RENO, Nev. (September 2, 2026) – Grand Sierra Resort (GSR) and the Meruelo Family donated $50,000 to the Tailhook Educational Foundation (TEF) during Hook ’26, marking the third installment of a four-year, $200,000 commitment to support scholarships for Naval Aviation legacy students.
The commitment, made through GSRCares, GSR’s charitable giving program, was announced in 2024 and provides $50,000 annually to TEF through 2027. With this year’s contribution, GSR and the Meruelo Family have donated $150,000 to the foundation, with a final $50,000 contribution planned for 2027.
The donation was presented to TEF as approximately 4,000 members of the Naval Aviation community gathered at GSR for the Tailhook Association’s annual symposium and convention. This marks the third consecutive year GSR hosted the event.
“GSR is proud to support the men and women who have dedicated their lives to Naval Aviation, and we’re equally proud to invest in the next generation,” said Alex Meruelo, GSR owner and Meruelo Group CEO. “These scholarships provide students with an opportunities to pursue their education while carrying forward the legacy of service that Tailhook represents.”
TEF provides undergraduate scholarships to qualified students who are children or grandchildren of current or former naval aviators, naval flight officers, naval aircrewmen and certain U.S. Navy aircraft carrier personnel.
The foundation awards more than 150 scholarships each year, with grants averaging more than $5,000. In 2026, TEF awarded more than $800,000 in scholarship funds to 158 students. Many TEF scholarship recipients pursue STEM fields, helping prepare them for careers in fields important to the nation’s future workforce and leadership.
Hook ’26 brought active-duty and retired aviators, aircrew members, veterans, defense industry partners and vendors to GSR for professional development, networking, exhibits, educational panels and programs celebrating the history and future of carrier aviation. The event was highlighted by Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Caudle, delivering the keynote address.
“The Tailhook Educational Foundation is deeply grateful to the Meruelo Family and GSR for their continued generosity and commitment to our scholars,” said Capt. USN (Ret) Rodger Welch, Executive Director of TEF. “Support like this makes it possible for us to provide meaningful educational opportunities to the children and grandchildren of the Naval Aviation community.”
This partnership between GSRCares and TEF represents a shared commitment to empowering future leaders. For more information about the Tailhook Educational Foundation, visit https://www.tailhook.net/tef. For more information about GSR, visit grandsierraresort.com.
