Five local students earned Jim Regan Memorial Scholarships as selected by Churchill County based on applications submitted. Those students received their scholarships at the Board of County Commissioners meeting on May 17.
The Regan Memorial Scholarship was established by Churchill County in honor of former County Commissioner Jim Regan, who passed away unexpectedly in 2000 while in office. Scholarships are funded via the Jim Regan Memorial Golf Tournament held annually at the Fallon Golf course. This year’s tournament will be on September 16.
Recipients must be Churchill County employees or the spouse, child or dependent of a county employee to be eligible for the scholarships which totaled $5,500 this year.
Earning scholarships for 2023 were:
- Royce Mills - $1,500. Mills wants to major in aerospace engineering at the University of Arizona after he graduates from Churchill County High where he participated on the varsity soccer team, freshman/junior varsity basketball team and junior varsity baseball team. He is also involved with the National Honor Society and the International Club at CCHS. His out-of-school activities include the Boy Scouts, Lahontan Valley Claybreakers, skiing and 4-H.
- Stacie Bogdanowicz - $1,500. Bogdanowicz attends the Oasis Academy and wants to major in kinesiology at the University of Nevada, Reno, working toward a career as a physical therapist. She is currently enrolled at Western Nevada College. She is active in sports, playing on the volleyball, softball and lacrosse teams while serving as her senior class president and FFA historian, vice president and president. She is heavily involved with all aspects of the local 4-H program where she has a strong passion for cattle.
- Austin Mize - $1,000. An employee with Parks & Recreation Department, Mize is working toward an associate degree in business at Western Nevada College. He enjoys volunteering with the Greenwave Youth Wrestling Club. He is pursuing a higher education degree as an example of being the best dad he can be to his young daughter.
- Dallas Shults - $1,000. Shults works in the Child Support Division of the District Attorney’s Office while attending online classes with Western Nevada College in pursuit of a degree in criminal justice. She is also starting the paralegal program at Truckee Meadows Community college and hopes to earn an associate degree in applied science. She enjoys helping her daughter with t-ball and basketball.
- Nicole Persek - $500. Persek is an employee with Court Services and is studying to be a forensic psychologist at Southern New Hampshire University with the goal of working with the mental ill in the justice system. Her hobbies include baking and decorating cookies, knitting and making craft tumblers.
Photo: From left, Royce Mills, Commissioner Bus Scharmann, Dallas Shults, Austin Mize, Nicole Persek and Commissioners Justin Heath and Myles Getto. Not pictured: Stacie Bogdanowicz.