The Ron Wood Family Resource Center honored some of Carson City’s finest citizens in its Community Leader and Youth of the Year Award ceremony Friday.
Sheriff Ken Furlong along with 12 community youths were honored for their service to Carson City to help make it a better place for everyone. Typically, the center selects one adult from the community to honor, however, it decided this year to showcase the youth as well.
“It really is an honor and doubly to see the kids getting awards as well,” Furlong said. “This is everything we have been working for, for the kids. My response when I was told we were bringing back the youth awards was that it is just an honor to be associated with these kids.”
The kids had to fill out an application, detailing the various things they do in the Carson community. Some of the students were salutatorians for Carson High, some worked to donate money to the community, and some spend their free time working with the Humane Society.
“I feel really lucky to be one of the student recipients,” said Nora Streng. Her involvement with 4H, FFA and future in engineering is what helped her achieve second place for the high school level. “It is all about leadership and I think that is really important.”
The high school students received scholarships up to $2,000 for their award and the younger students all won gift cards.
“These guys are just amazing,” said Ron Wood chairperson Gere’ Clark. “They have gone above and beyond what we feel students should do.
Korey Grist, the first place winner for the middle school level is heavily involved in the community, working with his karate studio to help other students. He teaches classes in self-defense and anti-bullying as well as works with the Sheriff’s Office’s Stellar Squad and is involved in National Junior Honor Society and Honor Roll at school.
“It feels really good, it is an honor to be selected,” Grist said. “I am looking forward to serving my community in different ways.”
The celebration was held at the Governor’s Mansion and featured a dinner and raffle to raise money for the center. Several Carson City dignitaries attended.
Congressman Mark Amodei told anecdotes about when Furlong would prank the sophomores in high school when they were growing up, and how dedicated he is to helping Carson City.
“He sleeps in his uniform, he is out 24/7 and he is like a little kid; and I thought it was funny when your bio said you have off time,” Amodei joked. “But I think you have done a really good job as our Sheriff.”
Furlong was selected as Community Leader of the Year because of his membership in a number of programs and organizations across the community, as well as being heavily involved and visible with the citizens of Carson.
“What I want to say on behalf of myself and this city is that we are so fortunate to have a Sheriff who is not only always out in uniform and checking on us but who is always so involved in everything there is in this community to help people,” said Mayor Bob Crowell. “So Sheriff from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for keeping us safe, showing kids what it means to make good decisions, how we can be respectful and disagree at the same time and to just have a better life.
“Sheriff, that is all you, and we couldn’t have picked a better man to honor tonight.”
The night raised several thousand dollars for the Ron Wood Family Resource Center through a silent auction and raffle. Joyce Buckingham, executive director of Ron Wood, said the night was a success for everyone involved.
“It went really well and we just have such wonderful support from the Carson City community,” Buckingham said. “Our community always comes out to support our center and our activities and just to be able to recognize and honor the Sheriff and the wonderful youth of this community is just heartwarming.”