Senator Square: Art scholars announced, seniors grateful to Carson City for project role

Carson High School senior students have successfully completed their 2019 Senior Projects, a CHS graduation requirement, and they could not have accomplished this without the selfless sacrifice of members of the Carson City community.

Over the past 8 months, CHS students worked tirelessly to prepare for Carson City community volunteers, many of them CHS graduates themselves, who remember completing the Senior Project, to evaluate both their portfolios and their speeches.

All those involved, from Superintendent Richard Stokes to the administrators, teachers, and staff at CHS, look forward to this day every year as it is the culmination for seniors of years spent as Carson City School District students.

Each year for their Senior Projects, senior English teachers encourage their students to pursue a personal interest, something to benefit others, or something to prepare themselves for their futures. To see the excitement on the faces of those students is priceless as the realization of graduating from CHS is just around the corner.

Thank you Carson City for helping the young people of the community of Carson High School complete their Senior Projects. Right now, CHS is truly the happiest place on earth.

Capital City Arts Initiative announces scholarship winners
As a result of Creative Spark, the Student Art Exhibition at the Brick, CCAI is delighted to announce the winners of its $500 Aim scholarships to high school artists and graduating seniors: Jane Fliegler of Carson High School, Monica Reyes of Pioneer High School, and Beck Neil of Douglas High School.

Creative Spark encompasses a wide variety of art media including ceramics, collage, drawing, painting, and photography that show the diversity of the students’ creativity. CCAI Executive Director Sharon Rosse said, “CCAI works to encourage creativity and inspire imaginations to help develop crucial work skills for the 21st century.” These winning students are also going to further their art studies in the fall.

Participating students from Carson, Dayton, Douglas, and Pioneer high schools have work in the Brick exhibit at 108 East Proctor Street in Carson City, and the exhibition is free and available to the public through May 29. The participating PHS students include Seanna LeMaster and Monica Reyes. Participating Dayton High students are Karina Allen, Faith De Pasquale, Sandra Hidalgo, Roberto Mancilla, Devon Pickles, Felica-Grace Villa, and Eja Willis. Participating CHS students are Stephany Duarte Alvarado, Garrett Clampitt, Jane Fliegler, Haley Garver, Angel Gomez, Hana Cathryn Ikehara, Valeria Martinez, Daniela Solis, and Sarah Woods. Participating Douglas High School students include Stella Andersson, Mark Franzi, Jenna Fraser, Cole Funk, Litzy Gonzalez, Michelle Gower, Zoe Holt, Ethan Lee, Mateo Luri, Leo Martinez, Beck Neal, Shannon O’Connor, Emily Smuda, and Maya Wolery.

Motivation and creative inspiration for the students comes from their teachers: Kara Ferrin and Mike Malley at CHS, Malaynia Wick at DHS, Paul Lorion at PHS, and Rita Borselli, Zoe Shorten, and Kelley Yost at Douglas High. This show is another in CCAI’s ongoing series of student exhibitions in the Brick.

Downtown Reno Partnership's grant Denton to speak at CHS
As a part of CHS Health classes Substance Abuse Unit, along with Partnership Carson City, CHS Health teachers have brought in several guest speakers to educate and inspire students to make the best personal choices.

According to CHS Health teacher Erin Been, “Health classes at CHS have been engaging in presentations dealing with living with addiction, the life of an addict, and life in recovery.” Been added, “The lessons here are to show students how tough life is and how grueling is recovery from drugs, to encourage them to not even start, and to show them there are programs for recovery…that it is not a dead end street.”

The next guest speaker, talking about the cycle of addiction and recovery, is Grant Denton, operations manager for the business improvement district of downtown Reno, who will present to CHS freshman April 25 and 26. Denton, born into a broken family of six brothers and one sister, grew up poor, and his in-and-out-of-his-life father was physically abusive.

Additionally, he was bullied throughout childhood and ultimately turned to drugs as an escape. In early adulthood, he became a street performer and then an entertainer in night clubs on the Las Vegas strip, where he was a fire breather and walked on stilts. At 24, he started a family, but due to his drug addiction, he eventually lost everything.

While sitting in a jail cell, after being homeless for three years, and facing a 5 to 7 year prison sentence, Denton made the decision to change his life. Since his release, Denton has created a wellness program called Rise and Grind to help women in recovery from substance abuse and mental health disorders. He is also the creator of the Karma Box Project, a community initiative which helps those who are less fortunate.

Recently, Denton has started speaking to students at UNR about substance abuse and recovery programs. He has spoken at many mental healthcare conventions and several fundraisers, and for the past 2 years he has found a passion for speaking to youth about the value of self-worth and the long-term ripple-effect that kindness has on an individual and a community.

Ultimately, it was a growth mindset and acts of kindness which brought Denton out of a life of crime, homelessness, and drug addiction to becoming a flourishing and respected member of society.

