2016 Recipients
Andrea CoxAndrea Cox and her family have lived in Tooele for fourteen years—the longest she has ever stayed in one place. Her husband, Jacob, works for Utah Highway Patrol and they have six children: Ester (16), Garion (14), Ani (12), Elena (10), Lucy (8), and Daniel (6).
A woman of many talents and interests, Andrea started off majoring in physics at BYU, then switched to Spanish with a minor in computer programming and family sciences. She has worked as a telephone technician (installing phone lines and Ethernet), a bilingual receptionist at an ESL school, the owner of an online storefront selling baby toys, books, and bedding, and most recently as a part-time instructor at Excelsior Academy. Andrea loves to swim and be outdoors with her children. She wants to teach herself to play the guitar and is interested in computer coding. She also loves to sew and has been known to drop everything to mend a rip in a princess dress for a sad little neighbor girl. Service to others is one of Andrea’s top talents. She has devoted countless hours to fostering children, planning lessons and activities for the young people at church, and dedicating herself to the endless work needed to produce a house full of happy, well-adjusted children. With all that she had going on, Andrea had no time for a brain tumor. But in January of this year, an MRI revealed a “low grade glioma” in her right frontal lobe. She underwent a seven-hour surgery in April, and then came the diagnosis: brain cancer (anaplastic astrocytoma grade III). The surgery left her with significant functional deficits on her left side, a challenge made worse by the fact that she is left-handed. She has recently started the grueling process of chemotherapy and radiation. Andrea relies on her characteristic faith, as well as many inspirational quotes and scriptures, to get her through the difficult times. “I believe in God,” she says, “and I believe he has a plan for me and my family. The scripture I have hung on my wall to . . . bring me peace is the first part of Psalms 46:10, ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’” |
Tawna ThomasTawna Thomas was born in Cedar City, Utah, and grew up in Parowan. She married Bill Thomas and together they had three children: Jason, Corey Lynn, and Zachary. Bill passed away in 2007, shortly there after she met Lee. They have been inseparable ever since. In 2012 Tawna welcomed a daughter-in-law, Kelsey, to the family, and then in 2014, Tawna’s “sunshine,” a granddaughter named Dalyn Louise, was born. Tawna says, “The most important thing in my life is my family! I just want the best for them always. They are my entire life. I love them so much.”
After graduating from Stevens Henager College as a medical assistant, Tawna worked for various doctors. In 1992 she started working at Wasatch Pediatrics and spent twenty-two happy years there until her cancer diagnosis. She loved the job and her coworkers and misses it terribly. Tawna loves to travel, go out for breakfast, go to the movies, and collect “weird things” like owls, salt and pepper shakers, and magnets. She laughs that her kids will love sorting that all out when she’s gone. On April 17, 2014, Tawna was diagnosed with terminal stage 4 adenocarcinoma (lung cancer) that spread to her lymph nodes, brain, lumbar spine, and sacrum. She went through radiation therapy on her brain and currently takes a protein blocker, Tarceva, every day to stop the cancer growth. So far it is working, so Tawna just lives one day at a time. Despite her exhaustion and inability to walk or sit for long periods, Tawna is grateful for the time she has. Tawna reminds herself often of her favorite quotes: “Faith in God includes faith in God’s timing,” “Strength grows in the moments when you think you can’t go on but you keep going anyway,” and “Faith tells me that no matter what lies ahead of me, God is already there!” Every day she tells herself, “Today is a good day and I can do this!” Tawna has proven that to be true time and time again. |
Jessica Duersch
Whether she's guest teaching in a classroom of sixth graders or coaching a gaggle of seven-year-olds on a soccer field, chances are Jessica Duersch knows the name of every child and uses it often. The personal connection she creates with young (and less young!) people at school, in church, and on sports teams leaves a lasting impression on those she leads.
Jessica and her family—husband, Tyler; Harrison, 14; Logan, 12; Garin 10; and Mykaela, 7—moved to Tooele in February of 2013 and she wasted no time in sharing her talents with our community. Jessica works as a guest teacher for the Tooele County School District and also helps train guest teachers on classroom solutions for challenging behaviors. She brings eighteen years of teaching experience to the job—she graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor's degree in elementary education and subsequently taught kindergarten, sixth grade, second grade, parenting classes, and child development classes, among other positions.
When Jessica is not teaching school she loves to play soccer (she plays left forward for the Strikers FC), coach soccer (U-7 and U-10 currently), cross-country ski, and play volleyball and ultimate frisbee. She puts her considerable organizing and planning talents to good use as the president of the Primary children at church. But the most important things in her life are her relationship with God and building loving relationships with her family and friends.
On the first day of school last fall, Jessica received word over the phone that she had stage 2 breast cancer (infiltrating ductal carcinoma). She has since braved four rounds of chemotherapy, a mastectomy, and five weeks of radiation, and she'll continue to take oral chemo for the next five years. She'll also undergo reconstruction surgery this August. Through all of these painful and challenging treatments, she has hardly missed a beat in her tireless teaching, helping, and loving. She looks for inspiration wherever it comes, be it in scripture—"Live joyfully . . ." (Ecclesiastes 9:9)—or Dove Chocolate wrappers—"Rock a bad hair day!" (the message she opened the week her hair was falling out). Jessica's favorite saying is one she has clearly taken to heart: "Joy is contagious!"
Jessica and her family—husband, Tyler; Harrison, 14; Logan, 12; Garin 10; and Mykaela, 7—moved to Tooele in February of 2013 and she wasted no time in sharing her talents with our community. Jessica works as a guest teacher for the Tooele County School District and also helps train guest teachers on classroom solutions for challenging behaviors. She brings eighteen years of teaching experience to the job—she graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor's degree in elementary education and subsequently taught kindergarten, sixth grade, second grade, parenting classes, and child development classes, among other positions.
When Jessica is not teaching school she loves to play soccer (she plays left forward for the Strikers FC), coach soccer (U-7 and U-10 currently), cross-country ski, and play volleyball and ultimate frisbee. She puts her considerable organizing and planning talents to good use as the president of the Primary children at church. But the most important things in her life are her relationship with God and building loving relationships with her family and friends.
On the first day of school last fall, Jessica received word over the phone that she had stage 2 breast cancer (infiltrating ductal carcinoma). She has since braved four rounds of chemotherapy, a mastectomy, and five weeks of radiation, and she'll continue to take oral chemo for the next five years. She'll also undergo reconstruction surgery this August. Through all of these painful and challenging treatments, she has hardly missed a beat in her tireless teaching, helping, and loving. She looks for inspiration wherever it comes, be it in scripture—"Live joyfully . . ." (Ecclesiastes 9:9)—or Dove Chocolate wrappers—"Rock a bad hair day!" (the message she opened the week her hair was falling out). Jessica's favorite saying is one she has clearly taken to heart: "Joy is contagious!"