Diana Wagner Memorial Scholarship

Having worked two years as a custodian at Cottonwood Elementary School scrubbing bathrooms, floors, pulling weeds and other glorious duties as assigned helped solidify my need for college. The opportunity to apply for this scholarship is greatly appreciated. My name is Sheldon Jacobson and I have examples of how I have given back to Fernley and also examples of how our community has influenced my career goals and ambitions. I will share my volunteering, leadership roles, and how growing up in Fernley and connections to people have influenced my career goals. I have volunteered with mainly school and parents work and their volunteerism. For four years I went to the Veteran's Cemetery in Fernley and cleaned, raked, and put out flags in preparation for the Veteran's Day ceremony. I worked alongside other leadership students to show our respect and appreciation for their service. Through my mom's work starting as a second grader through my freshman year I went with my mom to clean a local park and fill boxes of non perishable food items to help those in need at the food bank. I also help my dad as he is a volunteer instructor for the Nevada Division of Wildlife. I help by setting up and taking down the materials needed to cover the necessary curriculum, correct workbooks, and anything else needed. My dad was a principal for years which gave me access to the gym. I would organize open gym for 10-20 kids. I would open the gym, get equipment out and then afterwards I would sweep the floor and pick up garbage and water bottles left by the others so we could keep using the gym. We have flood irrigation in our neighborhood with the majority of water users being older users. I help my dad and two other guys walk the water down about a mile and a half of ditch cleaning it so the older neighbors can irrigate without flooding homes along the ditch. My career ambitions start with my love of basketball, putting in the practice time (as I mentioned previously having access to a gym helped), having my high school weights teacher push me and having incredible coaches and teammates through my high school career. Equally important was having parents willing to take me to AAU basketball practice and tournaments from second grade through signing a letter of intent my junior year. Signing at Oregon Tech is a relief and a blessing. Oregon tech has a great renewable energy program for which I am enrolled. While my math scores are not the greatest I hope to enter this ever growing field. My dad, as a county commissioner, has seen the solar energy in particular absolutely explode the past several years and it is through this growth that I have developed an interest in this area of study. As I drive around our community I see opportunities to expand solar projects. For example, on the rooftops of warehouses and in their parking lots doubling as shade structures. Growing up in Fernley has been a blessing, no doubt. It has provided a wonderful childhood, given me an opportunity to earn a college scholarship, help me plan out my next four years and line me out with a possible career path that will be an exciting and challenging chapter. This scholarship will help me purchase class materials and a computer. I appreciate your consideration. Respectfully, Sheldon Jacobson

Having spent my entire life in Fernley all of the technical skills that I have can be attributed to the town in one way or another. Because of this, I try to give back to the town by using these skills as best I can to either directly help the community or represent the community well. This can be seen across all of my extracurriculars, but specifically band, VITA, and academic team. I started playing the tuba in eighth grade as a student at Silverland Middle School. In the time since starting I have had the honor to represent Fernley at 4 Regional honor bands, 1 All-State band, and 1 Small Schools All-State band. On top of those achievements, I was blessed to be a student leader in the Fernley High School Marching Band 3 out of my 4 years in high school, and during this time I have been able to help my younger classmates be better musicians and better members of the FHS band. A more direct example of my community service efforts is seen through my involvement in the VITA program. VITA stands for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, and it is a nationwide federal program sponsored by the IRS aimed at providing free tax preparation for communities in need. I joined the program my sophomore year of high school because it was run by my accounting teacher and she was in need of more student volunteers. My first year was particularly stressful as I had to cram a significant amount of tax law into my very young mind, but in the end I was able to make it through the full tax season with zero rejected returns. In the following years I joined the program as the student manager, which just meant I was forced to do all of the hard returns. In my second year I not only prepared more returns, but did so without recording a single error or rejected return. The trend continued into this, my senior year of high school, as I was once again the student manager and finished my third and final tax season without ever having a return rejected. As a testament to the success our program has seen, just this past month my fellow volunteers and I were invited to present to the Lyon County Board of County Commissioners to share our program's story with the rest of the county. I feel my commitment to the town of Fernley is best reflected in my time on the Fernley High School Academic Team. Academic Team is an activity run through the school that operates in a very similar manner to any sports team, but instead of physical activity we compete with other schools in an academic trivia style format. FIS, SMS, and FHS all have teams, though FIS and SMS compete on the middle school circuit, and