Sun Bowl Announces 2008 Sun Court

Celeste Nevarez Named 2008 Sun Queen

Celeste Nevarez 2008 Sun Queen

EL PASO, Texas (August 15, 2008) - The 2008 Sun Queen and Sun Princesses were announced tonight by Sun Bowl Association President Joe E. Valenzuela at the Sun Court Coronation Party at El Paso Country Club.

Celeste Nevarez, a graduate student at Arizona State University, is the 2008 Sun Queen. She is the daughter of Victor and Penny Nevarez.

Davi Kallman, a junior double major in organizational and corporate communication and advertising at the University of Texas at El Paso has been named the 2008 Lady-In-Waiting. She is the daughter of Eddie and Rebecca Kallman.

The 2008 Sun Princesses are Erika Anchondo, Allison Avalos, Jessica Bokor, Kandolite Flores, Margaret Foust, Angelica Gonzalez, Megan Marleau, Melissa Martinez, Martha Serna, Stephanie Smith and Mallory Thomasson.

Judging is based on poise, appearance, personality, communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to demonstrate knowledge of El Paso. Contestants must be enrolled as full-time students. The coronation has been a tradition in El Paso since the first collegiate Sun Bowl game in 1936.

Sun Court members serve as ambassadors for the Sun Bowl Association, as well as for the City of El Paso. The Sun Queen and Sun Princesses will attend various community events, such as the Brut Sun Bowl, FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade, State Farm Sun Bowl Basketball Tournament, Sun Bowl Volleyball  Invitational, Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic, Little Caesars Sun Bowl International Soccer Tournament, NFL Punt, Pass & Kick, Art in the Park, Dia de los Libros/Dia de los Ninos and high school athletic banquets.

The 2008 Sun Queen is Celeste Nevarez, the daughter of Victor and Penny Nevarez, is a recent graduate with a psychology degree from Texas Tech University. She is currently pursuing her Master's in Counseling at Arizona State University. A top ten percent graduate from Eastwood High School, Celeste participated in student council and varsity cheerleading.  While at Texas Tech, Celeste was on the Dean's List along with being a member of Psi Chi, the psychology honor society, Sigman Alpha Lambda academic fraternity and the Catholic Student Association. She also served as the activities chair of the Psychology Club and the missions chair of the Social Justice Committee. Celeste has volunteered her time as a peer counselor for Students Tackling Abusive Relationships, Raider Awakening, and Relay for Life.

The Lady-in-Waiting is Davi Kallman, the daughter of Eddie and Rebecca Kallman. She is a junior with a double major in organizational and corporate communication and advertising at the University of Texas at El Paso. A top 10 percent graduate from Coronado High School, Davi was nominated as a candidate for the YWCA Reach Award and was named All-Coronado Girl. At UTEP, she is currently a senator at large and ways and means chair for the Student Government Association where she has also served as the vice president of Internal Affairs. She is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and has served as historian of the University Honors Council and president of the Cross Cultural Communication Club. A member of the Dean's List, she is also actively involved with Susan G. Komen, Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, Students for Reform, University Democrats, and is a student advocate for the Go Green Committee.

2008 Sun Princesses

Erika Anchondo, the daughter of  Juan and Teresa Anchondo is a senior organizational and corporate communication major at the University of Texas at El Paso.  A graduate from Coronado High School she has been involved in many activities and organizations at UTEP to include being a member of the National Communication Association, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and Sigma Psi Eta Women's Fraternity.  Currently Erika serves as treasurer for the UTEP Student Alumni Association and was elected to serve as a Senator-at-Large for the Student Government Association during the 2008-09 academic year.  This summer Erika served as an ambassador for UTEP at the 42nd Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington D.C. as well as the National Hispana Leadership Institute's Latinas Learning to Lead Summer Youth Institute.

Allison Avalos, the daughter of Ben and Terry Avalos is a junior exercise and sports science major at St. Mary's University. A graduate from Chapin High School, she was a varsity volleyball player, earning Class 4A Academic All-State honors and second team All-State honors. Allison received numerous scholarships to include an Athletic Scholarship and Presidential Academic Scholarship at St. Mary's University.  She is currently a member of the Rattlers volleyball team, where she earned American Volleyball Coach's Association All-Academic honors.  Allison is also a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society and the High Honors Dean's List. She also volunteers her time for the Under the Bridge program which helps feed the homeless in San Antonio.

Jessica Bokor, the daughter of John and Susan Bokor is a senior criminal justice major at New Mexico State University.  A graduate from Chapin High School, where she was a member of the National Honors Society, PTSA and captain of the "Sapphires" dance team.  Jessica is a member of the Delta Zeta sorority, where she holds the position of vice president of new member education.  Jessica also volunteers her time to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Senator Shapleigh's Gift to the Mountain Clean Up, and many  other  community service events and organizations through her sorority, as well as the La Casa Women's Shelter.  

