Eagle Pass High School Teacher Charlie Cardenas Named 2022 Citizen of the Year
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2023
The Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce held its annual membership meeting and luncheon on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at the City of Eagle Pass International Center for Trade and announced its 2022 Citizen of the Year nominees and overall winner.
A total of six persons were nominated for the prestigious Citizen of the Year Award of 2022, including Elias Diaz, Dora Velasquez, Sandra Ruiz, Angel Mauricio, Hector Huerta, and Carlos “Charlie” Cardenas.
The Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Selection Committee deemed all of the nominees to be worthy and deserving of the honor, but in the end had to select one of the nominees as the 2022 Citizen of the Year: Eagle Pass High School Agriculture Science teacher Carlos “Charlie” Cardenas.
Cardenas has been an Agriculture Science teacher at Eagle Pass High School since 2005 and serves as the Future Farmers of America (FFA) instructor and sponsor, mentoring his students in all aspects of agriculture science. In addition, Cardenas has been a dedicated volunteer and supporter of the Maverick County 4-H Club and the Maverick County Junior Livestock Show and Sale for over 25 years. Cardenas educates and mentors students in raising animal projects at the local livestock show, sponsors youth agriculture teams, founded the Maverick County 4-H Club Archery Team, and volunteers annually with the Maverick County Junior Livestock Show and Sale in various capacities.
Cardenas is a graduate of Eagle Pass High School and Texas A & M University-College Station. Prior to teaching at Eagle Pass High School, Cardenas also taught a few years at Memorial Junior High.
In accepting his Citizen of the Year Award, Cardenas credited his lovely wife and three children for supporting him in his teaching and community volunteer work interests as well as all his students he has taught and mentored during these years. His primary motivation is teaching young people the tools necessary to become successful and productive citizens in society. His unselfish community volunteer work provides him the opportunity to give back to the community for all the opportunities it afforded him while growing up in Eagle Pass.
His community volunteer work with the Maverick County 4-H Club Archery Team has produced several State Archery Ambassadors and one National Archery Ambassador, as well as his students winning many archery competitions statewide and doing community service.
Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors President Jorge Barrera presented Cardenas with a plaque of recognition naming him the 2022 Citizen of the Year. Barrera also presented each of the nominees with a plaque of recognition for their nomination.
Another highlight of the local Chamber of Commerce annual meeting was a State of the City address by Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr., featuring the progress made in the community during 2022 and a roadmap for new projects in 2023.
