How To Help Out Clark County Graduates In 2024

It's hard to believe, but the 2023-2024 school year is already coming to an end. And lots of Clark County graduates are looking forward to walking across that stage and picking up their diploma. But some of our hard-working students don't have the means to enjoy graduation day the way they deserve to. They've worked so hard to get to this point, and we want to see each one of them enjoy that much-deserved moment in the spotlight. That's where the Las Vegas community can help.

Communities In Schools of Nevada (CIS) is the local chapter in a nationwide organization, whose mission is to do whatever it takes to help students stay in school so they can succeed in life. They believe every child, regardless of background or walk of life, has the potential to be successful and have a promising future.

CIS has been hugely successful in helping our local Southern Nevada kids. Last year, they had a graduation rate of 95 percent with their case-managed students. The students in need are case-managed because it takes a lot for kids to succeed in school. And students who don't have stable housing or those who are food-insecure have even more struggles than just getting homework and tests done. CIS provides full-time site coordinators in 110 schools across four rural and urban school districts throughout Nevada.

Site coordinators work with these students to provide whatever they need to succeed. Including food, school supplies, even help with their family's bills. CIS works with more than 120 community partners, agencies and nonprofits to provide these services.

CIS is currently serving more than 100,000 K-12 students in Nevada's schools. And 65 of those schools are right here in Clark County. Most of these schools will celebrate their graduation on May 20, 2024. And CIS is still working hard to make sure every deserving child gets across that finish line.

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One student that will graduate this month, thanks to the help from CIS, is Esteban. He's graduating with a 3.5 GPA and recognition as a scholar-athlete. In speaking about Esteban's journey, CIS posted this on their Instagram page: "As Esteban prepares for his future as an electrician, his CIS site coordinator Marco has been there to guide him as a mentor."

Members of Las Vegas Valley can help one or more of kids in Clark County get across that finish line this year. And there are donation levels in various price ranges.

"Suggested Attire": Cap & Gown - $45;
"Law of Averages": College or Tech School Applications. Support an application or two - $60,
"Nevada's Future": Working My Way Through College. Resume building, gaining practical experience & techniques for building employability skills - $100;  
"Cure Senioritis": Scholarship & College Applications. Tutoring, College prep, applications, essays & scholarship assistance - $120;
"Senior Field Trip": College Tour. Hosted college field trip expenses - $200.

There are also other donation opportunities throughout the year, as well as opportunities for volunteer work. Our community members can donate a little or a lot to help our deserving students enjoy that important milestone in their young lives. To get more info, visit cisnevada.org.

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You planned out your big yearly vacation, so the whole family can see some sights, and some history. But are you just going to be disappointed?

Yes, Las Vegas is one of the worst on this list of tourist attractions. But what about the nightlife, and the shows, and the gambling!

The allure of Las Vegas still makes it one of the most popular tourist visits in the world. But not everyone gambles, and parties all night. And most of the shows are unaffordable. So it just might make you feel "meh" when you leave. And possibly think that maybe you just should have kept going to Disneyland, and the  beaches of SoCal. Or maybe just visit fun Aunt Viv in Paducah.

According to Via Travelers, the entire city of is completely and totally overrated.

Most people want to have some fun, and relax on vacation. As a Las Vegas resident, I can tell you it's hard to do when you're a tourist in Vegas. Especially on the strip. It's over the top, expensive, and not real relaxing Because there is a huge amount of people at any given event, and venue. Even those relaxing pools are packed, and overflowing with people.

Las Vegas' nickname is Sin City. That alone doesn't make it real appealing for a family vacation. And it is not necessarily a family friendly town. Unless families enjoy the half drunk tourists wandering the Vegas Strip, and tacky "street performers." Like KISS in bottomless chaps, or showgirls whose feathers should have stayed on the bird they came off of. If that's not your thing, it's likely to be a bust for a family vacation.

Las Vegas is, however, a great place to take it outdoors. Hiking, bike riding, boating, kayaking. - there is a lot of landscape to explore AWAY from the strip. But it is definitely well worth it, because it really is beautiful. And there are tons of trails to explore.

A study ranked the most overrated tourist attractions in America. Aside from Las Vegas - LANDING AT NUMBER TWO - these  tourist attractions also got a big thumbs down

If you feel like you wasted your time at some of these tourist stops in America, you're probably not alone.

Mt. Rushmore appears to be one  probably the most overrated tourist attractions, to many people. It's a lot smaller than you think. And that's it - you see it, and leave. No questioning these were great men, and they were larger than life. But the actual mountain doesn't seem like it. Definitely a bit of a disappointment. And a long drive, or flight, to see - then walk away from.

Plymouth Rock is supposedly where the Pilgrims first set foot. I'm not one to question history, but who really knows? I DO know that this rock, is just that - a rock. It's a big boulder rock, but not much to it. Used to be bigger, but over time, and moving it, it has chipped away. You hope for some handprints, a kernel of corn, piece of a buckle hat, but no. Just a big rock.

No doubt the street is very unusual, and definitely worth seeing. But chances are, you will wait in a lot of traffic to drive very slowly down this hill, and its hairpin turns - and it is till over quick! You've seen it in a lot of movies, and on TV, and you want to see. So try to go early in the day. Then go see the real beauty - Golden Gate Bridge!

Once a must see for film buffs, lovers of all things Hollywood. Used to be a must see because of tall the glitz, and glamour. It's now kind of run down and dilapidated. Tacky gift shops, and people dressed in character, wanting you to pay them for a picture. No thanks. As much as I appreciate celebrities, and their contributions to entertainment, it's definitely not the must do and see it once was. Not to mention, does the Chevy Suburban - an SUV - really deserve a star on the walk of fame? Well - it has one!

Tacky, tacky, tacky. And a bit smelly. The Las Vegas strip of the south. New Orleans has an amazing history, but it was a let down to me. Some good restaurants, but I wouldn't make a special trip to go for that. There are good restaurants everywhere. But if you like decent restaurants, with the smell of humidity and urine wafting through - go for it!

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