In a nod of national recognition, Bill Childress Elementary's student council has clinched the 2025 Student Council School of Excellence award, an honor that singles them out as the only school in the region to be endorsed by the American Student Council Association (ASCA), as reported by Canutillo ISD. The award celebrates student councils for showcasing strong leadership, citizenship, community service, and an enthusiastic school spirit.
The school has stood out not just with the award but also with the various initiatives the student council has spearheaded; these range from participation in the Canutillo High School Homecoming Parade to organizing a Trunk-or-Treat event, involvement in the Candlelighters Toy Drive and orchestrating the annual Fun Run which doesn't just get the blood pumping but also funnels much-needed funds into the kind of student-centered activities that, among other things, color the year with vibrancy, says BCE's proud Principal Maria Varela, adding, "This award is a testament to how our students are learning to lead with empathy and purpose," as per Canutillo ISD.
Varela isn't alone in her pride; the young minds who form the council’s backbone seem well aware of the weight of their achievements. Student council president, fifth-grader Hailey Guardado, told Canutillo ISD, "I feel honored to receive this award and how we worked together to do it. We worked really hard to help others and make our school better for everyone." Officer Carlos Bustamante chimed in on the importance of collaborative effort, noting, “Everyone on student council had great ideas and we all worked together.”
But their achievements extend beyond throwing events, as they get their hands dirty every day leading morning announcements, promoting autism awareness, and preparing hygiene kits for fifth grade puberty classes, these are actions that demonstrate not just their thoughtfulness but also their ability to punch above their age class and impact the community, which, as the award indicates, sets them apart, much like the fact they were the solitary school in the region to bag this award.
