Renata stands out in an extraordinary way: she is the only winner from Santa Cruz County and one of just 20 winners statewide, selected from more than 850 student entries across Arizona. This is truly an outstanding accomplishment, and we could not be more proud.
Our Governing Board Members were delighted to recognize her for her achievements earlier this week. Moments like these remind us of the incredible talent within our schools and the bright futures our students are building every day.
#SCV35AboveTheBar
SCVUSD No. 35 is proud to share that the Arizona Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (AZALAS) has named our Governing Board President, Ms. Lourdes Vasquez, as their 2025 Outstanding Board Member of the Year.
This well-deserved honor highlights her 44 years of unwavering dedication to supporting students and strengthening educational opportunities across Santa Cruz County. Read more in our press release.
Congratulations, Ms. Vasquez! 🎉
Photo credit: AZALAS/Vincent Medina
Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District No. 35 proudly highlights Ariana Garcilazo, an SCV35 alumna, for earning an Emmy Award for her work with Telemundo Arizona on the series “Inmigrantes: El motor invisible.”
This marks Garcilazo’s second Emmy Award, recognizing her dedication to impactful storytelling and journalistic excellence. In addition to this recent honor, Ariana Garcilazo was also recently inducted into the SCV35 Hall of Fame, a distinction that celebrates outstanding alumni who continue to represent the district with pride and excellence.
Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District No. 35 celebrates the achievements of its alumni who continue to inspire current students and demonstrate the lasting impact of an SCV35 education.
Thank you, Veterans!
Congratulations, Superintendent Verdugo, on this well-deserved honor and for your continued dedication to our students, staff, and community!
Read more about his award in our press release below. Photo credit: AZALAS/Vincent Medina
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This valuable educational resource will support and inspire our students as they continue their learning journeys. We also appreciate the Rotary members for personally visiting each 3rd grade classroom to teach students how to look up words, explore maps, and even discover the longest word in the English language!
Thank you, Rio Rico Rotary, for your continued dedication to our students and community. 💙
Earlier this week, Superintendent Verdugo and our Governing Board Members recognized the spectacular artwork created by SCV35 students. These talented artists represented San Cayetano Elementary School, Calabasas School, and Rio Rico High School.
A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated principals, art teachers, and parents for supporting and inspiring our young artists!
Special congratulations to Emely Ramirez, whose artwork has been selected to be featured on items such as aprons and coasters during the upcoming Arizona Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (AZALAS) Conference in November.
🎨 Student Artists:
San Cayetano Elementary School: Sebastian Pacheco
Calabasas School: Mia Alvarez
Rio Rico High School: Christian Padias-Berg, Yael Chavez, and Emely Ramirez
We are celebrating Arts Month in Santa Cruz County! Join us for an afternoon of creativity, community, and inspiration at the Celebrating Young Artists Art Event! 🖌️
🗓️ Saturday, November 1, 2025
🕒 3:00 – 6:00 PM
📍 1904 Historic Courthouse, Nogales, AZ
Parents. students. staff and community members can enjoy a student art exhibit, hands-on workshops, the Art Ambassador Awards, and opportunities to meet local artists! 🏆👩🎨👨🎨
Don’t miss out on this celebration of imagination and hope — because “Art is the highest form of hope.” 💫
From visiting classrooms and celebrating student artwork and accomplishments to cheering on graduates and attending school events across the district, Mr. Verdugo leads with dedication, heart, and pride for every SCV35 student and staff member. 👏
Thank you for your leadership and commitment to our schools and community! 💙
#SCV35AboveTheBar #LeadershipInAction
This event was designed to support English Language Learners and their families by connecting them with valuable educational resources and community organizations.
A big thank-you to all the visiting organizations and school sites who participated and helped make this event a success! 💙
Items available are tops, bottoms, jeans, jackets, hoodies, suits, dresses, shoes, purses, jewelry, backpacks, blankets, and other miscellaneous items! See you there! 🤩
Items available are tops, bottoms, jeans, jackets, hoodies, suits, dresses, shoes, purses, jewelry, backpacks, blankets, and other miscellaneous items! See you there! 🤩
📅 Oct. 14–16 | 🕗 8:00 AM–3:30 PM | 📍 District Office
Come shop gently used clothes and enjoy a little Fall Break fun — on us! 🍂👕
Victoria was awarded Best of Show in the 3–5 division at the Santa Cruz County Fair for her stunning charcoal drawing of a cat. Her art teacher, Mr. Dittmar, shared words of praise for her hard work and dedication to the subject. Our Board and district administration also had the opportunity to admire her artwork up close.
Congratulations, Victoria, on this incredible achievement! 👏 Our students are doing amazing things!
#SCV35AboveTheBar
A group of Coatimundi Middle School students earned Best of Show in the 6–8 division for their collaborative painting of a Cavalier on horseback. Some of the students who contributed to the project attended our Governing Board meeting to represent their group. They received words of encouragement and congratulations from Principal Cabrera and Mr. McIlrath, shared their favorite parts of the creative process, and proudly showcased some of their personal artwork to the Board and district administration.
Congratulations to Mr. McIlrath and our CtMS students on this amazing accomplishment! 👏Our students are doing amazing things!
#SCV35AboveTheBar
Join us for Thrift Till You Drop! — a free thrifting event just for SCV35 middle and high school students! Stop by the District Office from Oct. 14–16 and shop gently used clothes — totally free! 👕👖
Come find something you love and enjoy a little Fall Break shopping -- on us! 🍂✨
Last week, Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District No. 35 proudly welcomed five new inductees into its Distinguished Hall of Fame. This prestigious recognition honors alumni whose accomplishments and character exemplify excellence in their careers and service to their communities. Honorees are celebrated for their spirit, leadership, and the lasting inspiration they bring to those around them.
Congratulations to this year’s honorees: Dr. Victor Diaz, Mr. John Fanning, Ms. Ariana Garcilazo, Ms. Allison Howard, and the 2005–2006 Rio Rico High School Marching Band. We are proud to celebrate their remarkable accomplishments and lasting impact on our community.
A heartfelt thank you to our special guests who joined us to help celebrate this meaningful event!