Denton works with Downtown Reno Partnership a 501(c)6 nonprofit is designed to improve downtown Reno by addressing the homeless issue on a street-level and creating a more friendly and balanced environment. According to Grant Denton, “I want to speak and advocate all over the country about recovery and the value of community engagement, as well as create programs that will foster this.”

Free hot air ballon rides coming to CHS
Interested in aviation? Science? Hot air ballooning? CHS teacher and military veteran Michael Reynolds, along with Karalyn Mumm, pilot and owner of hot air balloon Citrus in the Sky, will be offering tethered hot air balloon rides to CHS students April 23 beginning at 7:40 a.m.

And if that is not enough, The Balloon Federation of America is offering a Junior Balloonist Camp at Donner Ski Ranch, 19320 Donner Pass Road in Norden, California. Scholarships are also available. Go to bfa.net and click the "2019 JB Camp" tab for registration, and to complete the scholarship application at the end of the registration.

Those interested may also find more information by looking them up on Facebook, emailing highsierraballooncamp@gmail.com, calling Karalyn Mumm at 225-1284, calling CHS teacher Michael Reynolds at 283-1630, or emailing him at mreynolds@carson.k12.nv.us.

National Honor Society Spring Blood Drive at CHS
The NHS Blood Drive is April 24 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the CHS Small Gym. Donors are urgently needed, and lives are saved because of this selfless sacrifice. Those choosing to donate are asked to eat a full meal before donating and must be at least 16-years-old. Anyone under 18 must have a signed parent consent form when donating, and all donors must show photo ID with birth date. Students may sign up in CHS room 221; anyone else may simply drop by and donate. Snacks and drinks are needed also; these may be dropped off at the CHS Main Office, or email NHS Adviser Brian Branch at bbranch@carson.k12.nv.us.

Community Father, daughter dance is almost here
The “Under the Big Top” Annual Father-Daughter Ball at Carson High School, a community-wide event for all ages, is coming April 26 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $40 per couple and $10 for each additional daughter. The event has sold out each year and will definitely sell out again this year.

Order tickets by going to eventbrite.com and searching for “Father-Daughter Ball – Carson City.” Online ticket purchase fee applies. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the CHS Big Gym entrance. Only cash or checks will be taken for in-person ticket purchases.

Additionally, circus actors will be taking photos of fathers and their little princesses, and light desserts will be served. This event is a fundraiser for the following CHS Organizations: FBLA, SkillsUSA, Web Design, Leadership, and Photography. Please email CHS teacher Angila Golik at agolik@carson.k12.nv.us for more information.

GNCU Visa Gift Card Giveaway
In celebration of National Credit Union Youth Month, Greater Nevada Credit Union Education Branch at CHS is having a contest during April and will be giving away two $50 Visa Gift Cards. The contest is open to all CHS students who stop by the GNCU CHS Branch between 7:15 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to pick up an entry form. All entries are due by 1:00 p.m. April 30.

Celebrate with Graduation Leis
It is time to reward members of the CHS Senior Class. They have worked hard over the course of their high school career, so order Graduation Leis for them. Order a Single Purple Orchid Lei or a Single White Orchid Lei for $23, or order a fragrant Single Tuberose and Orchid Lei for $25. Orders must be placed by May 23 at 3:30 p.m. An order form is needed, so please acquire one from the Main Office, the Student Store, or call Leadership Advisor and teacher Ann Britt at 283-1789, or email her at abritt@carson.k12.nv.us.

2019 CHS Carnetta Yearbook
What? Have not ordered a 2019 Carnetta yearbook yet? Parents, guardians, and friends, the end of the school year is fast approaching; celebrate and congratulate graduating seniors this year with the purchase of a yearbook. Yearbooks may be pre-ordered by going to carsonhigh.com, or from Mrs. Quinn-Davis in room 136.

WNC Jumpstart opportunities available now
Any current CHS junior student interested in applying for a JumpStart Career needs to pick up an application in the guidance office. If eligible, juniors may enter programs such as Auto Tech, Automated Industrial Technology, Construction, or Cybersecurity. Pick up an application today.

Student of the Week
The Student of the Week for this issue of Senator Square is Areli Sanabria Solis. Areli’s nomination comes from Sarah Lobsinger and Jenny Chandler, who are both her CHS and WNC teachers. According to Sarah Lobsinger, “Areli recently completed the UNR EDU110 class and is now taking EDU202 at WNC.”

Lobsinger also said, “She has volunteered to drive a fellow student to and from class every week; she is a thoughtful and kind young lady with a bright future, and we nominated Areli Sanabria Solis for going above and beyond her role as a student to support and inspire others, and her spirit will serve her well as she pursues a career in education.”

How amazing this young lady must be when her teachers take time to submit a note of recommendation. Congratulations to Areli Sanabria Solis.

— Senator Square columnist Phil Brady is an English teacher at Carson High School in Carson City, Nev.