DeSoto ISD Partners with Prairie View A&M University to Host Best Southwest Panther Night College Access Event
DeSoto Independent School District will host the first-ever
Best Southwest Panther Night, a collaborative event with the Best
Southwest Districts (Duncanville ISD, Cedar Hill ISD, Lancaster ISD, and DeSoto
ISD) and Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), to create a space for
college access, exploration, and engagement with a focus on admissions and
recruitment.
“Panther Night is an incredible opportunity to bring college
access directly to our community,” said Robin Johnson-Ford, DeSoto ISD
Director of Advanced Academics. “Events like this create important
touchpoints where scholars and families can ask questions, build relationships,
and take meaningful steps toward their postsecondary futures.”
The event is scheduled for Wednesday, September 24, 2025,
at the Fred Nickels Auditorium at DeSoto High School, 600 Eagle Drive,
DeSoto, TX. Attendance is open to scholars of all ages and grade levels
across the Best Southwest school systems. Early estimates project an attendance
of approximately 300 participants.
Attendees should enter DeSoto High School via Westmoreland
Road and Eagle Drive and park in the lot near the front entrance off
Westmoreland. Please note that the district’s Homecoming Parade and Block
Party will be taking place on the opposite side of campus. To support
smooth traffic flow, all Panther Night guests are asked to use the Westmoreland
entrance.
Dr. Anita Perry, Executive Director of CCMR and
Counseling Services, added: “Our goal is to create multiple entry points
for scholars to explore life after high school. Collaborating with Prairie View
A&M University and our Best Southwest partners ensures that our students
see college as a tangible and attainable option.”
Panther Night is part of PVAMU’s expanded recruitment and
admissions efforts during their visit to North Texas, which coincides with the
university’s annual football matchup against Grambling State University at the
Cotton Bowl, a signature event of the State Fair of Texas. This year marks a
milestone in PVAMU’s commitment to deepening engagement with students in the
Best Southwest area and beyond.
As part of the collaboration, the PVAMU Marching Band
will also host a special performance for DeSoto High School scholars. This
initiative is designed to highlight postsecondary pathways in the arts,
admissions opportunities, and scholarships, supporting DeSoto ISD’s Triple A
Experiences in Academics, Arts, and Athletics.
Twynette Anderson, DeSoto ISD Director of Fine Arts,
emphasized the significance of the PVAMU band’s involvement: “The performance
and engagement opportunities with PVAMU’s Marching Band extend the reach of our
arts education programs and reinforce the value of the arts as a viable
postsecondary pathway. This aligns directly with our Triple A commitment to
academics, arts, and athletics.”
Through Panther Night, DeSoto ISD and its partners reaffirm
their shared commitment to broadening opportunities for scholars and ensuring
they are equipped with the knowledge and connections needed to succeed in
higher education.
For more information, please visit www.desotoisd.org.