Sun Bowl Announces 2010 Sun Court

Naomi Nuñez Named 2010 Sun Queen

EL PASO, Texas (August 14, 2010) – The 2010 Sun Queen and Sun Court were announced Saturday by Sun Bowl Association President Amen F. Ayoub at the Sun Court Coronation at El Paso Country Club.

Naomi Nuñez is the 2010 Sun Queen. She is the daughter of Joe and Silvia Nuñez. She is a senior education major with a minor in primary grades education at the University of Texas at El Paso.

The 2010 Lady-In Waiting is Diana Parra, the daughter of Juan and Paula Parra. She is a junior electronic media – mass communications major with a minor in Spanish at the University of Texas at El Paso.

The 2010 Sun Princesses are Jasmine Carbajal, Megan Churchman, Adriana Diaz de Leon, Devin Etzold, Ashley Olivas, Natalia Ojeda, Crystal Ortiz, Danielle Saavedra, Elisa Samaniego and Melissa Sanchez.

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 Hyundai Sun Bowl, FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade, Bank of the West Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic, Academy Sports + Outdoors Sun Bowl International Soccer Tournament, Price’s Creameries Sun Bowl youth camps and clinics and other various events throughout the community.

The 2010 Sun Queen: Naomi Nuñez, the daughter of Joe and Silvia Nuñez is a senior education major with a minor in primary grades education at the University of Texas at El Paso. She is a graduate of Coronado High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and earned All-State Band honors.  Naomi is a current member of the National Honor Society and the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society along with the Bilingual Education Student Organization.  She has spent her time volunteering with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of El Paso, where she has served as a mentor. Naomi also volunteers at St. Matthew’s Catholic Parish, where she is involved in the music ministry.  She also volunteers with the Lifeteen Program, soup kitchens and Casas Por Cristo building homes for those in need as well as volunteering for the Child Crisis Center and as a tutor at the UTEP Literacy Camp, helping young children learn how to read.

The 2010 Lady-In-Waiting is: Diana Parra, the daughter of Juan and Paula Parra, is a junior electronic media – mass communications major with a minor in Spanish at the University of Texas at El Paso. She is a graduate of Del Valle High School, where she was awarded the Conquistador Award and the Rebecca Flores Stopka Scholarship. At Del Valle, she was also involved in the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, student government, film club and cheerleading. She was a member of the EXCEL Program. An avid volunteer, Diana has given her time to the El Paso Police Pride Day, Latinias, Thanksgiving Can Food Drive, Teddy Bears From The Heart, Child Crisis Center Christmas Toy Drive and Amigo Airshow.

2010 Sun Princesses

Megan Churchman, the daughter of the Michael Churchman and Laurie Paternoster, is a junior Early Childhood Education major at the University of Texas at El Paso, where she is currently a member of the Rotoract, Rotary affiliate for college students program. A top ten percent graduate of Coronado High school where she served on many organizations which included the student council and Clean Sweep where she served as President.  Megan was a National Honor Society and an International Leadership Network member along with serving as a delegate to the 2006 congressional Student Leadership Conference. Megan is a transfer student from TCU where she earned many academic awards to include the Dean’s List and Dean’s Scholarship winner. Megan volunteers her time building homes through the Casas por Cristo organization.  She has also volunteered her services to the Cry Cameroon orphanage in Fundong, Cameroon as well as Race for the Cure and the Braden Aboud Memorial Run/Walk.

Adriana Diaz de Leon, the daughter of Alejandro and Mary Diaz de Leon, is a senior Mexican American Studies and pre-med major at the University of Texas at Austin. She is a Montwood High School graduate, where Adriana was the National Hispanic Institute All-State winner in extemporaneous speaking.  She recently earned the Outstanding Student Health Leadership Award for the 2009-2010 school year at the University of Texas at Austin and is currently a member of the Kappa Delta Chi Sorority.  She is a student volunteer for the University Health Services – Women’s Health Clinic in Austin.  She also has volunteered her time with the Hispanic Health Professions Organization, Any Baby Can program which teaches children and their mothers to practice and speak English, as well as the Inside Books program where she assisted in addressing letters from inmates and delivering books for them to read while in prison.

Devin Etzold, the daughter of David and Melinda Etzold, is a junior journalism major with a minor in public relations at Baylor University. She is a graduate of El Paso High School where she was involved in cheerleading, student council, class office, journalism and theater. Devin is an active member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority where she holds the position of Social Chair.  She is also a proud member of Baylor Gold, a football recruitment committee.  Devin volunteers with Fuzzy Friends, Ballerina Dreams, The Muscular Dystrophy Association, and the Waco Human Society.

