News

Sun Bowl Association Announces 2015 Sun Court August 25, 2015

EL PASO, Texas – The Sun Bowl Association announced the coronation of the 2015 Sun Queen and Sun Court on Friday, Aug. 7 at the El Paso Country Club.

The 2015 Sun Queen is Cassidy Daw, who is the daughter of Greg and Susan Daw and is a senior biology major with a minor in chemistry at Baylor University. Daw is an El Paso native and graduate of Loretto Academy. She is a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, Baylor Undergraduate Research in Science and Technology, and a part of the St. Jude’s Up-til-Dawn fundraiser.

Daw is also a part of Young Life and has volunteered at such events as The Alzheimer’s Memory Walk, Keep El Paso Beautiful, Earth Day Fair, The Braden Abound Memorial Foundation and The El Paso Marathon. She has also assisted with the Child Crisis Center, the Christmas Fair, The Greater El Paso First Tee and The Greater El Paso Senior All-Star Classic.

“These young ladies have demonstrated, through their achievements in school, community involvement and commitment to the Sun Bowl activities how deserving they are of this honor,” said Sun Bowl President Marilyn Munden. “It is an honor, but it is also a huge time commitment on their part. We are very fortunate to have each one of them as Ambassadors for the Sun Bowl and El Paso.”

The 2015 Sun Bowl Lady-in-Waiting is Cindy Van, a native of El Paso who is a junior at UTEP. Van is majoring in biology and hopes to pursue a career in the medical field. She is a recipient of the Karen Cooper Memorial Scholarship. Van is currently a Panhellenic Delegate for the Alpha Xi Delta, a Miner Ambassador, a medical scribe at Sierra Medical Center (ER), and a member of the Collegiate Double T Health Professions Honor Society.

Van has also volunteered with many organizations around the community including the University Medical Center, La Posada Home and the Rescue Mission. She has also used her spare time to assist with Adventures for Your Future, The Cystic Fibrous Walk, The Suns Health Fair, Autism Speaks and Project Move.

“This year’s Sun Queen, Lady-in-Waiting and the entire Sun Court represent the Sun Bowl and the entire El Paso community very well and in the best light possible,” said Executive Director Bernie Olivas. “We are proud to have each of these young ladies representing the Sun Bowl and our city.”

The 2015 Sun Princesses are Brianna Michelle Carmen (junior at UTEP), Katherine Elizabeth Carroll (senior at Texas Tech), Leasette Conway (senior at UTEP), Hayley Daw (sophomore at Baylor), Brenda Diaz (senior at UTEP), Sara Elia Flores (senior at St. Mary’s), Clarissa Gardea (junior at UTEP), Kendra Melendrez (sophomore at Texas) and Victoria Antionette Murillo (sophomore at Texas).

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, First Light Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade, West Star 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.

The 2015 Hyundai Sun Bowl is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 26 with kickoff set for 12 p.m. (MT).