Eight Santa Maria-Bonita School District (SMBSD) junior high students and their teacher sponsors have been recognized by the Dolores Huerta Education Awards Program through the California Teachers Association (CTA).

The CTA award program lauds educators and their students who demonstrate an understanding of the vision and guiding principles embraced by Dolores Huerta.

The eight SMBSD student award recipients were all recognized in the area of visual art.

Visual arts award participants were required to show evidence of how certain principles were evident in their lives, including such topics as principles of nonviolence, social justice for farmworkers, and human and civil rights issues.

Each student winner from SMBSD is receiving $550 from CTA to use as they choose.

“Each year, members of the Santa Maria Elementary Education Association sponsor students participating in the Huerta Education Awards Program’s writing and art competition,” said Loretta Muniz, SMBSD 6th-grade teacher and Santa Maria Elementary Education Association (SMEEA) member.

“Through their creative work, students explore and express the values of teamwork, cooperation, collaboration, and service to others,” she said.

“This year, students and their sponsoring teachers proudly showcased artwork that reflected these important ideals,” Muniz said. “SMEEA is proud of its continued participation in this meaningful program and applauds the dedication and creativity of all participants. ¡Sí Se Puede!”

SMBSD student winners and teacher sponsors are as follows:
• Susana Camacho (teacher sponsor Sonya Garcia Morris)
• Audrina Gonzalez (teacher sponsor Sonya Garcia Morris)
• Destiny Morales (teacher sponsor Alen Leyva-Marquez)
• Fidedino Agustin (teacher sponsor Shelley Rieke)
• Jesenia Agustin (teacher sponsor Guadalupe Lawson)
• Jennifer Valencia (teacher sponsor Anel Garcia Gonzalez)
• Amalia Arroyo (teacher sponsor Robert Jimenez)