Kandolite Flores, the daughter of Fabian and Patsy Flores is a senior communication major at the University of Texas at El Paso. She is a graduate of Bel Air Medical Magnet High School and was named the Gatorade "Will To Win" Athlete of the Year.  She is currently a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha fraternity, where she has served as Scholastics/Sisterhood chair, and on the National Panhellenic Council.  Kandolite is also a member of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance and a Girl Scout Leader.  She volunteers with the Casa Amiga Benefit Concert to raise money for the Casa Amiga women's shelter in Juarez, Mexico, as well as the Center for Civic Engagement Service Learning in Action Program and the Just Read Program. 

Margaret Foust, the daughter of Marvin Foust is a junior accounting major at Texas A&M University. She is a graduate of Franklin High School, where she was the section leader of the drum line, the jazz band pianist, and received the nationally acclaimed "Louis Armstrong Jazz Award".  Margaret is currently serving as the Arrow Correspondent for the Pi Beta Phi sorority which she is a member of and has served as Vice President of Finance and on the Fraternity Heritage and Leading with Values Committees. She volunteers her time to many programs and organizations on and off of the Texas A&M campus to include the HOSTS program which helps elementary school students who struggle with reading skills, and the Barbara Bush Parent Center that aids struggling families. 

Angelica Gonzalez, the daughter of Irma Diaz is a sophomore political science major at the University of Texas at El Paso.  A graduate of Loretto Academy, she was a member of the National Honor Society, student council, the Loretto Athletic Association, and the Care for Cancer Club.  Angelica recently got accepted into the Honor's Program at UTEP and is a member of the Dean's List.  Angelica was the first runner-up in the 2005-2006 Miss Teen El Paso USA competition and is currently a traditional Spanish dancer for the Studio Metropolis Flamenco Dance Group. She volunteers her summers to many children's programs that include Club 44, a Loretto Academy program, the El Paso Museum of Art and El Paso Parks and Recreations youth programs.

Megan Marleau, the daughter of Jerry and Christina Marleau is a senior marketing major at Texas Tech University.  A graduate of Franklin High School, she was on the varsity softball team and selected for the Rotary Youth Leadership Award.  Megan is currently a member of the Tech Marketing Association (TMA), which was recognized as the "Best Professional Organization" on the Texas Tech campus last year.  Recently she was elected as the Outreach Officer for the TMA organization. Megan has volunteered her time to various organizations such as the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, EP Fitness's Get Fit El Paso Campaign, the El Paso Community Foundation's Restoration of the Plaza Theater, and also at the Physical Therapy Department at the Southwest Regional Health Complex. 

Melissa Martinez, the daughter of Lisa Forti is a junior media advertising major at the University of Texas at El Paso.  A Franklin High School graduate, she was elected president of the National Spanish Honor Society and a senior class senator.  After graduation, Melissa attended Sul Ross State University for one year where she founded the Mexican American Student Association (MASA).  She is currently a member of and the Historian/Public Relations chair for the Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity as well as the Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honor Society.  Melissa volunteers her time promoting breast cancer awareness and helping coordinate the Race for a Cure.

Martha Serna, the daughter of Ernest and Irma Serna is a sophomore business administration major at the University of Texas at El Paso.  A graduate from Loretto Academy, where she was a member of the National Honor Society, a three-year letterwinner in basketball and was in the Photo Club.  During her senior year at Loretto, she served as a Debutante for the El Paso Symphony Guild and recently was selected as the Jewel Ball Representative.  Martha is currently a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity, where she has served as Member Enrichment Chair and Fraternity Education Chair.  Martha also is a member of the Student Alumni Association and Women in Business organizations.

Stephanie Smith, the daughter of  Dr. Oliver and Laurie Smith is a senior corporate communication major at the University of Texas at Austin.  An Eastwood High School graduate, she was a member of the varsity cheerleading squad, student government, the National Honor Society and Who's Who Among American High School Students.  Stephanie served as the 2004 Miss El Paso Teen USA where she had the opportunity to represent El Paso through out the state.  Last fall Stephanie was selected from many hopeful young journalism students to co-host a campus show entitled "The Longhorn Pulse." Currently, she is a member of National Collegiate Scholars.

Mallory Thomasson, the daughter of Mark and Pam Thomasson is a sophomore film and digital media communication specialist major at Baylor University.  A graduate of Franklin High School, she was the captain of the varsity softball team, earning first team All-District honors as a catcher and was a member of the choir. She was also selected to the District 22 All-Region Choir four years straight.  Her senior year she also was a member of the El Paso Lady Rams Gold softball team which represented El Paso and Texas at tournaments around the United States.  Mallory is currently a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and the Baylor Concert Choir.  Mallory volunteers her time at the Fuzzy Friends animal rescue center in Waco and has also donated her time as a volunteer softball coach.