WNC commencement ceremonies Monday and Thursday

Western Nevada College is celebrating its 53rd commencement class with commencement ceremonies on Monday in Carson City and Thursday in Fallon.

The Carson City ceremony begins at 10 a.m. in Marv Teixeira Pavilion in Mills Park. Capt. Shane Tanner of the Naval Air Station Fallon will provide the commencement address. Associated Students of Western Nevada President Suzanna Stankute, who is graduating with an associate degree for the second straight year, will deliver a message to the Class of 2024.

Three days after the Carson City commencement, WNC will celebrate its graduates in Fallon. The Venturacci Gym will host the ceremony starting at 9 a.m., with Tanner providing the commencement address. Stankute will also speak.

WNC is providing a livestream of the Carson City ceremony at www.wnc.edu/live.

For information about graduation at WNC, go to wnc.edu/admissions/graduation.

JCDO director expounds on unusual northern lights event

Many astronomy followers were fortunate to view the spectacular northern lights May 10 and 11 when a rare phenomenon made them visible much farther south than usual.

Thomas Herring, director of Jack C. Davis Observatory at WNC, photographed the aurora borealis from his home and with an all-sky camera at JCDO.

As a result, these geomagnetic storms are only known a few days in advance and the brightness of the auroras can only be discovered several hours ahead of time.

Herring leads weekly star parties — open to the public — at the observatory on Saturday nights.

National Honor Society members to graduate

Among WNCs 2024 commencement class are 23 Phi Theta Kappa national honor society members.

They will be recognized with gold stoles with blue stitching during graduation ceremonies on Monday in Carson City and Thursday in Fallon.

WNCs two PTK chapters are Alpha Upsilon Beta and Beta Theta Iota. Graduates from the Carson City chapter are Laina Joy Aquino, Mindy Bleeker, Brianna Bleich, Anna Bogh, Tracy Cartwright, April Duong, Natalie Gillis, Nubia Leon Lozano, Rachel Machado, Eden McKay, Krystal Nash, Paul Niedermeyer, Derek Peterson, Michael Robinson, Cheryl Simmons, Joyana Southerland, Abbigale Terrell, Asinate Valentin and Tossaporn Wells.

Graduates from the Fallon chapter are Anthony Downey, Joel Lopez, Anna Springfield and River Villines. In order for WNC students to qualify for PTK membership, they must complete a minimum of 12 hours of associate degree coursework with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher throughout their enrollment.

Summer session starts June 10

Classes are filling up for WNCs summer session, which starts on June 10.

Automotive mechanics, construction, music applied, physics and social work are some of the courses that have openings. A complete list of available classes is accessible on the college website at www.wnc.edu/class-schedule.

Individuals planning to attend WNC for the first time can apply for admission at wnc.edu/starthere/. For students waiting until the start of fall semester on Aug. 28, register for classes as soon possible to get your desired courses.

For information, call 775-445-3277.

Current, prospective students have until June 1 to apply for scholarships

Current and prospective students who haven’t submitted an application for Western Nevada College Foundation 2024-25 scholarships have until June 1 to apply.

By filling out the application at wnc.edu/scholarships, students will be considered for more than 300 scholarships ranging anywhere from $500 to $5,000.

For information and assistance with the WNC Foundation Scholarship application, email foundation@wnc.edu or call 775-445-3240.