Three local women will be honored by Congressman Paul Cook during his third annual Salute to Women in September. The theme of the event is Young Leaders and Mentors. In the Young Leaders category are Breanna Panzarella, a senior this year at Twentynine Palms High School, and Rachel Green, a recent graduate of Yucca Valley High School. Both Panzarella and Green have extensive community service experience. In the Mentor category is Melissa Mintz, the Twentynine Palms junior varsity girls’ volleyball coach and the advisor for the freshman class at the high School. For complete details about why these women were chosen to be honored, see this story at z1077fm.com. The Salute to Women event is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, September 12, at the Apple Valley Town Conference Center, located at 14955 Dale Evans Parkway. The ceremony is free and open to the public. To reserve a spot, call 760-247-1815.
Breanna Panzarella
Breanna is entering her senior year at Twentynine Palms High School (TPHS), where she is a member of the school’s ASB. At her school, she’s assisted in the organization of several endeavors, including Pennies for Patients and the school’s recycling program. Breanna is also a member of the TPHS Select Choir and assisted in raising $60,000 so that the choir could travel and perform at Carnegie Hall. In her free time, Breanna volunteers with the Twentynine Palms Interact Service Club and helped to organize a Thanksgiving turkey food drive last year. If this weren’t enough, she is also a youth counselor and camp leader at a Church of Latter Day Saints camp in Big Bear, a position that allows her to participate in community service projects for the needy. Breanna is also heavily involved with the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Foundation where she first attended the leadership conference in June of 2014 as well as the World Leadership Conference in Chicago in July 2014. She continues to give back to HOBY and volunteer her time as a youth counselor in the summer.
Rachel Green
A resident of Yucca Valley, Rachel will begin taking classes at Grand Canyon University this fall. She is actively engaged with the Town of Yucca Valley, having served on the Town’s Youth Commission since 2010. Rachel was instrumental in the development of the Town’s social host ordinance, a measure that penalizes adults who provide alcohol and drugs to minors. When she isn’t involved with her local government, Rachel mentors troubled youth at the Safe House of the Desert. Rachel was recently promoted to the rank of Captain with the San Bernardino County Fire Explorer Program. She works out of Yucca Valley Station 121 and has completed over 300 hours of volunteer service. Her goal is to become a firefighter/paramedic so that she can continue to serve her community. It should also be noted that her parents are very proud of her.
Melissa Mintz
As the Junior Varsity Girl’s Volleyball Coach at Twentynine Palms High School (TPHS) since 2005, Melissa has mentored countless young women in the Morongo Basin. She also volunteers for the Twentynine Palms Youth Club, participates in community clean-up days, and is the freshman class advisor at TPHS. Earlier this year, Melissa participated in the “Every 15 Minutes” program at TPHS to warn students about the dangers of drinking and driving. Perhaps the highest compliment that can be said about Melissa is that the young women under her tutelage see her as more than a mentor. She is a caring friend who is always there to listen to their problems and help them through difficult times.