I am fortunate enough to have been a member on each of these teams. During my time in high school I have been team captain for 3 seasons, and in these seasons I am proud to say that I have led our team to Regionals 3 years in a row. I bring this up as a testament to my fierce competitive spirit and Fernley pride. I was not physically gifted enough to bring success to Fernley's athletic programs, so instead I contributed in the way I was personally best equipped, and that took the form of being our academic team's leading scorer from sophomore through senior year. All this is to say, this city and community has taught me the importance of hard work, and the importance of giving everything I have to accomplish my dreams. I want to be a mechanical engineer who one day designs something that changes the world, and I can say with one hundred percent certainty that I would not be able to write that sentence without the influence of this town. My time in band taught me the importance of practice and leadership. My time in VITA taught me the importance of being thorough and helping whoever you can. My time on the academic team taught me to have confidence in who I am and the impact that only I can make. All of these lessons fundamentally shaped my character, and they are the reason I have any dreams or aspirations at all. Without this community I would be nobody, but because I have this community I am able to feel like somebody.

Giving back to my community has been a central part of my life and has greatly influenced my goals for the future. As a high school senior involved in varsity basketball, volleyball, and track, I have learned valuable lessons about teamwork, discipline, and responsibility. These lessons extend beyond sports and into how I contribute to and support my community in meaningful ways. One of the main ways I give back is through volunteering at local food banks. Helping to provide meals to people in need has shown me the importance of compassion and the impact that even small acts of kindness can have on others. It’s a humbling experience to see how many people rely on these services, and it motivates me to continue supporting those who are less fortunate. In addition to food banks, I have volunteered at the veteran cemetery, helping to maintain and clean these spaces. This work may seem simple, but it carries significant meaning. Keeping cemeteries clean and respectful honors the memories of those who have passed and shows care for the community’s history. My involvement in sports has also been a way to give back. My teams often participate in community service activities. My team goes to the cemetery during Christmas and makes wreaths, we will also all go to the food bank to help them out during the holidays. These experiences have helped me understand the power of teamwork not just in games, but in making a positive difference in the community. Being part of a team that works toward a common goal, both on and off the court, has strengthened my leadership skills and my commitment to service. Another significant way I contribute to my community is through my job at Hometown Cleaning, where I assist elderly residents in Lyon County. This role is especially meaningful to me because it allows me to support some of the most vulnerable members of my community. I help clean their homes and assist with daily tasks like changing bedding, taking out trash, and sometimes just being there to talk or listen. Working with the elderly has taught me patience, empathy, and the importance of human connection. It’s rewarding to know that my efforts help improve their quality of life and provide them with comfort and dignity. These experiences have not only shaped who I am today but have also influenced my future career aspirations. I want to become an anesthesiologist assistant, a role that combines my passion for science and healthcare with my desire to help others. I am drawn to this career because it allows me to work closely with patients, ensuring their safety and comfort during medical procedures. I believe that the compassion and dedication I have developed through volunteering and my job will help me excel in this field. Beyond the technical skills required for healthcare, I know that qualities like communication, patience, and empathy are crucial. My community service and work experiences have helped me develop these skills. For example, working with diverse groups of people has taught me how to listen carefully, understand different perspectives, and respond with kindness. These interpersonal skills will be essential in my future career, where building trust with patients is key. Additionally, my involvement in sports has helped me learn how to manage stress, stay focused, and work under pressure—skills that will be valuable in any medical setting. Balancing academics, athletics, volunteering, and a job has taught me time management and resilience. I am confident that these experiences have prepared me well for the challenges of higher education and a demanding healthcare career. Looking ahead, I am excited to continue growing both personally and professionally. I plan to pursue higher education in a field related to healthcare, where I can build on the foundation I have established through my community involvement. I am committed to lifelong learning and to finding new ways to give back, whether through my profession or continued volunteer work. In summary, my experiences in sports, volunteering, and working with the elderly have shaped my values and aspirations. They have taught me the importance of compassion, responsibility, and teamwork. These lessons have inspired me to pursue a career as an anesthesiologist assistant, where I can continue to help people and make a positive impact. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to give back to my community and look forward to the ways I can continue to do so in the future.

