(DON HASKINS CENTER — June 12, 2023) – Jefferson/Maxine Silva Health Magnet High School kicked off the first day of El Paso ISD graduations at the Don Haskins Center this morning with 329 students crossing the stage. 

The class of 2023 earned more than $5.7 million in scholarships. Jefferson High School is led by valedictorian Oscar Fernando Campolla and salutatorian Denisse Guadalupe Hernandez. Both will be heading to the University of Texas at El Paso this fall. Silva is led by valedictorian Riddhi Ashwin Patel, who will attend Texas Tech University this fall, and salutatorian Sofia Alana Diaz-Guadalupe, who plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin. 

The graduates have earned many prestigious scholarships, including the Rotary-Quinn, the Terry Foundation, the UTEP Presidential, the Coach Archie Duran Memorial Scholarship and the Greater El Paso Football Showcase Scholarship.

This year’s class marks the first cohort of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing partnership with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso and El Paso Community College that allows students to enter the university and receive their BSN from Tech within 16 months of graduation. The program saw 18 students earn their associate degree through the BSN pipeline program. Of the 18 students, 12 have applied for nursing school either at UTEP or Texas Tech.