Category: School News

Devine ISD votes to keep same tax rate

By Anton Riecher
During its Monday night meeting, the Devine School Board unanimously approved an ad valorem tax rate of $0.8891 per $100 valuation for the 2026-2027 fiscal year the same as the current fiscal year.
Approved on a motion by Alixana Buvinghausen, seconded by Britney Stricker, the tax rate breaks down as $0.6969 for maintenance and operation and $0.1922 for the interest and sinking fund covering principal and interest on debt.

Board members also voted to re-adopt its 2026-2027 school budget of $25.3 million originally approved in June. At that time an anticipated revenue shortfall forced the elimination of…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Meet the teachers!

Devine ISD…

Ciavarra Elementary and Devine Intermediate is set for Thursday, August 6 from 5 to 6:30 pm. Devine High School will be 6:30 to 7:30pm.
Devine Middle School held Meet the Teacher on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.
The First Day of School is August 11.

Lytle ISD…

Lytle Jr High and High School will hold Meet the Teacher on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 from 5 – 7 PM. Lytle Elementary School is set for Thursday, August 6 from 4 – 6 PM and Primary School from 5 – 7 PM.
The first day of school is Wednesday, August 12.

Natalia ISD…

Natalia ECC and Elementary School will hold Meet the Teacher on Monday, August 10, 2026at 5 PM while Natalia Jr High and High School are set for 5:30 pm.
The first day of school is Tuesday, August 11.

Devine school board votes to expand health care education

Donny Whitaker (left) will join the team as a second School Resource Officer for Devine ISD along with SRO Eliseo Perez (right). Photo by KK Calame.

By Anton Riecher
The Devine ISD school board reviewed and acted on several operational and policy items Monday including approval of a new full-time career and technical education (CTE) teaching position for the district’s patient care technician program.
District Superintendent Todd Grandjean said that the expanded program will build on the present district health services program.
“This is the exact direction we were heading when we had our health services program that nurse (Joslyn) Wilson was teaching before,” he said. “That was two classes this past year. Now we are moving into a six-class regimen in partnership with Southwest Texas College.”
Devine ISD offers a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Health Science program at Devine High School, which allows…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Students receive scholarships from Rotary Club of Medina County

President Johnette Dixon presented Jeremy Steinbrunner (Jr.) of Devine with his $1,000 award at a Rotary Club meeting.

The Rotary Club of Medina County awarded $8,200 in scholarships to area students during the month of May. Students from multiple county communities were awarded scholarships – two students from Medina Valley ISD, two from Devine ISD, three from Hondo ISD, and one from Lytle ISD.
Mikaela Trejo and Zamyra Lightsey of Hondo both received $1,000, Jeremy Steinbrunner (Jr.) and Briar Pareson of Devine both received $1,000, Collin Sprenger of Lytle received $1,000. Sabrina Rodriguez of Hondo received the vocational scholarship – $1,200, Nicholas Riff received the Tim Gillis Merit scholarship – $1,000, and Kaleigh Lewis received the Ann Peden Merit scholarship – $1,000 – scholarship.
Scholarships, and other club projects, are funded through our Hometown Heroes BBQ Event in October which serves both as a fundraiser and an event to honor the counties’ first responders. The first responders are treated to a catered meal, musical entertainment, a vendor fair, kids activities, and in 2026, we are adding a car show. At the same time, BBQ teams compete in a Champions Barbeque Alliance (CBA) authorized event to earn points towards the state BBQ championship.

Linda Bohlen, Foundation Chair, presented Briar Parson of Devine with his $1,000 award; Briar’s mom, Carlu, is also pictured.

The three Hondo ISD awards – the vocational scholarship – $1,200, the Tim Gillis Merit scholarship – $1,000, and the Ann Peden Merit scholarship – $1,000 – scholarships were presented by President Johnette Dixon to Sabrina Rodriguez, Nicholas Riff, and Kaleigh Lewis, respectively.

Linda Bohlen also presented Collin Sprenger of Lytle with his $1,000 award.

Local student’s make Dean’s and President’s list

Students on Dean’s List at University of Maryland Global Campus

ADELPHI, MD (06/16/2026) — More than 20,000 University of Maryland Global Campus students were named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2026 term. To be eligible for the honor, a student must complete at least six credits during the term, earn a grade point average of at least 3.5 for the term, and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 at UMGC.
Among those named to the Dean’s List were local residents: Andrew Leal and Jose Mendoza Jimenez of Devine, Kevin Mauricio of Natalia and Angelly Trenkle of Castroville.

Trowbridge Named to ACU’s Spring 2026 Dean’s Honor Roll

ABILENE, TX (06/22/2026) — Abilene Christian University congratulates Paiten Trowbridge of Castroville on being named to the Spring 2026 Dean’s Honor Roll. Trowbridge is a senior majoring in Kinesiology.
Trowbridge is among more than 1,800 students named to the Spring 2026 Dean’s Honor Roll. To qualify, students must be registered for 12 or more credit hours and earn a GPA of 3.6 or higher.

