Bighorn Bulletin

Senior Spotlight: Jorge Garcia

As graduation approaches, Oasis Academy senior Jorge Garcia is ready to take the next step in his education in a place that feels like home to him. 

“After I graduate from high school, I plan to attend lineman school at Montana Tech in Butte, Montana,” Garcia shared. 

Along with his diploma, he will be graduating with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Welding. Garcia earned his American Welding Society welder certification and his Welding Fluxed-Core and Gas Tungsten Arc Certification during high school, setting himself up with both skills and education for a strong future. 

Reflecting on his time at Oasis Academy, he has many memories to look back on, especially from middle school. 

“Many of my favorite memories are in eighth grade when we had access to off-campus for lunch,” he said. “One time was when there was extra time in class and someone brought in poker chips and cards, and we pretended to gamble. It was near the end of the year, when assignments were starting to lighten up, and we had extra time in class.”

Teachers have also played a big role in shaping his school experience.

“Since the time I started here in second grade, I have always seen the help the teachers at Oasis Academy offer to the students, and I’m thankful for it,” he said. “A teacher whom I would like to thank is David Springfield, for always being chill. One of Springfield’s classes was history, and we had to make a movie of a scene that we thought was important. I’m pretty sure everyone looked forward to that class every morning, thinking of ways to improve a scene or act it out. Being able to see the short movie the class made was worth the wait,” he added.

Garcia values the friendships and experiences he gained along the way during his time at Oasis Academy and for future students he offers his advice. 

“Just have fun, live your life with friends, and make memories,” he said.

Oasis Academy Students Wear Pajamas to Support Cancer Awareness

Oasis Academy students traded regular school clothes for cozy pajamas on Sept. 18 as part of the annual “Pjammin’ for Cancer” fundraiser. For a $1 donation, students were able to wear their favorite pajamas to class while supporting a good cause.

The event was organized by the Middle School Student Council, and raised $968.76 for the Northern Nevada Cancer Society, helping local families and individuals in the fight against cancer.

"Our school came together with so much heart for Pjammin’ for Cancer, showing that even small acts can make a big difference,” said Dakota Groom, Middle School Student Council Advisor. “The love and dedication behind this event truly highlight the spirit of our community."

Oasis Academy Students Attend Rotary 8th Grade Leadership Program

Picture below: Bighorns Greysen Dubois, Kenton Horn, Jacob Pilarski and Tyler Mitchell at Rotary Camp.

Five Oasis Academy eighth graders had the opportunity to strengthen their leadership skills during the Rotary 8th Grade Leadership (REGL) program held Sept. 12–14 at Grizzly Creek Ranch in Portola, Calif.

The weekend program, hosted by Rotary District 5190, was designed to inspire middle school students to develop confidence, teamwork, and responsibility while connecting with peers from across the region. Through interactive workshops and outdoor activities, students practiced communication skills, problem-solving, and group collaboration.

“I was a little nervous when we first got there because I was paired up with people I didn’t know, but I ended up making a lot of new friends,” Greysen Dubois said. “We shared a lot of our experiences and got to know each other better every day.”

A highlight of the weekend was the REGL Service Project, where students worked together to plan and complete a hands-on activity benefiting the community. This project emphasized Rotary’s core value of “service above self” and gave students the chance to see the impact of working collectively for a greater purpose.

“One of the projects we did was making care packages for people in need around our school or community. They included hygiene products, socks, and a small stuffed animal,” Dubois said. “In the care packages we also wrote small notes to the people with encouraging messages,” he said. 

Participants also engaged in team-building challenges, leadership exercises, and reflective discussions. They learned how to identify their strengths as leaders, listen actively to others, and encourage their peers in group settings.

“We also did a lot of teambuilding activities, one of them was the rope course,” he said. “We had to work together in order to keep the person on the course safe.”

Dubois would recommend the experience to fellow students. 

“The experience was super fun,” he said. “I learned to communicate with others and how to be open and vulnerable. I would recommend this to other students.” 

Oasis Academy is proud of the students who attended, noting that the lessons gained from the program will benefit both the school and the wider Fallon community as these students grow into future leaders.