Bighorn news: The top 10 Oasis moments of 2022

As we close out 2022, Oasis reflects on the achievements of our amazing students. It was a year marked by celebrating and recognizing these accomplishments. As a school, community and family of students, Oasis Academy continued with serving our community, and provided high-level education to students throughout the year.

“As we close out 2022, I find myself feeling really proud of this community,” said Oasis CEO Melissa Mackedon. “One of our leadership core values is students first and we have embodied that value over the last year. To think back to where we were one year ago and where we are right now, it's impressive. I could not be prouder of this team.”

Here is a look at the top Oasis Academy happenings for 2022.

1. Over $1.5 million in scholarships awarded to seniors

Oasis Academy is proud to offer one of the premier dual enrollment programs in the state. This program helped the 2022 graduating class secure over $1.5 million in scholarships.

Graduating seniors were accepted into the University of Nevada, Reno, College of Southern Nevada, Texas A&M, University of Arizona, Montana Western, Tarleton State University, BYU, Western Welding Academy, Truckee Meadows Community College, Southwestern University, United States Navy, BYU Idaho and more.

2. Oasis proficiency scores continue to excel

As educators, we know that test scores, much like graduation rates and college acceptance rates, are only one measure of a student. At Oasis Academy we prioritize the whole child, as evidenced by our 248:1 student to counselor ratio (Nevada's average is 480:1), but student outcomes should matter to everybody.

Nevada's tests are aligned to our state standards; the concepts we are responsible for teaching. By focusing our teaching on those standards and then measuring our success based on standardized tests, we are giving our students a rigorous education with high expectations.

We want our students to be prepared to reach their future ambitions, regardless of what those might be and test scores give us a sense of how prepared they are. Additionally, on a more global level, standardized testing is a way to keep public schools, like ours, accountable for the millions of dollars of taxpayer revenue they are entrusted with annually.

We could not be prouder of our educators and our students. No doubt about it, the last two years (20-21 and 21-22) were a challenge, but the Oasis team rose to the occasion and as a result our students are more prepared to realize their goals. We want to take just a moment to celebrate those outcomes and the hard work and dedication, of teachers, students and parents, that went into these numbers. The numbers can be found at http://nevadareportcard.nv.gov/DI/nv/.

3. Junior Hunter McNabb places 10th at FFA convention in Agriscience.

Mayor Ken Tedford and the City of Fallon also recognized McNabb for winning Gold and finishing 10th in the nation for FFA Agriscience.

4. Oasis Academy closes on purchase of properties

After over a decade of serving students in the Fallon community, Oasis Academy Charter School purchased the building we are currently located in at 920 W. Williams St. and property on Venturacci Lane.

The expansion comes at a critical time as the school’s slow growth model has led to three classes in grades K-6 for next year. Future plans also include moving Oasis Academy College Prep to a section of the newly purchased property on Venturacci Lane.

5. 100 percent graduation rate

Oasis Academy College Prep maintained its 100% graduation rate and graduated 36 students with 24 of those also receiving an associate’s degree from Western Nevada College in their graduation ceremony in May of 2022.

6. Student has article published Nevada Bighorn

Oasis Elementary student Gianna Salisbury is a published author. The fifth-grader had an article she wrote describing her first hunt published in the Nevada Bighorns Unlimited Journal. Salisbury’s article titled My First Hunt details her experience hunting javelina in Arizona in February 2022 with her father.

7. HERD principles part of 2022-2023 focus

The 2022-2023 school year is all about running with the Bighorn H.E.R.D. Staff and students are putting a focus on Honesty, Empathy, Respect, and Determination or the HERD principles both inside and outside the classroom.

8. Oasis students place at ACTRA finals

Oasis students Clayton Hiibel, Colton Fait, and Lauren Goings participated in the American Cowboy Team Roping Association (ACTRA) National Finals Rodeo at the end of October in Reno. The students represented the Bighorns and Fallon well.

Hiibel placed fifth out of 1,024 teams and fourth in the competition. Fait and Hiibel both finished in the top 45 out of 727 teams and third during the competition.

9. Third annual golf tournament raises most money

The Oasis Golf Tournament was a huge success, making more money than previous year’s tournaments! Thank you again to all our sponsors, teams and donors.

Funds raised from the tournament will be used towards the purchase of vans for transportation for extracurricular activities.

10. Oasis 8th grade girls basketball wins championship

The Lady Bighorn eighth-grade girls’ basketball team finished the season undefeated and as Sagebrush League Champions. The team beat Pershing County in the championship game on Oct. 14 at the Venturacci Gym.