The childcare sector in Nevada is facing a significant challenge, with nearly 65 percent of children aged 0-5 living in households where all parents are working. This has created a high demand for quality childcare services. In response, Western Nevada College (WNC) has announced a new scholarship opportunity starting in the Spring 2025 semester aimed at those interested in early childhood education.
The Early Childhood Education Scholarship is designed to support Nevadans passionate about educating young children. It aims to equip individuals with the necessary skills and credentials for success in this field while alleviating financial burdens through scholarships. The program is a joint effort between WNC and the Nevada Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation (DETR), aiming to address the current employment shortage in childcare facilities by offering scholarships to 100 students initially, increasing to 175 students in the second year.
"We are very pleased to partner with DETR to provide these rewarding scholarships that will impact the most important segment of our population — children!” said WNC President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe. He expressed optimism about how this initiative could help reduce the employment gap within early childhood professions.
One beneficiary of this scholarship is Angielina Rodriguez, who shared her gratitude: "I’m beyond grateful to be given the opportunity to be part of this early childhood education scholarship.” Rodriguez, who overcame personal challenges including dropping out of high school and becoming a single mother, earned her high school equivalency certificate from WNC in 2019 and now seeks further education in early childhood education.
Rodriguez emphasized her commitment: “Working with children is so important to me because I’ve seen how much trauma can affect children, and I’d like to make a difference in our community by providing our children with positive reinforcement and positive guidance.”
WNC plans collaborations with childcare providers across several counties including Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Lyon, and Storey counties. These partnerships aim to offer real-life learning experiences for students.
“The long-term goal is to increase the number of highly qualified ECE professionals working with the children of Nevada every day,” stated Ali Cooper, WNC’s Early Childhood Education Program Coordinator. She highlighted that spreading understanding of child development can significantly benefit society.
The scholarship covers tuition costs and fees related to gaining employment in childcare. Participants can apply for two skills certificates through self-paced online courses that can be completed within eight weeks per certificate.
For more information on applying for this scholarship or other inquiries, interested parties can contact Ali Cooper at 775-445-3376 or via email at allison.cooper@wnc.edu.