Since 1986, volunteers from the University’s Balloon Race Scholarship Committee have worked diligently to raise funds to support student success. The volunteers sell raffle tickets, commemorative pins and Sparks Florist’s 12 Months of Flowers subscriptions to support the Balloon Race Scholarship. 

The 2026 Balloon Race Scholarship Committee commemorative pin celebrates a remarkable 40-year milestone in helping students succeed. Established in 1986, the committee has supported generations of Wolf Pack students through scholarships, consistently awarding four or more scholarships each year and creating opportunities that empower students to pursue their educational goals.

The anniversary pin features three colorful hot air balloons soaring above a mountain landscape, symbolizing both the enduring spirit of the Great Reno Balloon Race and the aspirations of the students it supports. A banner proudly marks the committee’s 40th Anniversary, while a commemorative silver border honors four decades of dedication to higher education. The phrase “Helping Students Succeed 1986–2026” serves as a tribute to the countless lives impacted through the committee’s commitment to student success and celebrates the bright future of scholarship recipients yet to come. 

This year, four students were awarded funds from the Balloon Race Scholarship. 

Cody Cris 

Cody Cris is a graduate research assistant and fourth year cell and molecular biology doctoral candidate in the Molecular Biosciences program at the University. A first-generation student, Cris obtained both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in microbiology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he published work on remote (long-range) transcriptional regulation of virulence genes in the bacterial pathogen Shigella.  

His dissertation research at the University of Nevada, Reno focuses on developing approaches for screening therapeutics against viral pathogens that cause debilitating and deadly illness in humans, including coronaviruses, mosquito-borne alphaviruses and tick-borne flaviviruses. He is involved in projects aimed at characterizing the pathogenesis of Zika virus and explicating mechanisms of cellular hijacking by the virus that causes Kaposi’s sarcoma.  

Cris is passionate about science communication and has written for the Hitchcock Project on the risks to human health posed by mosquito-borne diseases. He was also the first-place winner of the 2024 doctoral 3-minute theses (3MT) competition at the University and is a member of the Graduate Student Association, in which he has served on various committees and as chair of the Summer Task Force. 

“Your generous support tangibly enhances my ability to succeed in this research program as I work toward my scientific and professional aspirations. Thank you!” Cris said in a letter to the Balloon Race Scholarship Committee. 

Audrie Escover 

Audrie Escover is a senior at the University, majoring in psychology with a minor in sociology. She plans to pursue a doctoral degree in developmental psychology following her graduation. She ultimately aspires to become a professor and scholar whose research advances psychological well-being and contributes meaningfully to the progress of communities. 

“As an independent, first-generation college student and an immigrant from the Philippines, my path to higher education has not always been easy,” Escover said in a letter to the Balloon Race Scholarship Committee. “Balancing work and school while adjusting to life in the United States has required resilience, but knowing that you believe in me has been a powerful source of motivation during this time of growth and transition. Your financial support has done more than ease my financial burden – it has opened doors to opportunities that are shaping my academic journey.”  

Since receiving the scholarship, Escover has been able to join the McNair Scholars program and engage in meaningful research experiences, helping bring her a step closer to the future she envisions. 

Rebecca Fanuel 

Rebecca Fanuel is a sophomore at the University, studying biochemistry and molecular biology. Fanuel is passionate about mental health advocacy, community engagement, the rapidly expanding field of medicine and patient-centered care. She plans to attend medical school and hopes to contribute to research in the medical field and pursue a career in anesthesiology or OB-GYN.  

“Your belief in my potential has given me the confidence and strength to pursue my education and make a difference in the lives of others as an aspiring physician,” Fanuel said in a letter to the Balloon Race Scholarship Committee. “Words cannot express how thankful I am for the generous support you have provided me in paying for my educational expenses.” 

Dylen Swan 

Dylen Swan is a graduate student at the University, pursuing a master’s degree in hydrogeology. Over the past year, she has lived and worked on glaciers in both hemispheres while investigating the microstructural evolution of firn, the porous transitional material between freshly deposited snow and glacial ice. Swan is focused on addressing critical knowledge gaps related to the physical processes governing firn evolution, which will have implications for freshwater availability and the projections of the sea level rise.  

Swan spent a month at a cold and windswept site in East Antarctica, drilling firn cores and deploying the compaction instruments she helped construct. In the same year, she organized an independent research project and teaching opportunity on the Juneau Icefield in southeastern Alaska. She spent three weeks living on the icefield, collecting firn cores, excavating snow pits, and making hundreds of grain-sized measurements with a small team. She then helped welcome 40 students participating in the Juneau Icefield Research Project and led lectures and workshops on mass-balance snow pits, firn microstructure and firn modeling. These experiences demonstrate her abilities as a field scientist and her enthusiasm for teaching and mentoring students.  

“I intend to pursue a career conducting research in polar environments, and this scholarship provides meaningful assistance as I work toward that goal,” Swan said in a letter to the Balloon Race Scholarship Committee. “Thank you for believing in my work and supporting the outstanding students and research at the University!”