San Benito Veterans Memorial Academy (VMA) students are enjoying picking out their dresses for the campus’ fourth annual quinceañera. Though the Paris-themed event isn’t until Friday, May 18, the dress selections and fittings have already begun.
Back in 2015, VMA Principal Gilbert Galvan brought to fruition the first annual quinceañera to celebrate his students’ fiesta de quince años – a celebration of a girl’s fifteenth birthday. The event welcomed both young girls that had already celebrated their fifteenth birthdays as well as those whose families were financially unable to celebrate their quinceañera.
According to Community in Schools site coordinator Irma Galvan, “Mr. Galvan is always thinking of his students! It’s so exciting and humbling to see how happy they get when they try on a dress or when they put on a tiara.” Galvan is proud to do her part to help make Principal Galvan’s original idea a continued success.
Evelyn Torres will be an honoree at this year’s event. “I am very excited for the quinceañera that is coming up. I am so in love with the dress that I will be wearing,” she proudly explains, and she’s not alone. Torres’ classmate Maria Garcia is just as excited. Garcia says, “The quinceañera is a great idea! Every girl can have the experience of knowing how special it feels to have a quince.”
Organizers are currently in need of petticoats and several plus-size dresses that will be taken to A-Press Express Cleaners in San Benito to be dry-cleaned free of charge before the big day. On their special day, honorees will also be given complimentary makeovers from volunteers that have already signed up to bring even more beauty to what will be a magical evening for over 60 participants.
Community members interested in making a donation are encouraged to contact Ms. Galvan at (956) 276-6000.