Texas A&M-Kingsville students honored on President’s List and Honor Roll

KINGSVILLE (June 16, 2026) — Texas A&M University-Kingsville has released the names of the students who made the President’s List, Dean’s List and Honor Roll for the spring 2026 semester.
The President’s List requires a grade point average of 4.00 on all work attempted for a particular semester, with a minimum of 15 semester undergraduate hours completed, exclusive of credit only (CR) courses.
Local students on the President’s List were Lola Antonia Patino of Lytle, Regann Alana Chapman of Mico and Elena Andrea Gonzales of Natalia.
The Honor Roll requires a grade point average of 3.5 on all work attempted for a particular semester, with a minimum of 12 semester undergraduate hours, exclusive of credit only (CR) courses.
Local student on the Honor Roll was Garrett Matthew Allen of Devine.

Art Club NamesTwo Scholarship Winners

Miranda Guerrero is graduating from Devine High School. She intends to major in Neuroscience. She plans to continue art and hopefully take some courses to further her art education. She has enrolled in UT of Austin to continue her education.

The Friendship Art Club recently awarded two area high school graduates with scholarships as part of the club’s longstanding commitment to continuing art education.
The winners received a check and a certificate presented by Club President Melanie McMeans and Treasurer Yolanda Alderson. Scholarship funds are raised through the annual drawing held in conjunction with the club’s Arts and Crafts Show each fall.

Ariana Figueroa is graduating from Medina Valley High School. She intends to major in Chemical Engineering. She plans to continue her art during college. She has enrolled in UTSA to continue her education.

Hats off to Natalia’s class of 2026!

Natalia’s graduating class of 2026 release their caps into the air in celebration of leaving High School behind and beginning their own unique journeys into the world. Photo by Mable Byrd.

Tessa Del Toro receiving her dipolma. Photo by Mable Byrd.

Raeann Juarez gave the benediction during Natalia’s 2026 graduation ceremony. Photo by Mable Byrd.

Jayston Rodriguez gave the closing remarks and the recognition of the tassels during Natalia’s 2026 graduation ceremony. Photo by Mable Byrd.

Andres Terrazas receives his dipolma during the 2026 Natalia graduation ceremony. Photo by Mable Byrd.

Recounting our blessings

This young lady, Gwyn Mia DeLeon has overcome a lot in her young life, and it is evident that she has touched and will continue to touch many lives along the way with her uplifting attitude, grateful heart, and her touching story. Photo by KK Calame.

By Kayleen Holder
Editor
Look at her go! Everyone smiled as Devine High School Class President Gwyn Mia DeLeon gave her speech at Warhorse Stadium Friday night. Due to time constraints, she wasn’t able to give the full speech she had written, so we are proud to present more of this bright young lady’s thoughts, born from a very grateful heart.
This young lady has overcome so much, and it is evident that she has touched many lives along the way with her story.
DeLeon thanked everyone who “made it possible for us to stand here today in our maroon caps and gowns.” And for Gwyn, these words carry more weight than they might for the average teen. Just a few years ago, as she was beginning her high school career, DeLeon’s family received devastating and completely unexpected news–her kidneys were failing.
At the age of 14, DeLeon, who was a freshman at Devine High School at the time, quickly began dialysis, while her family prayed for a donor.
The bright young woman has always been very active in school and church, and it was not long before the community rallied around her, with more than 100 people stepping forward to register to be tested to be on the living donor list on her behalf. Soon, Gwyn’s biological mother learned she was a match and donated her kidney in a successful transplant in November of 2023.
DeLeon will be attending St Phillips College in San Antonio where she will study radiology. When she was awarded Student of the Month this past November, she stated,” I have always had a passion for the medical field and I plan to live that out helping those in need,” DeLeon said.
In her address, DeLeon thanked everyone from parents and teachers and coaches, to those working behind the scenes such as staff, administrators, school board…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Local seniors enlist to serve our country

Jeralynn Ranard enlists in the U.S. Army. Photo by Brigid Howard.

Curtis Kuykendall enlisted to serve in the U.S. Navy. He is a 4th generation serviceman. His great grandfather Floyd Eaton served in the Navy during WWII, grandpa Blaine Eaton served in Vietnam, and father Kenneth Kuykendall served in the Army in Iraq. Photo by Brigid Howard. Thanks to all for your service to our great country!

Jeremiah Catdenas enlisted into the Air Force. Photo by Brigid Howard.

Johnny Davis enlisted to serve in the United States Army. Photo by Brigid Howard.

Jackson Hagdorn will be attending the United States Coast Guard Academy. Photo by Brigid Howard.

HEADED TO STATE!!

The Devine FFA Applied Ag Engineering Team placed third out of 18 teams at Area contest. We had Quay Ortiz get first in their lay out. Brady Loeffler placed 6th Overall and Quay Ortiz got 11th Overall!! The team consists of Quay Ortiz, Brady Loeffler, Gage Allen, Marisa Sosa, Zachary Ortiz, and Alvin Mann. State contest will be held at Huntsville, Tx April 10th.