News & Opinion

Happy Senior Knight!

By: Elise Alva, Class of 2026

Kaitlyn Roldan and family walk down the 50 yard line

October 26, 2025 - Your Silver Knight Marchers are all one of a kind, some may even say like the ACE in a deck of cards. Everyday these musicians grind and compete to be better then the rest, and it shows once they step onto the field. Although our band is quite young with lots of talent for future years to come, we must not overlook the wonderful Seniors that have helped build this group from the ground up.

TIME = $$$

For the past four years getting up in the hot summer days before school kicks off to the cold November mornings during marching season; these seniors along with all the other musicians and athletes have endlessly been looking to improve their skills. Waking up at 5:30am for a 6:30am practice takes a lot of discipline on and off the field. They also end up staying after school from around 5:30 during football season for quick run throughs up until their halftime and end of game performances at 10:30 at night. Besides their everyday hours along with the responsibility to handle their studies, these kids always know how to take care of their work and craft. It's not easy being a band kid but they always come out with pep in their steps.

Brianna Arreola and Family

Marina Ruiz and Family

HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Upon all those hours of preparation in rehearsal, and time taken for their school work, your knights still manage to bring home top tier ratings in every competition they participate in. This year they received a Division 1 rating at the EPISD marching invitational, became back to back Area A Champions as well as being nominated for a Peoples Choice: Best Show award and recognized from the Texas 35 as one of the top 5A shows at State!!! There truly is no limit to the outstanding showstoppers our band puts on.

Shine Bright

And let's not forget about our Outstanding Color-guard Seniors. They are not just pretty faces on the field but more so the glue that holds our school spirit together. You can always find our Silhouettes, in the stands or on the floor always rocking new and improved dance moves. These ladies are always by our band's side showing they know the commitment it takes to get their jobs done. 4 year veteran Kassandra Beard explains how much this team means to her:

“The reason I chose to be on the dance team was the heavy inspiration I got from watching my sister perform at various games and competitions, and she was the inspiration behind me joining. The team means so much to me not only because I have grown so much from it but I have also learned many skills but I have also learned many skills that I can use outside of dance. I have grown such a strong bond with each individual on my team and its truly m safe space where I can go and always be myself”

WINNERS TAKE IT ALL

Throughout the course of your four years of education, becoming a part of a special family really does make high-school worthwhile. Below, you’ll hear from some Seniors about why they choose band/color-guard and what made them fall in love with it!

Senior Knights come and go, and as a senior myself I know how intense that feeling can become, knowing that you're ready to take the next chapter in your life. However with the four years you build with your family around you makes it feel endlessly worth it. Thank you Seniors for being a part of this band's journey and congratulations Class Of 2026!

Andrew Crouse and Family

Melody Rivera and Family

Zaita Ramirez and Family

Katelyn Matthews and Family

Nathan Delgado and Family

Paulina Vasquez and Family

Hear From Our Seniors :)

  • "I've always loved music and playing my instrument and I chose to stay in band entering high school to be able to continue working on my passion for music. The discipline, control, etiquette and confidence that come with learning an instrument and being in a music program are applicable to far more that just this program itself " - James McCormick

  • “I choose band because it's been something that has always been something that has always caught my attention and it means so much to me because I've made so many good memories and it's something that really made me happy all these years” - Katelyn (Star) Matthews

  • “I am forever glad I joined band and for all the experiences I got to have with my section and friends. As some may say, life is like a book, some chapters are sad and some are happy but if you never turn the page you will never know what the next chapter has in store for you” - Milton Grant

  • “I chose to do band all four years of high school because of how much everyone in band comes together to accomplish many things. Every member in our group comes from a background far different than anyone else’s and that is the beauty of it. No matter who you are or where you're from, we all treat each other like family and help one another when we stumble” - Theresa Acosta

Hello HanksGiving!

By: Alondra Rodriguez, Class of 2026

November 2025 - This year marked the 25th anniversary of Hanksgiving, a long-standing tradition at Hanks High School. The Hanks Interact Club, sponsored by Ms. Moni Lopez, set a goal of providing 500 complete Thanksgiving turkey meals to families in our community, and they met this lofty goal!

Hanksgiving is the time of year when Hanks High School students and faculty come together to help the El Paso community by feeding families in need. Usually taking place towards the end of the Halloween season, everyone comes together to help bring in multiple cans, boxes, and positive vibes with happy smiles on their faces, ready for the hard work ahead of them.

At the start of Thanksgiving break, the community members, students, and staff got together and pitched in by helping with the preparations of organizing cans and various other foods in our personalized Hanksgiving bags. They were all evenly filled with food to make delicious Thanksgiving dinners for the families coming in at the end of their work days. Not only did Hanks members come out to help, we even got helpers from various schools in the YISD community. 

We also held our annual class competition with the Hanks students to see who could bring the most supplies for each bag, and The Early College was the winner!

They also encourage our Hanks faculty and staff to donate their own items every year around Thanksgiving to make a full, proper feast for families across El Paso. It's a great way for our Hanks students to show how we care for others and that we'll do anything to help those in need.

Officers recieve the first of many school shipments

Calvary Church and Hanks HS student Reighley De Anda’s family donate to reach the 500 family goal

Pictured Left to Right: Angelique Ramirez (12), Lily Arrias (12), Rotary Club Member Kevin Long and Leah Batista (12) with big smiles after 2 donations came in from the East El Paso Rotary Club

Interact Club officers pose for fun in front of school waiting to work hard rolling in cans, turkeys and more from various feeder schools.