The Story Behind The MCEF Founder

By CHRISTIE NORTHRUP

The Progress

Three large visual thermometers around town (Splash Pad, VV High School, and Mesquite Rec Center) show the progress of the Mesquite Community Education Foundation’s (MCEF) fundraising efforts for high school senior scholarships.

What is not seen is the story behind the story of the energetic woman whose concern for high school graduates led to scholarships for more than 70 Virgin Valley High School students since 2017.

Prior to Darlene and Earl Nelson retiring to Mesquite, she was a middle school teacher—or as she prefers to call herself—a facilitator. School administrators asked her to open an alternative school for troubled teens. Many of her students had been through the juvenile courts and came to class with ankle bracelets. Parole officers were frequent visitors to check on the parolee students. One time a student even called Darlene to let her know he would be absent for two weeks because he was in jail.

“Children have never been born bad,” Darlene stated. She knew that if she respected her students, they would respect her and others. She instilled that philosophy in their hearts and minds and never had a day of trouble with them.

Darlene used a group teaching method where she combined better educated students in groups with those that were struggling so they could learn to be comfortable with and teach each other.

Weekly goal achievement meant the class was treated to Subway sandwiches for lunch on Fridays. One dad was so impressed with the positive results he saw in his child, he asked if he could be in her class.

She estimates that at least 75% of her students were rescued; a result of being in the positive environment.

After retiring to Mesquite, Darlene was asked to volunteer as a reading specialist at Virgin Valley High School. As she worked with the students, she saw another need: seniors did not understand the process of applying for grants and scholarships for college. She realized her next mission was to assist them.

Using her preferred role of facilitator, she enlisted the expertise of four other volunteers. Beginning in October, each mentors about 45 seniors. With help from their mentor, the students initially determine what type of education they want to pursue after high school. Trade schools are considered a viable option as well as traditional college depending on what the students’ ultimate goals are.

An example is an eighteen-month diesel mechanic trade school program in Colorado where some Virgin Valley alumni have secured $85k annual salaries after completion.

As Darlene and her team compiled files of national scholarships that might not be well known, the idea of offering homegrown scholarships from Mesquite citizens and businesses was born and the Mesquite Community Education Foundation was established.

Even though Darlene is a part-year resident, her commitment to education benefits Mesquite year-round, and for generations to come. She acknowledges that it’s many dedicated volunteers, giving citizens, generous businesses, and caring organizations that makes the scholarships and foundation a reality; she simply and lovingly facilitates.