Dear Friends,
If you were to visit Lydia Patterson Institute today, you might be surprised by how quiet it is.
The hallways that are normally filled with laughter and conversation are still. Classrooms are ready, teachers are making their final preparations, and our staff is busy welcoming new families and preparing for August 3, when our students will return for another school year.
Every new school year brings a sense of anticipation, but this one feels especially meaningful.
Soon, nearly 160 young people will begin their daily journey across the U.S.–Mexico border to attend Lydia Patterson Institute. Some will return to familiar classrooms and lifelong friendships. Others will walk through our doors for the very first time, filled with excitement, curiosity, and perhaps a few nervous butterflies.
As I walk through our campus during these quiet summer days, I often find myself imagining the moments that have yet to unfold. I wonder which student will discover a new passion, who will find the confidence to lead, or which conversation with a teacher might change the course of a young person’s life. Those moments rarely make headlines, but they are the reason LPI exists.
Our mission has never been simply to educate students academically. We are called to nurture the whole child—mind, body, and spirit—helping each student discover the unique gifts God has placed within them and preparing them to serve others with faith, purpose, and compassion.
That is one of the reasons I am so excited about the vision for a Creative Arts Studio. I can already imagine students exploring graphic design, photography, digital illustration, and video production—discovering talents they never knew they had and developing skills that could shape their futures. More than a classroom, it will be a place where creativity, confidence, and calling come together.
As another school year begins, I ask for your prayers. Please pray for our students as they cross the border each morning, for our teachers as they pour into young lives, and for our entire school community as we continue the ministry God has entrusted to us.
Thank you for believing in the mission of Lydia Patterson Institute. Your generosity, encouragement, and prayers remind our students that they are surrounded by people who believe in them and are investing in their future.
I look forward to sharing more stories with you in the months ahead. 
With gratitude and hope,
Dr. Carla Cardoza
President / Head of School
Lydia Patterson Institute, El Paso, TX
Our 2026 Conference Mission Project is raising funds for a 
Creative Arts Studio at Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso. Learn more about the project here. Make a donation here.
Watch for a letter with a story in our newsletter from "La Lydia" each month. They will be posted in our Blog section.
