May 27, 1991-El Paso Herald-Post

Kudos to caring youth and professionalism

It is always gratifying to hear that worthy persons have been honored, most especially when those being commended for their efforts happen to be friends or relatives.

Such is the case in two very different award ceremonies, and the awardees surely deserve accolades.

Teresa Lourdes Aguirre - the diligent and caring daulhter of my compadres Rafael and Pam Aguirre - was given the spotlight for her volunteer efforts by the Volunteer Bureau of the United Way. My ahijadita, or goddaugher, made all of us proud.

Also giving me a good reason to cheer is the fact that a workhorse librarian, Juan Sandoval II, was presented the prestigious Distinguished Achievement Award by University of Texas at El Paso president Diana Natalicio.

Such an award was earned by Sandoval, for he has always been a doer on the go. Students laud him for his untiring efforts at helping anybody in need of information - or motivation.

The two awardees share the wonderful qualities of determination and compassion, and they both exhibit a humanizing warmth that simply reaches out to others.

In a compacted society - where materialism seems to be a modus vivendi - it is a treat to know those persons who caringly reach out to help others.

Teresa Lourdes is a young lady barely into her teens, yet she has already learned that all people are invaluable and deserving of help in bettering their lives.

Such determination on her part is a tribute to herself, yet it surely denotes the love and caring which have nurtured her within her family. Her parents dote on her, and they have always ensured that discipline, responsibility and rapport with the world are part and parcel of her life.

I was not surprised at her being honored, and I am moved. Felicidades, ahijada querida, and thank you for being such a wonderful young person.

Juan Sandoval II merits recognition, and it is wonderful that UTEP has honored him.

Librarians are a special breed, and they perform the marvelous feat of documenting, orchestrating and disseminating information in a fast-paced world sorely in need of educational up-grading.

Sandoval has always amazed me with his readiness to look up materials for anyone who asks, and one doesn't have to be a student or UTEP faculty member to avail oneself of his services.

Sandoval goes out of his way and willingly even uses his own free time to extend his services.

I recall other librarians in San Antonio, where I served as a S.A. Library Board Trustee. One of those very giving librarians is now, to our good fortune, the director of our public library system: Ramiro S. Salazar.

Salazar was a boon to the board and people of San Antonio, and I learned firsthand what a demanding job an earnest and conscientious librarian has.

It is thus with joy that I celebrate Juan Sandoval's being lauded, and it is also a pleasure to note that Salazar is heading our public library system.

Kudos to youth as symbolized by Teresa Lourdes Aguirre who has given us a positive and constructive view of how teen-age energies can make society a better place; kudos to Juan Sandoval II for his professionalism, vision and caring; and a belated and felicitous bienvenida to Ramiro S. Salazar, and may he attain the support and rapport he had in San Antonio where he proved to be an invaluable resource to the public and the library system.