Teri Vance: Hoping to show off a hot — and a bus

Carson Montessori School needs a new bus. And they’re going to use a hot dog to try and get it. Well, kind of …

Sixth-grade teacher Shane Watson and his student Liam Ross have promised to walk in the Nevada Day parade this year dressed as a hot dog and bottle of mustard if the school is successful in raising $13,000 in a walkathon this week.

“I’ll do anything to help the kids get a bus,” Watson said.

Principal Jessica Daniels said the fundraiser serves two purposes — to buy a bus to go on field trips and other learning opportunities as well as teach the students to lobby for their own causes.

“At Carson Montessori, we believe in hands-on real world learning. Our students are raising money for a bus so they can get out in the world and see more, do more and learn more,” Daniels said. “Our walkathon allows them to be actively involved in the fundraising process, and get some exercise at the same time.”

Anyone wishing to make a donation may send it to 2263 Mouton Dr. Carson City 89706.

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I attended the appreciation dinner for all the volunteers who helped make the Epic Rides Carson City Off-Road mountain bike race possible. The race has since been nominated for a national award, and it really could not have happened without the work of volunteers.

I saw the same thing at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada’s annual fundraising Luau last weekend. Volunteers, in so many situations, make this town successful.

Two Carson City women have been recognized for their volunteerism by the Governor’s Commission on Service for a 2016 Governor’s Points of Light Award, the highest honor bestowed on a volunteer in Nevada.

Florence Phillips, of the ESL In-Home Volunteers, is nominated for Volunteer Manager and Shelly Aldean is nominated in the Individual Volunteer category.

The Governor’s Points of Light Awards honor individuals, community-based organizations and businesses for their contribution to communities through volunteer service. Award recipients are selected by a panel of leaders in business, government, and nonprofits from across the state based on criteria showing how their volunteerism exemplifies achievement, need, innovation, mobilization and endurance.

For more information, go to www.nevadavolunteers.org.

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The Nevada Department of Transportation Stormwater Program is holding a drawing contest for all Nevada students grades K-5.

“Water is a precious resource in Nevada and we can all do our part to help protect it,” said David Gaskin, NDOT deputy director. “We wanted to have some fun with our new campaign and include Nevada schoolchildren.”

The first-place winner will be featured on the cover of the 2017 NDOT Stormwater Program brochure, and the second and third place students’ artwork featured inside of the brochure. All student artwork meeting contest requirements will be shared on the NDOT @loveNVwaters social media pages.

The contest is open to all Nevada students grades K-5, including charter and home-schooled students. Artwork will be judged based on creativity and artistry in depicting the student’s favorite activity at their favorite Nevada lake or river, or showing an activity people can do to help prevent stormwater runoff pollution.

Examples and an educational video are available at http://www.nevadadot.com/StormWater/Educational.aspx.

Information, entry and release forms can be found at www.loveNVwaters.com.

Submissions must be received by Nov. 7 and winners will be announced via email and on the Love NV Waters website on Nov. 14.

For questions, contact loveNVwaters@dot.state.nv.us.