Eighteen high school students from area schools received recognition Thursday evening at the Bruner Toyota Youths of Inspiration Banquet in the Jackson Room on the Howard Payne University campus.
“We are honoring young ladies and young men who have overcome major challenges in their lives, and who have then moved forward to accomplish remarkable results,” says Greg Bruner, President of Bruner Auto Family.
Students from Early, Brownwood, Bangs, Coleman, Goldthwaite, and San Saba high schools, and Victory Life Academy, were nominated by their high school counselors based upon the circumstances surrounding their challenges and the degree to which they have progressed in school and life to overcome these obstacles.
Greg adds, “I am amazed at how much these counselors have helped students locate resources and then assisted them in returning to a somewhat normal flow of school life, at least as much as they could. We are truly privileged to recognize these students and present $2,000 in college scholarships.”
Bruner Toyota launched the program, a first of its kind, during the grand opening of the Toyota dealership on September 6, 2013.
Dwain Bruner, Chairman of Bruner Auto Family, says, “In life we receive a mixed bag of circumstances that can either make us or break us. I am a firm believer that life can happen to you, or life can happen for you. With the support of family, friends, classmates, teachers and their counselors, each of these 18 students has made the conscious decision that life would happen for them despite the challenging obstacles in their paths.”
The evening’s speaker was Gwyn Schneck, MEd, a celebrated author and speaker about motivating children. Based in Tempe, Arizona, she is the daughter of Dwain and Carolyn Bruner and is a retired high school counselor. Her timely message encouraged these students and their families to “Seize Life.”
Starting in September, Bruner Toyota has hosted a ceremony each month to recognize the two nominees from each of the participating high schools. The events were attended by the students, their counselors, and in many cases principals or superintendents.
Hayley May of Early High School and Jordan Watson of San Saba High School were selected to receive a $500 scholarship, chosen totally by random drawing. Additionally, Early High School and San Saba High School also received $500 each for the schools’ own scholarship fund, making a total of $2,000 being gifted by Bruner Toyota Thursday evening.
Pictured above are Hayley May and Jordan Watson, recipients of the Bruner Toyota Youths of Inspiration.
The students honored as 2013-2014 Youths of Inspiration are pictured below:
- Early High School: Hayley May, Ian Jackson, Casey Jessup, Quenton Winborn
- Brownwood High School: Sharon Berger, Cutter Brewer, Kathryn Walker, Mark Johnson
- Victory Life Academy: Destiny Salazar, Sem-Oscar Joseph
- Bangs High School: Brandy Gruben, Andrew Branham
- Coleman High School: Alicia Cody, Justin Brixey
- Goldthwaite High School: Mikayla Mitchell, Trevor Covault
- San Saba High School: Allison Christian, Jordan Watson
Greg Bruner concluded, “We appreciate our friends at Howard Payne University co-hosting this evening with us. And we know these students will impress us with their life achievements beyond graduation. Just as Toyota says, “Let’s go places,” we know each of these young ladies and young men will go places beyond their dreams.”
About the Bruners:
Dwain and Greg Bruner received the prestigious Family Business of the Year Award presented by Baylor University in November of 2011, honoring 86 years of Bruner family members selling new cars in Texas and being committed to their local communities.
Today the Bruners have new car operations in Stephenville (8 brands: Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, Buick, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram) and Brown County (5 brands: Toyota, Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC and Buick). Bruner Motors also operates a freestanding used car and lube center operation in Glen Rose and a high-technology car wash in Stephenville.
Greg Bruner is President of Bruner Auto Family and Jim Stanley is General Manager. Both Greg and his father Dwain Bruner are the dealer principals of the dealerships.
Since 1928, four generations of Bruners have owned and operated Chevrolet dealerships in Texas.
