El Paso, Texas, July 23, 2026 – Mission Early College High School (MECHS), Socorro Independent School District (SISD), and El Paso Community College (EPCC) held quite an anniversary celebration today. 2026 marks 20 years of the successful partnership between SISD and EPCC for the first early college high school in the County of El Paso.
Abraham Gomez, MECHS Class of 2027 President, spoke at the 20th Anniversary celebration of the School Thursday
Opened in July 2006, MECHS was the first early college high school in Socorro ISD and the El Paso region, and one of the first programs of its kind in Texas. Through its innovative partnership with EPCC, students have the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and up to 60 college credit hours or an associate degree through EPCC at the same time.
“What a special day to be a partner with SISD, just a historic accomplishment,” EPCC President Dr. William Serrata. “This was very new 20 years ago. In fact, when I was living and working in education at South Texas College, we came up to El Paso and looked at MECHS when we wanted to start an early college in the valley. MECHS was the benchmark on how to do it right.”
EPCC was presented with a plaque for its partnership with MECHS by Mr. Benjamin Ortega, far right, the school’s principal Thursday
The EPCC Early College High School program’s success has expanded to all six comprehensive high schools in SISD. In 2026, SISD reached a significant milestone by awarding its 3,000th EPCC associate degree in its history.
“What an astounding achievement,” Socorro Independent School District Superintendent James Vasquez said. “20 years of Mission Early College High School educating our community, 20 years of a fantastic partnership with El Paso Community College, and it’s been transformative for students throughout the region.”
“Mission ECHS is defined by its’ people. It’s a place where students are challenged to dream bigger, work harder and score higher,” MECHS Student Body President Adriana Alston said. “It’s where every student can be full of imagination in what they want to be. That is MECHS Phoenix spirit.”
Mission Early College High School celebrated its 20th Anniversary Thursday. The campus is located adjacent to the EPCC Mission Del Paso campus
MECHS has twice been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon school by the U.S. Department of Education, earned consecutive ‘A’ ratings from the Texas Education Agency, and designated as an ECHS With Distinction, by the Texas Education Agency, for the 2026-27 school year. In 20 years, MECHS graduates have earned 37 master’s degrees and five doctorates, with 100 more in current doctorate programs. There are 39 ECHS and Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) in the County of El Paso.
“There are generations of scholars who have gone on to achieve tremendous success in their education and professional careers,” MECHS Principal Benjamin Ortega said. “Each of them carries a piece of the next legacy wherever they go.”
The celebration included dignitaries and board members from EPCC and SISD, along with representatives from Educate Texas and the University of Texas at El Paso, along with former MECHS graduates.
SISD Superintendent James Vasquez with MECHS Principal Benjamin Ortega, right
“We were able to push the boundaries of what we could do when we didn’t think they were possible at the time,” MECHS 2012 graduate, and Director of UTEP Edge, Katalina Salas, said. “I want to give praise to the administration at the time, for pushing us at the time and creating a family atmosphere. It’s really an honor to be a graduate of MECHS.”
The MECHS Phoenix Flames dance team also performed for the crowd, which was enjoyed by MECHS alumni and city leaders.
