Lubbock-Cooper ISD, Abernathy Teacher Win Big in H-E-B Education Awards

Educators from the Lubbock area were recognized with prestigious awards at the 2025 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards, which took place recently in downtown Austin. This year’s winners included Lubbock-Cooper ISD, recognized as one of Texas’s leading school districts, and Abernathy High School teacher Aaron Peralez, who received the Rising Star Award.

The awards ceremony, which drew hundreds of educators and community leaders, included a keynote address delivered by Admiral William H. McRaven, a retired four-star admiral and former chancellor of the University of Texas System.

This year, H-E-B presented $480,000 in cash prizes and grants to six teachers, two principals, two counselors, an early childhood facility, a school board, and two school districts. Since 2002, the program has awarded over $14 million to exceptional educators and schools in Texas.

“In an era where public school educators encounter numerous challenges, it is essential that we recognize the remarkable individuals who are motivating the next generation of Texans,” stated Winell Herron, H-E-B Senior Vice President. Herron shared,“Their efforts not only transform lives, but also shape our state's future.”

Peralez, an exceptional talent at Abernathy High School, received recognition as the Secondary Rising Star — an accolade celebrating promising educators with fewer than 10 years of experience. He was awarded a personal grant of $5,000 and an additional $5,000 for his school.

Additional award recipients were Cindy Gonzalez from Donna ISD, recognized as the Elementary Rising Star; Matthew Trevino from North East ISD, honored for Elementary Leadership; and Dr. Alicia Adkins from Fort Bend ISD, acknowledged for Secondary Leadership. 

The Leadership Award recipients were each granted $10,000 for their personal use, with an additional $10,000 designated for their respective campuses.