Ashley Olivas, the daughter of David and Rebecca Olivas, is a junior organizational and corporate communications major with a minor in political science at the University of Texas at El Paso. A graduate of Coronado High School, Ashley is an executive member for the Alpha Xi Delta National Women’s Fraternity. She is also a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, the Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society, and the University of Texas System Bill Archer Fellowship program, which is awarded to only thirty-two undergraduate students from across the University of Texas System where she represent the UT System in Washington, D.C.  She recently served as an intern for Congressman Ted Poe of the 2nd District of Texas and was nominated to represent the State of Texas as a Cherry Blossom Princess.  Ashley volunteers her spare time to the Choose Children organization, the Autism Speaks organization, the Center for Civic Engagement at the Franklin Hills Nursing Home, along with being a Sunday school teacher at Harvest Christian Center.

Natalia Ojeda, the daughter of Jesus and Margo Ojeda, is a sophomore international business major at the University of Texas at El Paso. She is a graduate of Franklin High School, where she was a member of the string orchestra, the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society.  Natalia is a current member of the Alpha Xi Delta Women’s Fraternity where she serves as the Academic Achievement Chair, the Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.  She has volunteer for many organizations that include the Ronald McDonald House, Project MOVE, the Westside Recreation Center, and has helped raise funds for Autism Speaks.

Crystal Ortiz, the daughter of Lourdes Hinojosa, is a senior education major at the University of Texas at El Paso. Ortiz was a graduate of Bel Air High School, where she was the captain of the varsity cheerleading squad, a member of DECA and the student council.  Crystal is an active member of the Zeta Tau Alpha National Women’s Fraternity where she has served as the Social Chair, Vice President, Historian and as the Pan-Hellenic Delegate.   Crystal volunteers with the Center for Civic Engagement in its Just Read Program teaching children the importance of literacy and pursuing education.  She has also volunteered her time for the Race for the Cure, Save Lids to Save Lives, the BMW drive for Breast Cancer, Golf for the Cure, the Rescue Mission, the North American Food Drive and fundraising for the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation and the Child Advocacy center. 

Danielle Saavedra the daughter of Mario and Linda Saavedra, is a junior political science major with a minor in English literature at St. Mary’s University.  A top ten graduate of Hanks High School, where she was a member of the National Honors Society, the vice president of the debate team, involved in the Knights Players Theater group, student council, and on the varsity gymnastics team.  Danielle was also given the Excalibur award for the most well rounded senior as voted by the faculty.  After high school Danielle was awarded the Trustee’s Scholarship, the St. Mary’s University Service Scholarship from the USAA Foundation, the Ford Scholarship, a Gifted and Talented Scholarship, and the Hearst Scholarship.  At St. Mary’s University, Danielle is a member of the Dean’s List, the Student Government Association, Phi Alpha Delta Pre-law Fraternity, and the Delta Zeta Sorority where she serves at the Vice President of Academics.  Danielle recently served as an intern for Congressman Ciro Rodriguez in San Antonio and volunteers her time to AmericCorps at Si Se Puede Learning Center as well a Resident Activity Leader in after school program for underprivileged children.

Elisa Samaniego, the daughter of Ricardo and Claudia Samaniego, is a junior finance major at the University of Texas at El Paso. She is a graduate of Grandview High School in Aurora, Colorado, where she was involved in the National Honor Society, National Hispanic Institute, French Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, Varsity Golf team, Student Athletic Council and the school newspaper.  While attending high school, Elisa received the Wolf award which is given to the Business Law Student of the Year and was selected to the All-State Academic Golf Team.  She currently takes part in the Women in Business Association, Regional Economic Development Association and the Honors program.  A Dean’s List member, Elisa volunteers her time at Latinitas and the Dame la Mano shelter teaching financial literacy classes.

Melissa Sanchez, the daughter of David and Maria Sanchez, is a senior civil engineering major at the University of Texas at El Paso. She is a top ten percent graduate of Franklin High School.  Melissa has currently been named UTEP Miner Ambassador for the 2009-2011 school years.  She is a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha Women’s Fraternity, the Chi Epsilon National Civil Engineering Honor Society, the Alpha Chi National College Honor Scholarship Society and serves on the Executive Council of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society.  Melissa works as an Engineering Ambassador for UTEP where she speaks to elementary, middle and high school students about the many opportunities that a college education can provide. She continues to volunteer her time at the University Medical Center and the Gear-Up Program where she tutors high school students.