Sun Bowl Association Announces 2012 Sun Court

The Sun Bowl Association announced the coronation of the 2012 Sun Queen and Sun Court on Friday afternoon at the El Paso Country Club.

Rebekah Wierson, daughter of David and Elizabeth Wierson, was crowned the 2012 Sun Queen. Wierson is a senior architecture major with a minor in sustainability at the University of Notre Dame.

Wierson is currently a member of the Notre Dame Club of El Paso, Students for Classical Architecture, the American Institute of Architecture Students, the Student Association for Women in Architecture and Wise Latina International. She is also the head manager for the Notre Dame Marching Band.

Wierson has volunteered her time with Hannah & Friends, which focuses on improving the quality of life for children and adults with special needs, and the Bald & the Beautiful raising funds and awareness for cancer research. She also donates her time to La Posada Women and Infant Shelter, the Rescue Mission Soup Kitchen, El Paso Nazareth Hall Nursing Center.

The 2012 Lady-In-Waiting is Alexzandra Lozano, daughter of Adan and Sonia Lozano. She is a senior biology major and chemistry minor at the University of Texas at El Paso.

A Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement Scholar, Lozano is the Student Alumni Association Historian and Student Government Association Executive Assistant and is also involved in the Medical Professions Organization. She volunteers her free time to the YMCA, the Child Crisis Center, Boys and Girls Club, Mt. Franklin Private School, Iglesia Nuestra Dios Church, Autism Society Marathon and the American Red Cross.

The 2012 Sun Princesses are Sahjar Aliabadi, Madeline Clark, Mallory Garcia, Christina Lira,
Kaitlin Lopez, Tanya Maestas, Valori Nava, Meagan Olivas, Sara Powell, Briannon Tiscareño and Holly Voth.

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, WestStar Bank 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.

2012 Sun Princesses
Sahjar Aliabadi, the daughter of Behrooz and Laura Aliabadi, is a sophomore multi-media journalism major at the University of Texas at El Paso. She is a graduate of Franklin High School, and is currently a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha Women’s Fraternity where she volunteers her time to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and UTEP’s annual Project Move.

Madeline Clark, the daughter of Charles and Susan Clark, is a sophomore business major at the University of Texas at Austin. The class valedictorian of Eastwood High School, she was the captain of the Saltatrix Varsity Dance team and served as the senior class treasurer. Madeline was a member of the Mayor’s 100 Top Teens, a Kohl’s Kids Who Care Scholarship recipient, winner of the Miss Eastwood Scholarship Pageant and placed second runner up for Miss Teen El Paso. During her first year at UT-Austin, she served as an eighth grade math tutor in the Austin Partners in Education Program, and she is planning on serving as a Peer Mentor Advisor in the Gateway Scholar program, which aids incoming freshman through their transition at UT. Six years ago, Madeline created a non-profit organization called “Head to Toe”, a charity which gathers items of warm clothing during the holiday season. This organization has donated over 25,000 items of clothing for distribution to Dame la Mano, Child Crisis Center, El Paso Rescue Mission and the Children’s Grief Center.

Mallory Garcia, the daughter of Jaime Garcia and Maggie Garcia, is a senior psychology major at the University of Texas at Austin. Mallory graduated eleventh out of 530 students at Eastwood High School. She is a Verizon Wireless Foundation, Ysleta Education Foundation and Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation Scholarship Recipient. She currently is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Women’s Fraternity – Kappa Chapter, Order of Omega – Iota Pi Chapter where she is the Greek Olympics Committee Chair. She is also a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Undergraduate Fellows Program and the Psi Chi- International Honor’s Society. Mallory is an active volunteer of the Susan G. Komen Austin Race for the Cure, Explore UT, Cheer Camp for the Cure and Lambda Chi Trick-O-Can which raises funds and canned foods for North American Food Drive.

Christina Lira, the daughter of Gerardo and Alejandrina Lira, is a senior mathematics major at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. A graduate of Americas High School, Christina was a member of the varsity basketball team, varsity track and field team, the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society and Business Professionals of America. Christina is currently a member of the UTPB women’s basketball team and works as a math tutor on campus. She is also a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, and the President of Zeta Xi Nu sorority, which she created with the goal to be picked up by Zeta Tau Alpha Women’s Fraternity. When she is not playing basketball or tutoring she volunteers her time to the Odessa Humane Society.

