Harlingen Collegiate High School

Lea Saldivar from Lee Means Fine Arts Academy and Magdalena Lopez-Perez from Harlingen School of Health Professions were recognized in February as counselor finalists in the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards.

H-E-B representatives and Harlingen CISD district administrators started their morning at Lee Means Academy to surprise Saldivar with balloons, treats, and a giant $1,000 check.

“This is the first year that H-E-B extended their excellence award for school counselors,” Saldivar said. “They recognized that the job that we do matters. So, it was a good opportunity. I took a chance, and I applied.”

After the first surprise visit, they headed to Harlingen School of Health Professions to surprise Magdalena Lopez-Perez with a giant $1,000 check, balloons, and treats as well.

“This honor from H-E-B is everything,” Lopez-Perez said. “This year the opportunity came up, and I couldn’t help but put my name in the hat, not just to see if I would be selected as a finalist, but just because it is part of that validation for the work that we do.”

As finalists, each counselor received $1,000 for themselves and an additional $1,500 for their respective campuses.

In the summer, Saldivar and Lopez-Perez will head to Houston to compete against other counselors throughout the State for a chance to win $10,000 for themselves and $15,000 for their schools.

“On behalf of the district and the school board, we are very proud of you,” Superintendent Dr. J.A. Gonzalez said.  We know you are going to go to Houston and represent us well.”

The School Counselor Award is designed to recognize school counselors who provide a safe, supportive, and caring environment for all students, coordinate counseling services to assist students and demonstrate professionalism and leadership that positively impacts students.