Hyundai Sun Bowl Ticket Winners Share Their Memorable Stories

No doubt, the Sun Bowl will be the place to be Friday afternoon.

It’s been sold out for weeks, but Thursday afternoon ABC-7 gave out six pairs to people who convinced contest organizers they deserved to go.

ABC-7 received nearly 60 entries.

“I worked hard on that essay and I really thought I had a chance of winning and I was just excited I did,” said Alfredo Gomez, 12.

His mom was just as excited to hear about the news.

“Oh, we’re extremely proud of Alfredo. He’s an excellent student. He’s an ‘A’ student. He has perfect attendance at school. He loves football with a passion,” said Irene Gomez.

Alfredo’s favorite teams are Notre Dame and the Dallas Cowboys.

He said he met Danny White when the former quarterback came to El Paso for a Sports Expo.

***

“Words really can’t express…just very grateful,” said Guadalupe Robledo as she hugged her son.

Winning the tickets will be an unforgettable moment for this mother and son.

“I’m looking forward to going to the game and having a great time,” said Fabian Robledo.

The 14-year-old has a visual impairment. His mom said the Sun Bowl will his first live football game.

With her son by her side, tears welled in Robledo’s eyes as she thought someday her son might become completely blind.

“(I’m) still hopeful that they find a cure, but I just wanted him to have an opportunity while he still has sight to be able to enjoy the football game,” Robledo said.

***

No one knew grandma Ione Grimm submitted her grandson’s story.

Brando and Courtney Slawson are newlyweds living in Virginia. They weren’t going to be able to come home to El Paso for Christmas until Brandon’s family pitched in and bought the couple plane tickets.

The trip came just in time, as Brandon will be deployed in February.

“We found out he was going to be shipped out again to Afghanistan — his second deployment. We thought ‘Oh no, we can’t do this. We weren’t able to make the wedding, but we have to see him before he leaves,'” Ione Grimm said.

Now the couple will get to see a dream match-up.

“We’re very grateful to the family, for everybody chipping in and giving us a good Christmas with the family and everybody,” said Brandon Slawson.

Five pairs of tickets were donated by the Notre Dame Alumni Association. KVIA donated one pair.