Kaitlin Lopez, the daughter of David Lopez and Brenda Huffman-Lopez, is a junior hotel, restaurant, and tourism management major at New Mexico State University. A graduate of Clint High School, she served as the President of the Clint FFA organization, and a member of the National Honor Society. She is a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity- Beta Nu chapter, a member of the Dean’s List, and a Crimson Scholar Honors Student. Kaitlin is the Public Relations Director for the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality – NMSU Chapter, and the Social Director for the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Science Council. She has donated her time to help promote Breast Cancer Awareness and Education, has volunteered for the Race for the Cure, the Miracle League of El Paso and Extreme Home Makeover Home Edition.

Tanya Sue Maestas, the daughter of Bennie and Lydia Maestas, is a senior biology major at the University of Texas at El Paso. A top 10 graduate of Eastwood High School, she was the senior class president, National Honor Society secretary and the webmaster for the Spanish National Honor Society. She was also involved in the science club and varsity choir. Tanya Sue is a UTEP Presidential and Ysleta Independent School District Del Sol Scholarship recipient. This year she will serve as the president of the UTEP Student Government Association, president of the Pre-Dental Society. Tanya Sue is the former president and now junior advisor of Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society, Public Relations Chair for the College of Republicans, co-chair of the Women in Science and Engineering Science organization and ambassador for the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program. Tanya Sue volunteers her time as a First Holy Communion teacher at Our Lady of the Sorrows catechism and also for the New Mexico Mission of Mercy day in which they provide free dental care to New Mexico residents.

Valori Nava, the daughter of Albert Nava and Nita Corral-Nava, is a junior communication and multi-media journalism major at the University of Texas at El Paso. A graduate of Hanks High School, she was a member of the varsity girls golf team, the president of the varsity orchestra, the vice-president of the Texas Future Music Educators, vice-president of the chess team, the vice-president of the Astronomy & Science Club, the National Honor Society, and the Ysleta Independent School District Honor Orchestra. Valori received numerous regional and state honors in solo and ensemble orchestra competitions. She currently is involved in the Texas Freedom Network, the Chicano Pre Law Society as the secretary, the Student Government Association Election Commissioner and the Law School Preparation Institute. Valori is also a member of the Sigma Alpha Lambda National Leadership and Honors Organization, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and Dean’s List. She volunteers her time with the Humane Society of El Paso, the “Graffiti Watch” program at the Chamizal National Park and “Veteran’s Day Free Legal Clinic” at the Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans home.

Meagan Olivas, the daughter of David and Rebecca Olivas, is a junior elementary education major at the University of Texas at El Paso. A graduate of Coronado High School, she was a member of the varsity cheer squad, the Future Farmers of America and was a regional officer for the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America organization as well as the manager for the baseball team. Meagan is currently the Vice President of Membership for the Alpha Xi Delta women’s fraternity. She volunteers her time to raise money and awareness for Autism Speaks, teaches Sunday school at Harvest Christian Center, volunteers at the Lee and Beular Moor Children’s home, UTEP’s Project Move and the North American Food Drive.

Sara Powell, the daughter of Louis Sanchez and Ysela and BJ Powell, is a junior forensic science major at the University of Texas at El Paso. A graduate of Eastwood High School, she was inducted into the National Honor Society. Sara is currently a member of the Forensic Science Club and the Zeta Tau Alpha National Women’s Fraternity where she has held the positions of music chairman, historian reporter and is currently the vice president of membership. She volunteers her time for many events to include Swing for the Cure, Cheer for the Cure, Golf for the Cure, Race for the Cure, Project MOVE, El Paso Special Olympics and the North American Food Drive.

Bhriannon Tiscareño, the daughter of Rosario Tiscareño, is a senior mechanical engineering major at the University of Texas at El Paso. A graduate of Chapin High School, she was a member of the Project Lead the Way Engineering Magnet Program, the National Honor Society, the Hispanic Honor Society, was the section leader of the percussion section of the band and a music scholarship recipient. While attending UTEP, Bhriannon has been a member of the marching band and the steel drum ensemble. She currently is the percussion instructor at Americas High School and a math and science tutor at Terrace Hills Middle School. Bhriannon has volunteered her time as a youth director, confirmation catechist and a pastoral council member at Saint Patrick’s Church. She also has volunteered at Austin High School in their Gear Up Math and Science Tutoring Program.

Holly Voth, the daughter of Charles and Shelly Voth, is a senior psychology major at Texas Tech University. A graduate of Coronado High School, she was a member of the National Honor Society, Pride Club, the varsity cheer squad and the yearbook staff. She was also a Who’s Who of Coronado Award recipient. Holly has worked as a youth coach at Elite Gymnastics, as a student assistant at the Texas Tech University Advising Office and will be interning this fall in Senator John Cornyn’s Lubbock office. Holly was asked to present her research on a rare book that the Texas Tech University Museum obtained written by Julius Ceasar in 1511 at the Rare Book Exhibit Gala Opening.