The Cushing family gathers with Wade, a senior at Churchill County High School, who has been awarded a $100,000 scholarship to a top-30 engineering university. From left are Rhiannon, Jason, Verity and Wade Cushing, along with Thomas Toland, director of engineering for Gemini.
Steve Ranson/LVN
The scholarship criteria calls for the winning students to attend a top-tier engineering school either in the United States or Canada as rated by U.S. News and World Report.
“This exemplified our founder,” Toland said. “He was a very humble person. He started this small company in his garage in 1963.”
In addition to the Fallon and Minnesota plants, Toland said Gemini is located in Texas, Iowa, Mexico and Canada.
The CCHS senior added his chemistry teacher talked to him about the University of Washington’s engineering program, which is rated No. 24. Nevada’s engineering department also came up in conversation, but Wade Cushing had a strong affinity for Texas A&M.
“When I was a young man in Wade’s position, I was looking to go to schools elsewhere, and I had the opportunity to allow me to go to Texas A&M on a big scholarship,” said Jason Cushing, the technical director at the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center. “I’m excited for him to have the same opportunity.”
Toland said he was impressed with the interview process.
“I like how (Wade) presented himself in the interview,” Toland said. “He did a great job. Without a question, he has the grades, ACT scores, and he’s going to a great school.”
CCHS Principal Tim Spencer said he’s thrilled for Cushing and the scholarship awarded to him.
“This is just really something,” Spencer said. “I have goosebumps that have quite literally not gone away since Tom called me with the news last week. This is very exciting for him and his family. His future is bright.”
The Cushings moved to Fallon less than two years ago when Jason Cushing accepted the position at NAWDC. Prior to relocating, he worked at the Naval Air Weapons Station at China Lakes, Calif. The nearest city is Ridgecrest.
Wade Cushing said he was involved in many activities at both the high schools in Ridgecrest and Fallon. Since he began attending school in Fallon, he has been involved with band and jazz band in percussion and guitar. He has also been on the golf and cross country teams and belongs to the National Honor Society. In 2019, he became an Eagle Scout.