Author: Illiana Banuelos

Evelyn Duenas Martinez is an exceptional scholar and person. She is a unique combination of brilliance and hard work. Evelyn will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) this fall on a full scholarship. She has the distinction of being the first Sunrise Mountain High School student to be accepted into MIT. She earned over a 4.8 GPA and has shown elite aptitude in English as well as math and science. She has aspirations to pursue a STEM field of academic study and the opportunity to attend MIT will open a world of possibilities. She is extremely deserving of this…

Rachel Pope is a remarkable Veterinary Science student whose passion and dedication shine both in and out of the classroom. An active member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA), she demonstrates leadership and commitment in all she does. A National Merit Finalist and a Valedictorian candidate, Rachel’s academic prowess is exceptional, having excelled in a rigorous array of Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Enrollment courses, including Math 282. Yet, it is not only her intellect that sets her apart—Rachel is a kind and compassionate individual, always ready to support her peers and inspire them toward their own success. She…

The crowd likely didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary as they watched the Las Vegas High School baseball team celebrate an 18-1 victory on St. Patrick’s Day. However, the Wildcat players knew this mid-season game was special for their head coach Sam Thomas. The Spring Break victory marked the coach’s 500th career win, all at Las Vegas High School.  Las Vegas High School recognized the coach on their social media pages writing: “Coach Thomas insists is not about him, but rather the team that’s been by his side through every step of the journey.” The Las Vegas High School…

The Clark County School District (CCSD) Family Engagement Department is excited to invite families to Parents Empowering Parents, a day filled with community resources and valuable workshops taught by fellow CCSD parents. On Thursday, March 27, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., parent leaders will host a series of workshops at the East Las Vegas Community Center (250 N. Eastern Ave.). Don’t miss the opportunity to learn valuable skills, connect with other families, and grow together as a community. Prizes and a light breakfast will be provided. We hope to see you there!

The Robotics teams at Cimarron-Memorial High School and South East Career and Technical Academy (SECTA) won first place at the Utah Regional First Robotics Competition.  The High Rollers from Cimarron were teamed with SECTA’s Pair of Dice Robotics and a team from Utah to compete in the REEFSCAPE game.  The teams put their engineering skills to the test and were tasked with strengthening one of the ocean’s most diverse habitats.  Through a simulated reef, the teams had a mission of harvesting algae, seeding coral on their reef, and returning safely to the ocean’s surface.  Congratulations to Alliance 1 who took…

El Mariachi Los Pumas de KO Knudson Academy of the Arts continues to earn national recognition through their musical excellence. El Mariachi Los Pumas recently took top honors at Mariachi Extravaganza for the second time. The musical group won 1st place for ‘Group Competition” in the middle school category. The group won the award in their hometown of Las Vegas, NV where the Mariachi Extravaganza debuted this year. The mariachi ensemble previously won the national Mariachi Extravaganza competition held in San Antonio, Texas.  CCSD Mariachi programs dominated the Middle School category. Placing in the top three spots were K.O. Knudson…

Spring Break is just around the corner. Please know that school will be in session for the remainder of this week through Friday, March 14, 2025. There is no school for Clark County School District (CCSD) students from Monday, March 17 through Friday, March 21, 2025, in observance of Spring Break. Classes will resume on Monday, March 24, 2025. To view the CCSD calendar for students and staff, click here.

The “We the People” team from Southwest Career and Technical Academy (SWCTA) has the opportunity to prove their constitutional knowledge in Washington, D.C.  The SWCTA made history by finishing in second place in the “We the People” state competition. It marks the fourth time in more than twenty years that a team from Clark County has qualified for the national competition.  The students have the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. in April to participate in the We the People National competition. There, students will engage in simulated congressional hearings, defend their positions before real judges, and demonstrate their knowledge…

Six Clark County School District (CCSD) schools are recognized this year for excelling in STEM education with designations made by the Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation and Technology (OSIT). As of 2025, 33 CCSD schools now carry this distinction. “Congratulations to these six schools for joining the list of CCSD schools to earn this remarkable recognition,” said CCSD Interim Superintendent Dr. Brenda Larsen-Mitchell. “This truly reflects the importance the District continues to place on strong, top-tier science, technology, engineering, and mathematics curriculum for our students.” Overall, more than 45 Nevada schools have been chosen for their exemplary performance by meeting…

You can help select which Clark County School District students’ designs will be displayed on the Sphere. Voting for the Second Annual XO Student Design Challenge is now open!  Members of the community can vote daily for their favorite piece of student artwork. Voting ends Monday, March 24. The winner will have their artwork displayed on the Exosphere on Earth Day – April 22, 2025.  Winning high school students will have their artwork displayed on the Exosphere and they will also receive a $10,000 educational scholarship from the Sphere. Winning elementary and middle school students will receive a $10,000 donation…