RENO, Nev. (June 13, 2024) – Now that Washoe County School District seniors have tossed their graduation caps in the air, the Meruelo Family Scholarship has awarded $20,000 to dependents of Grand Sierra Resort and Casino (GSR) team members. Six 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 Thursday, June 13.
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 $40,000 with the funds being equally distributed between GSR and SLV. Mentorship and education have long been a priority for Meruelo Group founder and CEO, Alex Meruelo, who continues to implement programs that exemplify these values. In addition to the Meruelo Family Scholarship, GSR and SLV have committed to contributing $550,000 to the AAA Foundation this year. Since 2018, the two properties have contributed over $2 million dollars to the AAA Foundation, funding hundreds of scholarships for underprivileged students in Nevada.
“Our team members are the heart of GSR, and their families are an extension of our family," said Alexis Meruelo, Meruelo Group Chief Vision and Purpose Officer. “We are proud to support the academic aspirations of these bright young students, helping to pave the way for their future success and contributing to the betterment of our community."
Grand Sierra Resort General Manager, Shannon Keel, and Alexis Meruelo presented the scholarship awards and celebrated the accomplishments of the six recipients during the check presentation. The following students, accompanied by the parent/guardian, were all awarded $3,000 to $5,000 scholarships and are now one step closer to achieving their academic goals:
- Andrea Nicole Domingo, accompanied by Maricel Domingo from Starbucks
- Mariah Trebelhorn, accompanied by Breeze Yerves from Sales
- Mahi Mahadik, accompanied by Neha Shah from Housekeeping
- Eshal Khan, accompanied by Saima Khan from Grand Café
- Harry Cay, accompanied by Nghiep Cay from Charlie Palmer Steakhouse
- Korey Wu, accompanied by Xuemei Cao from Table Games
The selection committee reviewed a pool of applicants based on various metrics, including grades, extracurricular engagements and letters of recommendation.
As Reno's premier casino resort destination, 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.
