By WESLIE STRATTON
Moapa Valley Progress
Moapa Valley High School seniors, parents, families and friends gathered to support and congratulate scholarship and award recipients at the 2015 Senior Scholarship & Awards Night on Wednesday, May 20. Well over 100 students were presented for recognition, awards and scholarships.
To kick off the event Assistant Principal Pledger Solomon introduced a large group of foreign exchange students who had spent the school year studying at MVHS. Solomon presented each student with a certificate.
In turn foreign exchange student Jade Schut presented Solomon with a Global Education Excellence Award for MVHS. This award is presented by the EF Foundation for Foreign Study to school shtat demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to international understanding and global awareness.
“Year after year for being good to us and welcoming us into your school,” Schut said. “Thank you for everything you do for us.”
Many of the awards and scholarships presented throughout the evening were sponsored and donated by local businesses and individuals, all of which were listed and welcomed by MVHS Counselor Rendal Esplin.
“We thank all of you for your support,” he said.
The Grant M. Bowler Pursuit of Excellence Award, was presented to Mackenzie Nelson by Nick Bowler. Bowler explained that the award was given to someone who excelled not only academically but also through participation in extracurricular activities. Nelson was presented with $200.
Student council awards were presented by Charlie Cooper.
“A lot of work they do goes unrecognized and unappreciated,” Cooper said of each student council member.
In keeping with long-standing local tradition, local business awarded many of the scholarships given to senior class members. The Alsum Insurance Company awarded a $1,000 “Future Woman in Business” scholarship to Shiley Blackwell. Karen Alsum, who presented the award, said that the scholarship was reserved for someone with a desire to continue women’s education in business.
Similarly, American Family Insurance, Lisa Blair agency, awarded a Young Business Woman scholarship to a student who “has proven to show dedication, hard work, ambition as well as outstanding leadership skills…” Shannon Wallace was awarded that scholarship.
In support of higher education, the Overton Power District awarded Olivia Heath, Josie Henry, Marissa Perez and Bruno Reyes each with scholarships.
To assist outstanding seniors “as they pursue higher education in agriculture and related fields”, representative Cindy Hardy presented Shiley Blackwell, Josie Henry and Garrett O’Toole with Clark County Farm Bureau scholarships.
Hardy said that she and the Farm Bureau truly appreciates the recipients and hopes that they will go out into the world and stand for agriculture.
In memory of MVHS baseball alumni students BJ Robison and Shawn Sandoval, Chaz Cornwall was awarded the Robison/Sandoval Memorial Baseball/Softball scholarship intended to help baseball/softball athletes “to continue their educational goals beyond high school.”
Other businesses and organizations that presented scholarship awards included Lin’s Market, Overton McDonald’s, Tiffany’s Pies and Subs, Phil and Calvin Long Educational Trust, Darrell and Arlene Waite Scholarship, Lysha Marshall Memorial Scholarship, Tonia Payne Memorial Scholarship, Moapa Valley Performing Arts Council, MVHS High School Rodeo, Sally Labhart, Wes Adams Memorial Rodeo Scholarship, The Anderson Ambition Trust, MVHS National Honor Society, George W. Turner Memorial Scholarship, Heather Wallace Memorial Scholarship, Moapa Valley Rotary Club and MVHS Booster Club.
