Scholarship at WNC changing lives

Courtesy Steve Yingling, Western Nevada College

Do you have the financial means to pursue the career of your choice? Maybe you want to switch professional careers but can’t afford to do so. Perhaps you are out of work and would like to pursue a new career. Or, maybe, additional training would help you earn that promotion you’ve been working toward at your current job. The William N. Pennington CTE Scholarship allows students to elevate their careers through relevant education and training.

Because of the generosity of the William N. Pennington Foundation, Western Nevada College is able to offer scholarship funding to students pursuing meaningful careers in fields like computer information technology/cybersecurity, welding, automotive, machine tool technology, manufacturing, construction, truck driving, phlebotomy, nursing assistant or emergency medical services careers.

Last academic year, Western Nevada College Foundation awarded 120 students a total of $200,000 through the scholarship. Scholarship recipients have gone on to work for Click Bond, Bently Nevada, Carson Medical Group, Carson Tahoe Hospital, Banner Churchill Community Hospital, SMC Construction, Nevada Copper, Black Eagle Consulting Inc., Carson City Fire Department, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Tri-State Fire, REMSA, Fallon Physical Therapy, First Service Residential, Central Lyon County Fire Protection District, Nevada State Parks, and more.  

Many students applied for scholarships to study Emergency Medical Services and Paramedicine. WNC recently broadened its EMS class offerings of Emergency Medical Technician and Advanced EMT into a Paramedicine Program so students could train to become paramedics.

Students made the most of the scholarship as 11 graduated in the first Paramedicine commencement ceremony on Feb. 20 in Carson Nugget Hall. In order to graduate, they completed nearly 600 hours of didactic and lab coursework, more than 20 hours of hospital clinic time and nearly 500 hours of field internship. 

Relieving the financial burden from students’ lives helps them make a personalized career choice that might not have been possible otherwise and provides better opportunities to find a place in Nevada’s workforce. “This award helps lift the financial burden I am faced with while juggling full-time enrollment with full-time work,” said Anthony Pisani, a recent scholarship recipient. “I am eager to see what my future holds and have aspirations of opening my own machine shop one day.”

“With dedication, hard work and the financial resources, the William N.
Pennington Foundation has generously provided, many employment options with local employers are now available to these individuals,” said WNC Foundation Director Niki Gladys. “Pennington’s support has made a tremendous impact on the students, their
families and our community.”

To apply for the scholarship, go to wnc.edu/scholarship. The timing to apply for scholarship funding is ideal since WNC’s fall semester begins on Aug. 30. Apply today!
Learn more about what WNC offers academically at wnc.edu or arrange a time to speak with a counselor at 775-445-3267.