A statue of one of Tucson’s mariachi legends has been unveiled at Davis Bilingual Magnet Elementary School.
Alfredo Valenzuela, who has devoted decades to teaching and celebrating mariachi music, is the subject of a statue, unveiled Saturday, at Davis Elementary.
Valenzuela, a Davis teacher, was recently inducted into the Mariachi Festival’s Hall of Fame, along with his three children. Valenzuela’s children teach at Tucson Unified School District campuses.
According to project coordinator David Mebrila, “Dr. Valenzuela is regarded as the godfather of Mariachi in Tucson for the whirlwind of school and community Mariachi programs, merely by teaching consistently daily, which the majority of his students grew up to either become professional Mariachis, teachers or parents who invested their time in making sure their children received the superb music/mariachi education.”
The statue is the first in Arizona to honor a Hispanic music educator specializing in traditional Mariachi music.
The bronze statue was crafted by artist Luis Gustavo Mena.
TUSD moves ahead with bond projects
The Tucson Unified School District Governing Board has given school officials the green light to begin the second wave of bond projects.
The upcoming priority bond projects include the replacement of HVAC package units and Energy Monitoring and Control Systems (EMCS); installation of security fencing and gates; replacement of school marquees; parking lot pavement rehabilitation; repairs to high school fields, fine arts improvements, updated educational technology equipment and buses for transportation.
This second wave of projects was vetted and recommended by the Bond Oversight Committee at their meeting on June 20. It was approved unanimously at TUSD’s governing board meeting Tuesday, July 30.
Students earn Bank of America internships
Recent University High School graduate Lena Nguyen and University High senior Lance Kaye have received internships through Bank of America’s Student Leaders summer internship program.
Student Leaders is an eight-week paid summer internship that connects students to employment, skills development and service. Participating students will gain practical work and leadership experience and receive financial education coaching from Bank of America’s Better Money Habits curriculum while working with local nonprofits and earning competitive wages.
Nguyen and Kaye will intern with United Way of Southern Tucson this summer to help with programs from Cradle to Career, Financial Wellness Partnership and Arizona End of Lifecare Partnership
The Student Leaders program recognizes 300 community-focused juniors and seniors from across the U.S. annually.
Desert Christian Schools names new head
Brian Modarelli has been appointed Desert Christian Schools’ new Head of Schools, succeeding Richard Luebke.
Modarelli most recently served as the Head of Schools at the International Christian School in Hong Kong, where he grew enrollment to 1,240 during the pandemic and a period of sharp emigration, according to a Desert Christian Schools news release.
Desert Christian was founded in 1986 on Tucson’s east side. The independent, comprehensive PreK-12 school represents more than 60 area churches.
