The Carson City School District, on behalf of the Carson City Schools Foundation (CCSF), is pleased to announce mini and department grant winners for Fall 2026. Each semester, CCSF gives back to educators and students alike.

Recently, in September, the foundation awarded a total of $10,185 in mini-grants as well as grants for a department, school or grade-level project(s). Of the 52 applications received, 25 grants were awarded.

Seeleger Elementary’s Holly Weber and Casey Gilles with a check for t-shirts for Writing Club members.
CMS’s Jenny Ayala, Maria Navarette and Foundation Trustee Gary Lyon.

Earlier this year, in February, the foundation awarded $10,550. In total, CCSF has contributed more than $315,000 to students and educators since 2016 in mini grants, AP testing fees, positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS), Jump Start books/instructional materials and various projects throughout the district.

EVMS Mini Grants – Casey Gilles, Michelle Entz, Peter McGee, Amy Riddle and Principal Gina Hoppe.
Casey Gilles and Toni Nielsen with students and supplies for class project about plants.

The Fall 2026 mini-grant winners include the following, alphabetically by last name:

  • Darby Beckwith, Carson High School, $300 for script materials for my students to perform “Those Who Remain Turn the Pages.”
  • Tammy Borremans, Carson Middle School, $250 to purchase supplies for an allergen-free culinary program.
  • Michael Chapton, Carson High School, $300 for supplies to establish a reusable Geoscience Identification Lab.
  • Michelle Entz, Eagle Valley Middle School, $300 for supplies for science experiments.
  • Donna Harker, Bordewich Bray Elementary School, $300 to purchase supplies for afternoon game club.
  • Jaclyn Henley, Seeliger Elementary School, $300 for supplies for a school garden.
  • Savanna Ingram, Eagle Valley Middle School, $300 for books for a classroom book club.
  • Nick Jacques, Carson High School, $300 for supplies to repair band instruments.
  • Cary Jordan, Carson High School Silver Campus, $200 for board games to improve connectedness and social skills.
  • Kirstin Kolstade, Carson High School, $300 for supplies for an aerospace engineering project.
  • Molly Martin, Mark Twain Elementary School, $150 for soccer-themed books for the classroom.
  • Peter McGee, Eagle Valley Middle School, $300 for supplies for anthology publishing project.
  • Sharon Miller, Carson High School, $300 for a subscription to Fashion Premier Academy for the fashion design class.
  • Toni Nielsen, Seeliger Elementary School, $300 for supplies for growing potatoes as part of hands-on learning.
  • Shelley Pope, Bordewich Bray Elementary School, $275 for phonics manipulatives for her second-grade classroom.
  • Shawn Schneider, Carson High School, $500 for supplies for the “Step Up Cafe.”
  • Jerry Skirvin, Carson High School, $300 for the concrete needed to complete the rope bridge on the cadet-built obstacle course.
  • Tris Skirvin, Carson High School, $300 for a Sphero Indi At-Home Learning Kit for ASP Computer Science.
  • Holly Weber, Seeliger Elementary School, $300 for Writing Club shirts ($12-$15 per student), with the remainder for writing journals, fun pens and art supplies.
Principal Mark Robinson and Board Member Gary Lyon with Tammy Borremans culinary class.
Gary Lyon, Luz Capobianco, Julie Ciarlo and Mark Robinson at Carson Middle School.

The Fall 2026 school or department grant winners include the following, alphabetically by last name:

  • Sharon Lepire, Fritsch Elementary School, $300 for supplies for multi-sensory, student-led literacy centers.
  • Maria Navarette, Carson Middle School, $810 for supplies for the Third Annual Multicultural Family Festival.
  • Amy Riddle, Eagle Valley Middle School, $450 for plaques on reusable water bottles for the “Take Back the Tap” program.
  • Candi Robles, Carson High School, $150 for pants/skirts hangers, combination Suit Hangers and swivel hook hangers that match the hangers in the CHS Career Closet.
  • Maria Shiffer, Fremont Elementary School, $1,000 for supplies for “Promoting STEAM/Engineering Design Process” Program.
  • Christine Wagner, Fritsch Elementary School, $2,000 for an interactive STEM Discovery Display.

Members of the CCSF Board of Directors are volunteers from the community who devote their time and talents to developing opportunities to support the creativity of Carson City School District students, teachers and staff. Those members include Jon Hager, board president; Casey Gilles, treasurer; Patty Chang, secretary; Jennifer Allen, board member; Laurel Crossman, board member; Gary Lyon, board member; Jennifer Mahe, Esq., board member; Dave Ponczoch, board member and Steve Reynolds, board member. If you are interested in putting your talents and passion into the Carson City public school system and work as a member of the CCSF board, email info@ccschoolsfoundation.org.

CCSF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting community involvement and investment in the public schools of Carson City. This project is one of the many results of the “Empower Carson City 2027″ Strategic Plan – a five-year strategic plan for extraordinary schools built by the community of Carson City.

CCSF was created to increase student achievement through philanthropic investment and involvement. Established by the Carson City School District’s Board of Trustees, the foundation promotes education programs that traditional funding sources may not be able to reach.

For more information about the CCSF, please visit ccschoolsfoundation.org. To make a contribution with your credit card, click here, or you may also donate by sending a check to the Carson City Schools Foundation at P.O. Box 92, Carson City, Nevada 89702. To view an informational video, please click here.