I have volunteered at the Sparks Fire Department since 2022, cleaning up after the Community sanctioned Pancake Breakfast. Since 2022, I have helped set up for the annual community play at the Intermediate School. I have helped at club basketball tournaments as a referee during 2022-2023. I also placed wreaths on veterans’ graves in 2022. I have volunteered at food drives over the past 4 years (2022-2026) around Fernley to help organize the donations. I volunteered at the Elementary School (2022-2025) teaching the children basketball basics. I participated in a community beautifying project in 2023 by picking up litter. As an active member within a youth group I’ve helped the community by cleaning and maintaining elderly yards since 2022 too modern day. I feel the community has shaped my future ambitions by giving me multiple opportunities and chances to become the leader I am today. Not only through community service, but going to publicly held events in the community. I've been able to learn what and what not to do through others experiences. For example, I competed for four years on the high school basketball team and I was able to learn how to become a leader, teammate, hard worker, and a better listener. Having the community support all the teams I've competed on has done a great deal for me. For example, the basketball team would always have hundreds of people in attendance supporting us and cheering us on. All of them would drive us to be better and do the best we could. On countless occasions, I pushed myself past limits I had set, thinking I couldn't do more. Seeing people come together like that made me feel like a bigger part of the community. Most of them didn't know who I was at the beginning but after four years of playing with all my heart many people know me for being a hard and aggressive player. This may be a weird topic, but I feel as if I've provided a great example for the upcoming generations. I participated in all high school events, such as homecoming events and dances. In all four years of high school I have competed in all three sports while maintaining at least a 3.5 GPA. While being one of the best on any team I competed with. I'm looking forward to seeing all of the younger kids, I've helped and coached in the last couple of years surpass me and hopefully become amazing athletes. I tried to leave them with knowledge of the sports I love but with the sportsmanship that is required.

My name is Jacob Holmes. I have grown up in Fernley, NV my entire life. I attended Cottonwood Elementary, Fernley Intermediate, Silverland Middle and now Fernley High School. Throughout all my years from Kindergarten and up I have always been very involved in extracurricular activities, along with boys and girls clubs. In elementary school I was part of the running club, I also won the 4th grade cabbage growing national contest and was awarded a savings bond I am planning on using for college funds. Moreover, I was awarded the Healthy Lifestyles Award through Boys and Girls Club and won top honors for all of Northern Nevada and gave a speech at the Peppermill in front of hundreds of donors and families when I was only 7 years old. I was also recognized as a top AR reader when I attended Cottonwood. I also participated in all the STEM festivals and have been awarded blue ribbons from Kindergarten through middle school. I loved each of my teachers at Cottonwood, I had Mrs. Hoover for Kindergarten and 2nd grade, Mrs. Bunyard for 1st, Mrs. Diffenderfer for 3rd and Mr. Neil for 4th. They each had their own teaching style but were kind and instilled a sense of respect and fun. When I attended Fernley Intermediate I helped out with the Special Olympics, participated in basketball, cross country, and made it into the HEX championship for Lyon county 6th to 8th graders. Additionally, I was very involved in our local BMX track from the age of 5 through 14. I would donate around 5 hours each week on track maintenance and helping out new riders and with the racing days on the weekends. When I entered Silverland Middle school I worked hard and was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society and was elected the Historian. As being the Historian I had to give up many lunches to work with the advisor on many different projects, assist with dances, and assemblies. I also was invited to the 4.0 dinner at Silverland with my parents where we were served a wonderful dinner and had a few motivational guest speakers. I made the 8th grade basketball team where we went to the championship. I was also involved in track and cross country during 7th and 8th. When I entered Fernley High School it was during COVID and so many sports and other programs were not running like they had in the past. I did however get into the Leadership program and stayed in that program for 2 years helping with many events and community service activities such as cleaning up the cemeteries, decorating the town for homecoming, dances and working games like home basketball and football games. Moreover, I have held the same job for four years, working as a golf cart attendant at our local golf course, The Ranch Golf Course. I have learned many skills being employed there including organization, responsibility, communication skills and problem solving. Additionally, my sophomore summer I took part in a mission to Costa Rica to help build a new church and assist with connections with the community and schools. I am most proud of my accomplishments in the Fernley High School Varsity golf team, as this is my true passion. I made the Varsity team as a freshman and have been one of the top golfers on our team and in our league. Last year as a junior our team placed first in league and second overall at state; I was awarded the MVP of 3A North and was second overall at state, with a great final day of the two day tournament with the low score of the day and winning the final match. Our team made history for our small town and for our county. If I were to receive this scholarship I would be beyond grateful. I would use it to further my education and my golf career. It would help with housing, food, travel, tuition and equipment needed to play golf. I am planning on majoring in Business as I feel that will be a great start and is something I have always been interested in. I have been admitted to Bushnell University in Eugene, Oregon and was invited to play on their golf team as well. Receiving this scholarship I can then further my education and possibly go into accounting or finance.

