The University of Nevada, Reno’s Balloon Race Scholarship Committee is once again selling its $5 balloon pins and $1 scholarship benefit drawing tickets in anticipation of the 29th Great Reno Balloon Race, Sept. 10-12 at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. The committee exists solely to raise the money to award two scholarships annually, one to an undergraduate student and one to a graduate student at the university. This year’s undergraduate recipient is Christopher Douglas, a junior majoring in chemistry and the graduate recipient, Megan Gibson, a journalism master’s student.
This year, with special thanks to Cary Groth, director of intercollegiate athletics at the University of Nevada, Reno, the committee is also selling a separate $5 grand prize ticket, which enters buyers into a drawing to win two tickets to the Wolf Pack’s Oct. 30 home game vs. Utah State. The prize includes two seats in the athletic director’s suite and a parking pass.
Each year, the committee also designs a new balloon pin and secures scholarship benefit drawing prizes from the community. The drawing will be held at noon Wednesday, Sept. 8 on the plaza in front of the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center. During the drawing, the committee draws for six balloon rides for use during race weekend in the university’s sponsored balloon. Other prizes include tickets for Wolf Pack football, golf packages, and several restaurant gift certificates.
Log on to the Balloon Race Scholarship Committee’s website for prizes and a list of scholarship benefit drawing ticket and pin sellers near you or to see this year’s pin.
The University balloon will launch with special guests as passengers during Media Day activities, the morning of Thursday, Sept. 9 from the Quad between 7 and 7:30 a.m. Come out and watch the launch before heading to work.
Finally, the committee also staffs a Great Reno Balloon Race hospitality tent and takes $5 donations for its balloon pins during race weekend. Stop by and say hello at the park.
