Boys & Girls Clubs of Mason Valley awards three scholarships to 2026 graduates

by bgcmasonvalley | Jun 3, 2026

YERINGTON, Nev. – As the school year comes to a close, Boys & Girls Clubs of Mason Valley proudly awarded its three scholarships to graduating seniors at senior awards night Wednesday.

The Club raised and distributed almost $10,000 in scholarship money Wednesday night. Hector Ramirez was the recipient of the $5,000 Larry Shipley Memorial Scholarship, funded by Model Dairy. Gavin Draper received the Jerry Ogolin Memorial Scholarship. Barbara Cazares-Hernandez was awarded the inaugural Robert Garcia Youth of the Year Memorial Scholarship, having been selected as the Club’s representative for 2026.

The Robert Garcia Youth of the Year Memorial Scholarship was named after the Club’s 2025 Youth of the Year who tragically passed away in a car accident just weeks before he was set to run again for the 2026 honor. In his memory, the family asked the community to make donations to the Club, which became the catalyst for the scholarship fund, doubling the amount of the previous year’s awards. Cazares-Hernandez was named the 2026 Youth of the Year in February following the organization’s annual competition. She advocates for youth as a non-native speaker and immigrant, wanting to ensure that support systems are in place for non-English speakers, especially those working through anger issues or mental health crisis.

Jerry Ogolin was a longtime principal at Yerington High School and an avid supporter of and volunteer with Boys & Girls Clubs of Mason Valley and the Night in the Country Music Festival. He passed away in 2012 after fighting cancer. The Jerry Ogolin Memorial Scholarship was then established, this year is going to Draper. Draper exemplified the legacy Ogolin left both with his involvement at Yerington High School and his service in his community. Draper is a volunteer with the Yerington Main Street Committee, frequently watering plants along Main Street, sweeping the streets and dedicating his time to beautifying the town.

The Larry Shipley Give Back scholarship was established by Model Dairy and the Club’s board of directors in 2023. Shipley was affectionately known in the area as the Milk Man and worked for Model Dairy for 30 years. The Club was one of his stops, and over the years, he went from delivering milk to becoming a heavily-involved volunteer. This included taking nearly two weeks off work every year to play a pivotal role in making the Club’s Night in the County Music Festival a success. Larry was diagnosed with cancer in 2022 and passed away from complications following surgery. The Give Back scholarship goes to a graduating senior who does just that, and is pursuing a trade or craft. Ramirez is the president of his National Honor Society chapter, has years of experience with his student council and leadership groups, and works to make his school and community a better place.

The Club would like to thank Model Dairy, Night in the Country festival-goers and its donors for making these scholarships possible.