnered units with the Partnership of the Year and Top Hours awards at the September 2024-25 Partners in Education Kick-Off Ceremony at the Centennial Club.
The annual event recognized the partnerships between Fort Bliss and area schools and celebrated the achievements of the previous school year. Following the awards, schools met with their Fort Bliss unit partners to collaborate and plan for the 2024-25 school year.
Mark A. Perez, El Dorado's military family liaison, said the partnership with Fort Bliss bridges the relationship between the Aztecs and service members, creating a bond that benefits students and soldiers while continuously enriching the SISD community.
"Winning these awards is a great feeling but all the recognition should go to the leadership and soldiers of the 2BEB/3ABCT," Perez said. "Our Partners In Education unit continues to show their selflessness and, more importantly, high motivation to serve our campus as well as our country."
El Dorado High School and two of its feeder pattern schools Spec. Rafael Hernando III Middle School and Jane A. Hambric School, along with their partners, the 2nd Engineer Battalion (2BEB), 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team (3ABCT), and 1st Armored Division, were honored with the Top Hours award for contributing the most volunteer hours throughout the school year.
They also received the Partnership of the Year award. According to Fort Bliss School Liaison Officer Simone Wendlandt-Hendricks, the award is given to a unit that went above and beyond the call of duty to strengthen the relationship. This includes the unit’s support of the Socorro Independent School District’s 11th annual Mother-Daughter Conference last February at El Dorado High School.