RENO, Nev. (June 6, 2023) – As graduation for Washoe County School District students rapidly approaches, the Meruelo Family Scholarship has awarded $14,000 to dependents of Grand Sierra Resort (GSR) team members. Three exemplary students received a $3,000 scholarship and one student received a $5,000 scholarship to be applied toward college or advanced learning programs during a special presentation on Tuesday, June 6.
The Meruelo Family Scholarship was established to provide financial support for the dependents of dedicated team members at GSR and Sahara Las Vegas (SLV). This year, the program awarded a total of $28,000, with the funds being equally distributed between GSR and SLV. Alex Meruelo, the owner, has long embraced the importance of mentorship and education and continues to implement programs that exemplify these values. Since 2018, GSR and SLV have contributed over $2 million dollars to the AAA Foundation funding hundreds of scholarships for underprivileged students in Nevada.
“At GSR, we are a family. There is no better investment than the one we build with our team members,” said Alexis Meruelo, Meruelo Group Chief Vision and Purpose Officer. “We take great pride in honoring our valuable team members and their contributions. These scholarships continue our commitment to supporting education in Northern Nevada through our GSR Cares Program, creating a positive impact on the community at large.”
Grand Sierra Resort General Manager, Shannon Keel, and Meruelo Group Chief Vision and Purpose Officer, Alexis Meruelo presented the scholarship awards and celebrated the accomplishments of the four recipients during the check presentation. The following students were all awarded a $3,000 scholarship and one student awarded a $5,000 scholarship and are now one step closer to achieving their academic goals (the parent/guardian GSR team members are also indicated below):
- Ryan Du, accompanied by Mae Du from Table Games
- Nurul Sami, accompanied by Mohammad Miah from Table Games
- Aria Dastranj, accompanied by Sima Anooshehpour from Wardrobe
- Bethany Blakely, accompanied by Brenda Blakey from Front Desk
The selection committee reviewed a pool of applicants based on a variety of metrics including grades, extracurricular engagements and letters of recommendation.
Photos from the check presentation can be found here.
As the premier casino resort destination in Reno, GSR plays a pivotal role in the local job market and remains committed to building long-term relationships with team members and their families. The Meruelo Family Scholarship program reflects the organization’s vision for providing world class opportunities for the community members who drive the success of GSR’s operations.
For more information about GSR, visit grandsierraresort.com.
