Niki Gladys, WNC Foundation executive director, accepts a donation from Dana Whaley, general manager Carson City Toyota. The donation will be used toward the Dick Campagni Automotive Scholarship fund.
Carson City Toyota and Capital Ford have started new scholarships through Western Nevada College which will be offered starting this fall. These donations are dedicated to helping students pursuing careers in automotive mechanics as well as students pursuing associates degrees in other academic areas.
“Western Nevada College holds a special place with Campagni Auto Group,” said Dana Whaley, general manager of Carson City Toyota. “Their dedication reaches far beyond education, supporting our community’s very future.”
Along with their donations, Campagni Auto Group urged the community to join them in supporting local students by starting new scholarships with WNC. “It was an easy decision,” said Whaley, “once we understood the direct impact on students and how much our support was needed.”
WNC students rank high for financial need as compared with other regional higher education institutions. Of degree-seeking full-time students, 55 percent are eligible for Federal Pell Grants which serves as a proxy for low-income status.
“Campagni Auto Group has always been very generous in our community,” said Niki Gladys, executive director of WNC Foundation. “Their involvement with our scholarship program will obviously benefit many students directly. But, it also is an excellent statement towards the importance of WNC scholarships to this community.”
In addition to creating their own scholarships, Campagni Auto Group has recently funded WNC scholarships which will be awarded to four local high school students who will receive the Silver State Award through Northern Nevada Development Authority’s Pioneer Awards held on Friday at the Carson Nugget Ballroom.
Western Nevada College Scholarships increased 25 percent year over year to nearly $200,000 for the 2016-17 academic year. With the addition of several new scholarships for WNC nursing students, veteran students and single parents, the 2017-18 school year is on track to award at an even higher level. “We are seeing an impressive increase in community-driven scholarships,” said Gladys. “But at the same time, we’re seeing scholarship applications increase this year by 45 percent. So there will be an even greater need for the coming school year.”
For information on starting a scholarship in your name or to memorialize a loved one, contact WNC Foundation at 775-445-3239 or email niki.gladys@wnc.edu.
