Tooele Catholic student recognized by city for assisting others, striving for excellence

Friday, Mar. 04, 2016

TOOELE — Brenda Nuñez, a freshman at Tooele High School, received her second Mayor’s Youth Recognition Award from Tooele Mayor Patrick Dunlavy during a City Council meeting at City Hall Feb. 17. 

Recipients of the Mayor’s Youth Recognition award are nominated each year by their school teachers to the mayor’s Communities That Care staff. Teachers select students on the qualities of good citizenship, character and service; because of this, the award is given to students at all academic levels. The students who are selected are examples to their peers and the community.

Nuñez received her first Tooele Mayor’s Youth Recognition award in 2014, while she was in the seventh grade, for academic excellence, singing in the Spanish choir at St. Marguerite Parish, being a team player in sports, volunteering and helping family members at home.

She was nominated for the second award for striving for excellence and service at home, at school and in the community.

Nuñez has set some high goals for herself and works hard every day, said Randy Sneed, a Tooele High School counselor, on the nomination form. “Brenda is an outstanding student, assists others in peer tutoring and is a gifted translator, speaking both English and Spanish very well. Brenda is kind and always has a smile when she speaks and interacts with others.” 

Nuñez helps at home by translating for family members who do not speak English, said Angelina Montanyo, Tooele High School language liaison, who translated for Eva Herrera, Nuñez’s mother. She “cheerfully helps with housework” and on occasions helps her mother with other various jobs, Montanyo said. Her mother especially “appreciates how she is a calming influence in the family and how she helps to guide her brother and sister with their homework; she gives them wisdom on other important life skills. She is an example of respect, hard work and kindness in everything that she does.” 

“One day Brenda plans on becoming a doctor, and is working hard to obtain a scholarship to help her reach this goal,” said Herrera through the translator. “Brenda is a very special daughter and plays a very important role in our family; she is so helpful. She works hard to accomplish her work and her goals. We are so proud of her.” 

Last year, Nuñez  attended the eighth grade at St. Marguerite School in Tooele; it was the first year the middle school was reopened after having been closed due to low enrollment.

“She was visiting us on the first day of school last year with her brother and sister [who already were enrolled], and after attending our morning assembly, she asked if she could attend for her entire eighth-grade year,” said Lorena Needham, St. Marguerite School principal. “We were surprised and delighted to welcome her.” 

As a student, Nuñez  is level headed and goal-oriented, Needham said. “Her drive toward success is impressive and she is a good influence for other students.”

Nuñez is working hard to achieve her goals, she said. 

“I am intrigued how doctors help people; I like to help people,” she said. “I am interested in science and biology. I like helping my brother and my sister and it makes me happy that my hard work is paying off. I have been trying really hard and I try not to give up on the things that are especially hard for me.”