SOCORRO ISD
at the Governor’s Mansion
Candace Printz
Our Fine Arts Department was taken aback when we 
received an email that one of our Socorro ISD student 
artworks had been selected from the 2026 Youth Art Month 
Spring Exhibition by the First Lady of Texas, Cecilia Abbott, 
to be on display in the Governor’s business office for one 
year. SSG Manuel R. Puentes Middle School art teacher, 
Karina Alvarez, submitted the artwork from Sandy Buendia, 
a very talented 7th grader. The Shine of the Skull was a 
beautifully crocheted piece she’d worked meticulously on 
throughout the school year. Flaunting delicate stitches, her 
work depicts a sugar skull composed of pinks, reds, and 
purples against a subtle seafoam green background.
The news stunned us since we knew that only thirteen 
students from the entire state of Texas were selected for this 
elite honor. Suddenly, the realization that the rote paperwork 
and photo submissions would have a real-world impact on 
a student swelled within me. This was the first time in the 
history of us participating that we’d been selected. I couldn’t 
wait to contact the teacher and student with this exciting 
news!

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