Growing up in Fernley, I participated in community youth sports leagues, attended community events, and have been involved in community service. These experiences have shaped me into who I am today and have influenced my future career path. Athletics are a big part of who I am. I grew up playing soccer for Fernely’s AYSO program, dancing for Fernley Performing Arts and playing softball for the Fernley Youth Softball League. The time I spent participating in youth soccer gave me friendships to last a lifetime and the confidence to continue playing sports during my high school career. Playing varsity soccer at FHS for 4 years with the same teammates I grew up playing with in AYSO, strengthened my relationship with teammates both on and off the field. These bonds allowed my team to work well together in games. I have also come to recognize that in Fernley pretty much everyone is friends just like in soccer. The town shows up for eachother and is supportive. This point of support is also evident with Fernley Community Arts. I danced there when the company was just starting, the majority of the dancers were friends with the owner and her kids. My younger siblings dance there now and the number of dancers has increased exponentially since my time there and the attendance of recitals has quadrupled in size. Softball, like dance now, has always had great player and spectator participation. My time in community sports has motivated me to coach youth and high school athletics and to live in a town like Fernley, one full of friendship, support and involvement. Fernley hosts many community events that I have attended and helped put on. The Fourth of July festivities and the Christmas parade are awesome events that unite the city. Another holiday event is the City of Fernleys Spooktacular for Halloween. I have helped decorate and run the Spooktacular at City Hall for the past two years with the high school’s National Honor Society (NHS) chapter. It is so fun to see the young kids enjoy the bounce house, fire truck, police car, and the building's haunted hall. It is also through NHS that I got involved with Project Linus. I spend most Thursday evenings making blankets for children in hospitals while conversing with older, mature women who live in town. These ladies love to sit and tell stories of when they were younger and many of them have lived in Fernley for a long while. It is cool to learn about the town's history from them and to interact and laugh while working to help those in need. My participation in these events and the mentorship of the ladies at Project Linus helped me decide that I want to work in an environment centered around kids. When I joined leadership at Fernley High School, I truly started giving back to the community through service. One of our biggest events every year is our annual homecoming. Two out of my four years in high school we did a homecoming hero. Our heroes were local kids currently battling cancer. As senior class president, I was the head of this past homecoming and loved getting to know our hero throughout the planning process. It was decided that our homecoming would be carnival-themed based on our hero’s desire to attend one. All events throughout the week followed this theme and we hosted a mini carnival at the high school in his honor. For both of our heroes, all money raised at events was donated to their families and we got local businesses involved who donated profits from specific sales. Between the two heroes, we raised about 30,000 dollars which was given to the families to help cover medical bills. Both heroes are now cancer free which is very exciting. Working with these boys solidified my decision to work in the pediatric field. I have always wanted to be a doctor, specifically an anesthesiologist; however, because of my community service I was inspired to enter peds and because of our homecoming hero last fall, I decided to specialize in oncology. His sweet smiles, boundless energy, and positive attitude inspired me to dedicate my life to helping kids in their fight against cancer. I will forever be grateful for the City of Fernley and its impact on my future career ambitions and life goals.

