The Victoria ISD Board of Trustees proudly recognized outstanding students at the 2024-25 Board Excellence Awards, celebrating their academic success, commitment to attendance, and exemplary conduct.
Students in grades five through 12 were honored with the Academic Excellence Award, which recognizes those who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement while maintaining high standards for attendance and behavior. To qualify, students in grades six through 12 must be enrolled in at least one honors, gifted and talented, pre-advanced placement, advanced placement, or dual credit course. Additionally, recipients met strict attendance and conduct criteria outlined in the VISD Student Handbook, including having no unexcused absences or office referrals.
This year, VISD also introduced the Growing in Excellence Award (formerly the Growing in Genius Award), recognizing students who have demonstrated notable academic progress while embodying the district’s Portrait of Excellence character traits. These students exemplify perseverance, integrity, and a commitment to continuous growth.
“Our Board Excellence Awards celebrate the dedication and hard work of students who are not only excelling academically but also demonstrating outstanding character and responsibility,” said Board President Mike Mercer. “These students set a powerful example for their peers and represent the excellence we strive for in our district.”
The VISD Board of Trustees honored the award recipients over two evenings at the Victoria Fine Arts Center, applauding their efforts and commitment to excellence.
Congratulations to the students recognized!
Elementary
Aloe Elementary
Keeley Copenhaver, Ily Nelson, Logan Rodgers, Walker Svetlik, Morgan Williams
Growing in Excellence
James Diaz, Crystalline Garner, Shaylenn Phillips
Chandler Elementary
Matthew Andruss, Ivie Hinojosa, Eli Hobbs, Aliyah Jimenez, Sophia Tran
Growing in Excellence
Jamison Barnett, Penelope Martinez, Kenzie Sutton
Crain Elementary
Abigail Alicia Espino, Jonathan Hernandez-Rosas, Anthony Michael Martinez, Guadalupe Montoya Jacobo, Jimena Alani Ramirez
Growing in Excellence
Loraine Bautista Benavides, Julian Alexander Lara, Julieta Ameli Ramirez
DeLeon Elementary
Kynlee Kolle, Cooper Leigh, Jaxon McKinney, James Nguyen, Kinley Ratliff, Charles West
Growing in Excellence
Tearsten Boscarello, Maddux Cardenas, Lonnie Wood
Dudley Elementary
Camden Boyd, Robert Kirchner, Annali Martinez, Yelena Murphy, Juan Vazquez Jr.
Growing in Excellence
Paula Cruz, I'Asia Vaughn Bek, Giselle Willis
Hopkins Elementary
Londyn Lynn Alvarez, Alexia Yamileth Enriquez, Natalia Faith Beatrice Fernandez, Rayden Jase Hinojosa, John Eric Nunez Jr., Gabriel Perez
Growing in Excellence
Draesyn Bess, Alanna Pena, Brian Rosas
Mission Valley Elementary
Jonathan Hamm, Preston Salles, Lucas Vela
Growing in Excellence
Lilah Hawes, Reese Weiser
O’Connor Elementary
Juliana Baiza, Joel De La Rosa, Syriah Longoria, Ezekiel Tavares, Allison Torres
