Carson City Rotary Club scholarships enhance workforce education, opportunities for WNC students
For more than 85 years, the Rotary Club of Carson City has made a difference in the community. Living by the motto of “Service over Self,” these philanthropic community volunteers have been helping others in a variety of ways, providing a meal for the homeless, tutoring children, maintaining parks, assisting the high school marching band and much more.
That generosity and selflessness has also touched Western Nevada College students over the years. The club’s latest higher education contribution is the creation of $12,000 Workforce, Career and Technical Education scholarships.
“The Rotary Club of Carson City wanted to start a scholarship program with WNC to help fill the gap in workforce education. Moving the workforce, especially the local workforce, up the ladder in their education which in turn will give them better and more employment opportunities,” said RCCC President Garrett Lepire.
That foresight and benevolence aren’t lost on WNC President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe.
"The Rotary Club of Carson City has long made a difference at WNC and its generosity with our students has helped them become successful contributors to the region's workforce," President Dalpe said. "We are very fortunate to have community-minded organizations such as the Rotary Club supporting WNC and our students."
Christopher Guerro, one of three recipients of this new scholarship funded through WNC Foundation, says that the generous gift by the Rotary Club will provide more than financial support for his education.
“The Rotary Club Scholarship serves as more than just a financial lifeline; it's a vote of confidence that propels me toward my academic goals,” Guerro said. “Beyond textbooks and tuition, it opens doors to experiences that shape a well-rounded education, fostering skills and perspectives that extend far beyond the classroom.”
Ideally, Lepire says college scholarships help groom the next wave of community-minded volunteers.
“We want our recipients to embody the spirit of Rotary which is ‘Service Above Self,’” he said. “Students that are taking the time to improve their skill sets to give themselves better opportunities in life will eventually find themselves in a position to give back and keep repeating the cycle of helping one another.”
WNC Foundation Executive Director Niki Gladys said the Rotary Club realizes the importance of developing more skilled individuals to meet an evolving workforce.
“The establishment of this scholarship by the Rotary Club of Carson City reflects their commitment to shaping a workforce that is not only skilled and knowledgeable but also poised to contribute significantly to the continued success and development of our community,” Gladys said. “The members of this club recognize the growing importance in developing the workforce in Northern Nevada to meet the demands of a dynamic job market. The club desires to support the development of a skilled workforce that aligns with the evolving needs of industries within the region.”
To learn more about the Rotary Club, visit https://carsonrotary.org.
In the photo: Western Nevada College Child Development Center Director Anna Lisa Acosta-Rogers (right) gave a presentation about the CDC to the Carson City Rotary Club in 2023. Seated next to Anna Lisa is WNC Chief Financial Officer Coral Lopez.