At a young age, I was introduced to the importance of community involvement with youth sports. My mom, dad and stepmom all volunteered for AYSO while my brothers and I enjoyed and learned the sport alongside them. My mom grew up in Fernley and knew Diana Wagner. She told me about the woman the soccer fields were named after, and the impact Diana and her family has made on our city. She told me stories of the small-town Fernley used to be. I was painted a beautiful picture of when Fernley was not a city, but a very extended family where the community worked together to make things happen. Volunteers now were hard to find, and part of my parents’ job on the board was to make calls and try to convince people to share a little time to make sports possible for the newer generations. It seemed sad to my parents that people today just do not seem to be involved as they used to be. It was not long before I realized that playing the game of soccer may not be the wisest option for me. I was, however, eager to follow my parents by finding a way to stay involved. By 13 I was a certified Jr Area Ref volunteering with my family and keeping the games in play. Understanding the need to be involved in community, I quickly jumped at every opportunity I could. Seeing the impact of just simply giving my time, to make something possible for someone else gave me such pride. Getting to know the other volunteers, meeting the businesses or foundations running the events and seeing the kindness of our community at events touched my heart. You truly see the best of people when you do something for nothing. I was fortunate enough to be in Leadership from eighth grade through Sr. year and have had been able to work at a variety of events. Each event brings a new friend, a new perspective and new knowledge to help me grow into the person I am today. I have painted the town, decorated floats, laid wreaths, worked concessions, watched kids, did school orientations, picked up trash, served community dinners and so much more. No matter what the volunteer task was, it was a collaboration of many that made it a success. The people I have met on my journey have inspired me to just be a better person and continue to give of myself. Someone who has specifically inspired me, and shown so much giving of herself, is my leadership teacher Mrs. Kingston. No matter what the community event, you will find her there selflessly giving her time, her compassion and putting so much of herself into her students and community. She has inspired me to want to become a teacher myself. I hope to be able to someday inspire students the way she does. I want to find volunteer opportunities and continue to show others the importance and impact just a little bit of time can make. Putting a smile on someone's face is never a bad day. Thank you for your consideration.

I have given back to my community through lengthy dedication to my local 4-H and community service. I have spent 11 years of my life in Fernley 4-H and through that have had many opportunities to help my community. I volunteer annually to help set up for the Lyon County Jr. Livestock show as well as run the concession stand at the Lyon County Fair. I have spent the past year educating both youth and adults across Nevada about the importance of pollinators and pollinator habitats through 4-H. As a Nevada State Pollinator Ambassador, I learned about project planning, event coordinating, public speaking and helped plant Pollinator gardens in my community. Participating in 4-H has also helped me join many local clubs and even start a local community garden. Apart from my 4-H involvement, I volunteer annually for Fernley's Mayor Clean Sweep to help clean up local parks and spaces. I am also a member of Fernley High School's National Honor Society and help plan awards ceremonies, coordinate a recycling initiative at my High School, and make tie blankets to donate to children in hospitals. I also like to volunteer at the Food Bank of Northern Nevada as well as a local church food pantry to help families in need. I participate in the youth group at my church and help plan positive activities for children in the community such as bowling. My future goals consist of going to the University of Nevada, Reno to get a Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience, then continuing on to get a PhD in Neuroscience. After my schooling I would like to pursue Neuroscience research either in an academic setting or a non-academic lab, and eventually run my own lab. My community has influenced my future career ambitions by inspiring me to pursue a career in neuroscience research despite coming from an underfunded location for scientific research. My community has also helped me find invaluable role models to look up to and to help pursue my goals. My biggest role model however is my mom. My mom is a woman in Stem and has motivated me throughout my life to become the first person in my family to obtain a PhD. I live in a very tight knit community and I would not be able to pursue such an ambitious career without knowing they have my back. I aspire to show young women from rural areas that despite having less opportunities presented to them it is still possible to be a successful woman in STEM.