Growing in Excellence
Brooklyn DeLeon, Baeza Moreno, Ever Rodriguez Lopez
Rowland Elementary
Glory Chin, Bracha Garcia, Lilyan McDonald, Camden Mesa, Jillian Priest
Growing in Excellence
Drevon Ennels, Abriana Garza, Leah Marin
Schorlemmer Elementary
Corbin Calcote, Liam Carr, Kinli Halliburton, Luke Hosek, Nathan Williams
Growing in Excellence
Mary Margaret Arambula, Dylan Caleoni, Eleanor Sanchez
Shields Elementary
Jaidyn Barefield, Lyla Huber, Camdyn Kalmus, Jewliet Moreno Galindo, Cruz Turrubiartes-Alvarez
Growing in Excellence
Marcy Delagarza, Xadrian Huerta, Brianna Montalvo
Smith STEM Academy
Drelynn Firova, Liam Parsons, Jeromyah Piper, Anilyse Santellana, Cayden White
Growing in Excellence
Olivia McCann, Brandon Montelongo, Annani Rodriguez
Torres Elementary
Ariana Deleon, Jeremiah Jewett, Karley Perez, Nicholas Ramirez, Arjen Salazar
Growing in Excellence
Edgar Carrillo, Nalina Garcia, Jeremiah Norman
Vickers Elementary
Anna Chiou, Luke Hernandez, Milana Jarosz, Lelaina Lassmann, Huda Nusayr
Growing in Excellence
Nicole Contreras, Logan Gonzales, Zoe Martinez
Middle School
Cade Middle School
SIXTH GRADE
Joseph Arthur Holt, Casen Michael Fanelli, Alexandra Guadalupe Rojas, Koy Matthew Shelton, Taryn Noelle Thibodeaux
Growing in Excellence
Blake Robert Baker, Bryce Easton Rivera, Malory Ann Robertson
SEVENTH GRADE
Caleb Kyle Rinald, Surbhi Singhal, Riley Daniel Svetlik, Cailin Chanmony Tan, Leah Zuniga
Growing in Excellence
Blake Michael Blaschke, Grace Alube Kalu, Paityn Kaye Williams
EIGHTH GRADE
Kesli Michele Most, Tyler Grant Parks, Beau Samuel Tomas, Dylan Emery Young, Bryce Reed Zeplin
Growing in Excellence
Fernanda Nicole Catete Perez, Joseph Eli Sanchez, Reagan Kay Weiser
Howell Middle School
SIXTH GRADE
Brynn Bernard, Chev Bondoc, Olivia Hybner, Kara Nelson, Aaliyah Padierna, Jessie Wang
Growing in Excellence
Kyler Balderas, Alana Reyes
SEVENTH GRADE
Leila Atkinson, Bryton Guerra, Kayla Lingle, Ana Santiago, Charlotte Speaker
Growing in Excellence
Syeira Bentson, Dasia Mickens, William Sneed
EIGHTH GRADE
Mikenna Casillas, Irie Hayes, Tyler Jarisch, Andrew Liu, Jackson Nguyen
Growing in Excellence
Phoenix Cooke, Lexi Emig, Destinee Nunez
STEM Middle School
SIXTH GRADE
Aaralyn Basquez, Christopher Hatton, Ja'Zyah Herron, Maddison Jeanis, Erica Taylor
Growing in Excellence
Mathias Perez, Lio Russell, Araceli Segura
SEVENTH GRADE
Willow Biltz Balli, Kayla Hilliard, Lane Johnston, Barrett Novak, Axton Salazar
Growing in Excellence
Wyatt Bearden, Oscar Carrillo, Aubrey Zuniga
EIGHTH GRADE
Lizette Garza, Cadence Lyston, Camdyn Mansfield, Skylin Trujillo, Alana Ybanez
Growing in Excellence
Sophia Fuentes, Yarei Huerta, Da'Nyah Ruiz
Patti Welder Middle School
SIXTH GRADE
Shavanda Lonzo, Molly Rother, Kenley Sanchez, Ellora Solis, Sloan Svetlik
Growing in Excellence
Sara Dougherty, Brandon Barahona, Jaylynn Reyna
SEVENTH GRADE
Brandon Acuna Hernandez, Adah Gonzales, Fernanda Moreno, Korbyn Murray, Lena Svetlik
