WNC News and Notes: Mother of three pursues education goals

New Fallon Campus Director Jessica Rowe, left, Administrative Assistant Desirae Blunt-Lamkey and work-study student Cristi Dent were present at the Cantaloupe Festival to greet visitors and share information about WNC.

New Fallon Campus Director Jessica Rowe, left, Administrative Assistant Desirae Blunt-Lamkey and work-study student Cristi Dent were present at the Cantaloupe Festival to greet visitors and share information about WNC.

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Ambitious, persistent and studious are just a few words to describe organization and project management student Desirae Blunt-Lamkey.
Blunt-Lamkey is beginning her second year of the program after completing her Associate of Arts degree with Western Nevada College in 2020. Desirae’s journey with WNC started with WNC's ACCEL College and Career Readiness Program in 2012. She was a mother of three young children, the youngest starting school that fall.
“I have loved the quote from Jeffrey R. Holland, ‘Don’t wait to live. This isn’t a rehearsal; this isn’t a dry run; this isn’t a pre-performance routine. This is it. This is real life. Don’t wait. Savor every minute,’” Blunt-Lamkey said. “This is real life and getting an education meant me not waiting any longer. It meant me being an example for my children and working toward the best life.”
In 2017, Blunt-Lamkey enrolled in WNC to start working on her Associate of Arts degree. She made lifelong friends in her first class, English 101.
“A group of us created a real bond in that class and provided one another with encouragement and friendship throughout our degree program. We graduated together in May 2020,” Blunt-Lamkey recalled.
While taking classes, Blunt-Lamkey also became a work study student in the Fallon Campus Administrative Office, where she gained indispensable work experience and applied many of the skills she was learning in her classes in a real-life, day-to-day setting. Her devotion, loyalty and unmatched work skills were recognized in 2019 when she was named Associated Students of Western Nevada Student Employee of the Year. Along with the award, Blunt-Lamkey was a member of the honor society Phi Theta Kappa and an ASWN senator.
“Receiving scholarships and grants made attending and focusing on school and family much easier,” said Blunt-Lamkey, who now works as an administrative assistant at WNC. “I was able to complete my associate degree without any student debt, and that would not have been possible without that critical assistance. I am forever grateful to be able to come to college, start on a bachelor’s degree and show my kids that their goals are attainable, and don’t wait to live.”


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Desirae Blunt-Lamkey received her Associate of Arts degree from Western Nevada College in 2020. She is now working on her organization and project management bachelor’s degree.

 



Apply for Nevada Promise Scholarship by Oct. 31
Nevada’s State Legislature obviously wants high school seniors to go on to college immediately after graduating.
The legislature has provided funding to cover tuition and other mandatory fees not met by federal or state aid for up to three years through the Nevada Promise Scholarship.
Nevada high school students graduating in spring 2022 must apply for the Nevada Promise Scholarship no later than Oct. 31, 2021 to receive this generous opportunity.
To apply or to learn more about the Nevada Promise Scholarship, go to www.wnc.edu/promise/ and "Click to Apply!".
The scholarship stands to save Nevada families more than $3,000 per year. There are no income or high school GPA requirements and it is open to all Nevada high school students graduating between Aug. 1 and June 15 who begin classes at WNC in the fall immediately following graduation.
WNC is committed to helping applicants fulfill the requirements to maintain eligibility. Other requirements to receive the scholarship are completing a training session, applying for FAFSA, following up with the Financial Assistance Office with requested documentation, fulfilling community service obligations, meeting with your mentor, taking a placement test, attending a new student orientation and registering for at least 12 units of classes.
For more information, contact nvpromise@wnc.edu..


WNC participates in Cantaloupe Festival, Labor Day parade
Earlier this month, Western Nevada College continued its commitment to supporting local events and causes.
The college presented an information booth, which included new Fallon Director Jessica Rowe, at the Cantaloupe Festival.
For the Labor Day Parade, WNC showcased its new mobile manufacturing lab, which will bring manufacturing training to students in rural areas, as well as companies that want to further train their employees onsite.

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Kathryn Whitaker, Western Nevada College’s Fallon campus support staff and Churchill County High School ambassador, hands out treats at the Cantaloupe Festival. In the background is the new WNC Automation and Industrial Technology Center’s Tech Express, which is bringing industrial technology training to rural Nevada.

 


Vote for Best WNC Instructor in Best of Fallon 2021
You know you have a favorite instructor at Western Nevada College. Now is your chance to vote for that educator in the Best of Fallon 2021 contest.
Your options are Teresa Gehman, psychology instructor; Dr. Gary Evett, chemistry professor; Eric Grimes, instructor; Ronald Belbin, Student Success librarian; Jorgen Jeppesen, welding instructor; Richard Kloes, accounting professor; and Tim Mayo, mathematics professor.
Vote for your favorite WNC instructor and other categories at https://www.nevadaappeal.com/bestoffallon2021/#//..
Voting ends on Oct. 3.


Support students by purchasing from Foundation Store
Directly support students at WNC by purchasing from an expanded inventory of items at the Foundation Store, which is located in the Bristlecone Building on the Carson City campus but is also accessible online.
You can shop for jackets, vests, beanies, T-shirts, hoodies, notecards created from student artwork, pilsner glasses, coffee cups, tumbler, hats (including a 50th anniversary hat), a trivet created by the Machine Tool Technology program.
Make purchases from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday by calling 775-445-3240 or emailing foundation@wnc.edu. Purchases can also be made online at https://www.wnc.edu/foundation/foundation-shop.

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