PRESS RELEASE: Community Foundation of Northern Nevada Awards Over $1 Million in Scholarship Awards, Celebrates with Summer Scholarship Social
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Reno, Nevada – The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada (CFNN) proudly announced the distribution of over $1 million in scholarships during its annual Scholarship Social. The event, held at Rolled Ice Cream in The Village at Rancharrah, gathered scholarship recipients, supporters, and committee members to celebrate the achievements of students ranging from preschool to medical school.
“This is the first time in Community Foundation history that we have awarded over $1 million in a single year. Last year, we awarded $829,000 in scholarships. This year, we are awarding: $1,117,000, made possible by our generous community,” said Eaton Dunkelberger, CFNN President & CEO. “Since 1998, that’s an educational impact of over $10 million!”
This year, 296 scholarship awards were made across 32 different scholarship funds held at the Community Foundation, each with their own focus and goals. Additionally, 88% of scholarships were awarded to Nevada students, and of those 60% were from Washoe County. 53% of the scholarship awards were made to first-generation students, meaning their parents did not complete a 4-year degree.
“At the heart of the Community Foundation, we aim to grow philanthropy for the betterment of our community,” said Beau Keenan, Board Chair of the Community Foundation. “Scholarship support is special because it unlocks potential and opens doors that may not have been possible without the financial assistance that these awards provide.”
Brissa Quintana Ojeda is a scholarship recipient and recent University of Nevada, Reno graduate. She shared just how meaningful scholarship support has been in her journey as she returns to campus this fall in pursuit of a Masters degree, something she said would not have imagined for herself as a child.
“This is why organizations like the Community Foundation and scholarships in general are vital. Scholarship support to me has been like a door towards opportunities and to a career I would have never imagined. Scholarships allowed me to not be burdened by tuition and fees and I could put all my energy into studying and learning for all four years of my undergraduate program,” said Quintana Ojeda, a recipient of the GIAR First-Generation Scholarship. “Now, I am able to continue into a graduate program, and hopefully, one day also a PhD, as well.”
Read more about the 2024 Scholarship Program Statistics
The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada’s scholarship application cycle opens every January. Visit nevadafund.com/scholarships for more details.
For those interested in supporting scholarships or establishing a scholarship fund, contact Shari Netzel at 775-333-5499 ext.140 or snetzel@nevadafund.org