CHS Salute to Scholars honors seniors’ work, alumni’s legacies

Approximately 70 Carson High School seniors were recognized Thursday during the school’s annual Salute to Scholars event at the Carson City Community Center.

The evening honored this year’s group of outgoing graduates who have completed more than 650 local scholarship applications and represented more than $10 million in local, state and national college and university aid offers. They embody more first-generation college students who will be attending colleges and universities across the country from the Dominican University of California in the Bay Area to Yale University in Connecticut, a wide representation of higher education institutions.

More than 60 local sponsors consisting of local private or public foundations, nonprofits, businesses, schools and other associations provide the funding for the scholarships and hold annual events and fundraisers to assist students on an annual basis.

Thirteen students who have chosen a military path as recruits received certificates or ribbons and received their awards as well.

Most students who were honored received multiple scholarships or gift items throughout the evening.

Senior Isaiah Hurlbert was recognized by the Edith Milo Memorial Retired School Employees Association, Kiwanis Club, CHS Football Boosters Mac Wilson Memorial and Tiger Drive.

“I’m insanely grateful to get these, like, me, my family and everyone around me worked really hard to get these, and all the sponsors of these scholarships, I’m really grateful for them as well,” Hurlbert said. “It created a really good opportunity for me to branch out into education.”

He will be attending the University of Nevada, Reno next year to study education and will pursue a career as a teacher, he said.

Christian Galvez Hernandez, who served as a drum major in this year’s Blue Thunder marching band, also received various scholarships from the Carson City Masonic Lodge #1, the John and Grace Nauman Foundation, Steele Sustainability and Timothy Jones Memorial.

Galvez Hernandez said the celebration was a momentous celebration after a semester of hard work of exam preparation and applications. He attributed his activities in the marching band for his success as a standout candidate since he participated in music most of his high school career, he said.

“I just feel so much relief and I feel so much energy,” he said. “…(It’s) doing all you could do to get a scholarship, the culminating and coming together here and just celebrating all the hard work.”

Galvez Hernandez also plans to attend UNR to study biomedical engineering and will continue in music, adding he hopes to join the university’s marching band program.

Administrators also supported the recipients to remember their work reflects on the legacies of previous alumni who attended Carson High and have been dedicated to the mission of the school and district.

Carson City School Board President Joe Cacioppo, who provided opening remarks, encouraged students to consider that their education from the school district has prepared them well for their chosen path into the military, technical school or university. He recognized the district’s educators who helped the soon-to-be graduates along their journey.

“Life is going to challenge you, going to humble you, it’s going to sometimes make you question yourself, but it’s always going to reward you,” he said. “So stay the course and never stop learning.”