Growing in Excellence
Maison Cantu, Xavier Lozano, Liam Rickman
EIGHTH GRADE
Kenley Arangua, Taylor Chandler, Kayleigh Foster, Josiah Garcia, Zadyn Shannon
Growing in Excellence
Tyron Amador Aguirre, John Aviles, Angel Flores Jaime
High School
Victoria East High School
NINTH GRADE
Kaylee Clewis, Kent Cloud, Presleigh Henneke, Olivia Hicks, Jordan Morales, Nathalia Moreno, Mason Rhodes, Taylor Roundtree-Trevino, Kaiden Salinas, Lily West
Growing in Excellence
Jack Cain, Kaylie Harriman, Caden Krawietz, A’leiyah Pena, Natelie Shelby
TENTH GRADE
Emmi Margaret Adrean, Gregory Rexford Buesing, Zoe Rosa Mirabel Cloud, Alexander James Craig, Kylie Lynn Gantt, Kolten Levi King, Kendall Ann Koch, Katelyn Mitchell, Akshitha Reddy Muddam, Travis Michael Zimmer
Growing in Excellence
Greenlee Briggs, Jenna Grahmann, Evelyn Pedraza, Miley Westbrook, Tabari Young
ELEVENTH GRADE
Madison Atkinson, Kason Kolle, Leo Li, Ramon Salinas, Noah Shepard, Addison Temple, Armando Villarreal, Meixin Wang, Eliana West, Taylor Yogi
Growing in Excellence
Lucas Glaeske, Maddox Kent, Jade McIntosh, Lillian Rather, Ryan Steele
TWELFTH GRADE
Lucas Allen, Amari Barnes, Mia De Los Santos, Stephen Diebel, Aaron Ehsan, Collin Flessner, Shiloh Fort, Avery Harriman, Hoang Tuan Le, Aidan Valdez
Growing in Excellence
Kyrah Anzaldua, Rebecca Felan, Peyton Key, James Lumpkins, Yaneiris Maldonado
Victoria West High School
NINTH GRADE
Maanak Agrawal, Jasmin Anne Bhatia, Princess Pauline Bonuz, Anderson Truitt Davig, Justin Rey Espinoza, Blake Anthony Kern, Henley Lynn King, Abdul-Majid Amjad Nusayr, Mitchell Dane Steves, Tyler Hyak Williams
Growing in Excellence
Shyra Jillian Haas, Berenice Martinez, Patrick Joseph Moeller, Riley Alice Noel Padoven, Aydin James Robertson
TENTH GRADE
Miles Aiden Chandler, Jacob Leander Cohen, Madeline Grace Crocker, Benjamin Alexander Hamilton, Ava Jordyn Hernandez, Skyler Rae Kyle, Ty Wesley Shelton, William Robert Tally, Tenley Nicole Thibodeaux, Haley Elizabeth Yur
Growing in Excellence
Colt Sawyer Aley, Mackenzie Lee Brett, Ava Canales, Ruben Jose Cruz, Benjamin Michael Niesner
ELEVENTH GRADE
Jiya Anne Bhatia, Myles Reyes Buchwalder, Allison Aubrey Cooper, Austin Edward Harvey, Lane Kenneth Kern, Alexis Raye Kincaid, Hailey Susan King, Glory Joy Palmer, Lucas Rene Rosas, Marina Lenae Vrana
Growing in Excellence
Elijah Rae Flores, Colton Ryan Gay, Juan Sastre Hernandez, James Michael Miori IV, Jacob Paul Shelby
TWELFTH GRADE
Ellie Kristina Adrean, Cora Grace Borden, Gabrielle Jenise Charles, Analisa Maribel Guterrez, Ava Elizabeth Hamilton, Callie Grace Kern, Afnaan Amjad Nusayr, Bareera Saif, Ajay Ramiz Shamma, Madeline Grace Vigil
Growing in Excellence
Kenedy Breanne Blough, Mia Giselle Fonseca, Braden James Merritt, Hayden Lane Michalk, Karleigh Raegan Mozisek
VISD Success Academy
Growing in Excellence
Aaron Blake Rios Jr, Matthew Santiago Nunez, Mauricio Noel Guzman, Robyn Rose Roach