El Paso Teen With 1,000 Service Hours Wins First Scholarship

When Jin Song walked across the stage to accept the inaugural Ana Maria Paniagua Angel of Service Award, she carried forward a legacy of kindness that touched an entire community.

The Young Women's Leadership Academy senior received the $1,000 scholarship for embodying the same spirit of service that defined Ana Maria Paniagua, a beloved Jefferson High School teacher and volunteer who passed away earlier this year. Paniagua lost her life while trying to help someone after being struck by a truck.

Song has logged more than 1,000 hours of community service during her high school years. She worked directly with Paniagua on several campus projects, learning firsthand what it means to put others first.

The Ysleta Independent School District selected Song for demonstrating "selflessness, kindness and commitment to community service" that mirrors Paniagua's extraordinary dedication to El Paso. Her selection wasn't just about the hours she logged, but the heart she brought to every project.

Sunny's Take

What makes this story especially moving is how a family transformed grief into generosity. The Paniagua family partnered with the YWLA PTSO to create this scholarship, ensuring that their loved one's spirit of service would inspire future generations.

The award does more than recognize past good deeds. It sends a powerful message to students that serving others matters, that kindness counts, and that communities remember those who give selflessly.

Song plans to use the scholarship to support her college education, where she'll undoubtedly continue making a difference. Her thousand hours of service aren't the end of her journey of giving back, they're just the beginning.

In El Paso, one young woman's dedication has been honored, one family has turned tragedy into hope, and countless future students will be inspired to follow in footsteps of service and compassion.