The Lyon County School District Board of Trustees has launched a new recognition program using "challenge coins," a tradition rooted in military service and adapted to honor students, staff and community members for exceptional contributions.
Trustee James Whisler, who served in the U.S. Navy, proposed the idea last spring after reflecting on how service members are often recognized by commanding officers. Challenge coins, he said, were among the most meaningful tokens he received during his military career.
"I was pondering what I and the board could do to recognize the staff and students of LCSD and even members who support our schools," Whisler said. "And it just dawned on me, we should do a challenge coin."
Whisler originally intended to present the coins himself, but when he approached Superintendent Tim Logan about using the district logo for a coin design, Logan recommended bringing the idea to the full board, which unanimously supported it. The District's Communications and PR Officer Skyler Tremaine worked with Whisler to design the coin and find a manufacturer.
The district's challenge coin, called the Lyon County School District Recognition Coin, has the emblem from the Nevada state flag on one side and the logo from the district's website on the other.
"Skyler did most of the legwork," Whisler said. "She put together a beautiful design, and we made a few small adjustments before moving forward."
Challenge coins have a long and varied history. Roman soldiers were sometimes given specially marked coins as bonuses for exceptional performance. Renaissance-era "portrait medals" commemorated notable individuals and events. In 17th-century France, Huguenots used small communion tokens to identify fellow worshippers during periods of religious persecution.
But the most widely cited origin story comes from World War I, when a young American pilot carried a bronze medallion engraved with his squadron's emblem. After being shot down and captured by German forces, he escaped and reached a French unit that initially suspected him of being a saboteur. The medallion was the only proof of identity he had left, and it saved his life. The tradition of carrying a unit coin grew from there.
Today, challenge coins are commonly used across the U.S. military to recognize outstanding performance, commemorate service, or welcome honored guests.
Whisler said the coins he earned during his Navy career remain among his most meaningful mementos. One in particular stands out: a coin and a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal he received while serving with Helicopter Combat Squadron 21 in San Deigo, CA., after helping extinguish a fire in a dumpster.
He recalled arriving at the hangar on a Sunday afternoon and noticing smoke coming from a recycling bin. When he opened the lid, a rush of oxygen ignited the smoldering ashes inside. Whisler and another sailor grabbed extinguishers and contained the flames until firefighters arrived.
The next day, his commanding officer presented him with a challenge coin in recognition of his quick action.
"A memory I will not soon forget," Whisler said. "Those ones are the most meaningful, is when you don't get it for doing your job and doing it really well. You get it for doing something you aren't expected to do."
Since the district began using challenge coins, trustees have presented them to students, staff and community members who demonstrate exceptional effort or support for LCSD schools. Rather than a set criteria to earn a challenge coin, Whisler said it is up to the discretion of each board member to reward someone whenever they see something good.
"It's more up to, if you think it's an outstanding thing, do it," Whisler said. "I think my favorite thing is seeing the smiles on their face when they get recognized, especially in front of their peers," he said.
Those in the Fernley area that have received a recognition coin include Fernley Intermediate School teachers Julie Shoemaker Anna Namicos and Emma Hisken, for organizing the annual Veterans Appreciation Day at FIS, and , Beth Perry, Principal's Secretary at Fernley Elementary School.
Whisler expressed gratitude to his fellow trustees for embracing the idea and to Tremaine for her work on the design.
"I hope this begins a tradition that will last for many years in this district," he said.
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