Three high school students from the Socorro Independent School District have been honored with top accolades in the 2025 Congressional Art Competition, showcasing their artistic talents on a national level. Adali Valles from Socorro High School clinched first place, while Roselyn De la Cruz from Eastlake High School and Brooklyn Rodriguez from Montwood High School secured the second and third places, respectively.
Valles's black-and-white painting "Beatriz," which illustrates the hands of an elderly woman making tamales, captured the attention of Congressman Tony Gonzalez's office in Texas's 23rd Congressional District. According to SISD News, Valles expressed her pride in being able to represent her Mexican-American heritage within the halls of the US Capitol. "Having the opportunity to showcase my artwork at the Capitol is an honor for me," Valles said. "Not only is it a chance to demonstrate my artistic skills, but it also means I get to share my family's legacy."
Roselyn De la Cruz's entry, “El Cumpleaños,” a vibrant piece featuring a young boy and a piñata, and Brooklyn Rodriguez's “Long Live the City of the Sun,” which combines fabric art and a representation of a luchador mask, won them commendations from Congresswoman Veronica Escobar’s office in Texas’s 16th Congressional District. Their works are currently on display at the El Paso Museum of Art. “We want these young people to know that their brilliance and their talent matter to us and that they're special and having (their art) at the El Paso Museum of Art is something they can put on their resume,” Escobar stated in an event celebrating the winners, as obtained by SISD News.
