Eastwood Homecoming celebrates Troopers in Wonderland
Congratulations to Eastwood High School's Honored Ex Vanessa Roberts Bryan, class of 1996!
Vanessa graduated as the EHS Valedictorian in 1996. While at Eastwood, Vanessa was actively involved in Student Council, Odyssey of the Mind, Pom Pons, and served as a tutor in the Writing Center. She then attended Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences as well as a Master’s degree in Educational Administration. She is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of North Texas and will graduate with a Doctorate of Education in Higher Education in December.
Vanessa worked at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas for twelve years, serving as the Director of Student Activities & Orientation for two years and the Dean of Student Affairs for ten years. Vanessa recently accepted a new position, the Associate Dean of Student Development, at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth. In her free time, she enjoys running, watching movies, and spending time with her husband, Kyle, her family, and her two dogs, Sorella and Maxwell.
Congratulations to parade Grand Marshall Sandie Schwartz Olivar, class of 1972!
Sandie, graduated from Eastwood High School in 1972 and the University of Texas at El Paso in 1976. She worked for Mountain Bell Telephone, Southwestern Bell Telephone, and AT&T as a long distance operator, business office customer service representative, and a telephone installation and repair technician over 30 years, retiring in 2004.
In the summer of 2004, Sandie and her husband watched the HBO sports television series Real Sports about children in Conyers, GA who played baseball on a specialized field surface adapted for persons with disabilities. With Sandie nearing retirement, she and her husband decided to look into the viability of that program in El Paso. When she retired from AT&T, she used her retirement money to begin El Paso’s Miracle League. Almost ten years later and over 10,000 special needs children later, Sandie and Raul are providing recreational opportunities for persons with disabilities at the Field of Miracles inside Ponder Park. The over $1 million dollars raised in two years to build the complex was entirely funded by a golf tournament and other events as well as grants, sponsorships and the generosity of the El Paso community.
Today Sandie and Raul offer eight different sport programs where persons with disabilities can choose their favorites and enjoy the ability to succeed in physical activity that brings friendships and better health.