Balloons, Bouquets & Big Futures: The $40 Flower Card that Lifts UNR Scholars

If you've ever stood under the pre-dawn glow at Rancho San Rafael Park, you know the magic - silence, then the soft whoosh of burners as Winter Breeze rises against a sherbet sky. At ground level, members of the University of Nevada Balloon Race Scholarship Committee (BRSC) hustle between two jobs: manning their scholarship booth - where collectible pins (new releases and hard-to-find throwbacks) trade hands like baseball cards - and suiting up as aeronauts. When extra hands are needed, they crew for neighboring balloons, too. Their pilot, Sheldon Grauberger, even flies Dawn Patrol each morning. 

"Once you've watched the field wake up, you'll never hit snooze in September again," one committee member laughs. It's that mix of sky-high excitement and scholarship impact that keeps volunteers coming back long after their required two-year stint. 

The Early-Morning Hustle That Fuels Scholarships

The BRSC isn't a pop-up fundraiser. Founded in 1986, it began issuing scholarships in the early '90s and - thanks to growing community support - has awarded both undergraduate and graduate scholarships every year since 1999. Proceeds from collectible pins, raffle tickets, and - over the last three years - Sparks Florist 12 Months of Flowers cards have let them increase the dollar amount per award and bump the total number of scholarships from two to four. 

This year? Five scholarships. That's five Northern Nevada students who'll head to class with a lighter financial load because neighbors showed up at sunrise - or bought a year of blooms. 

A Simple Need We All Recognize

College isn't cheap, but you don't need deep pockets to pitch in. Swap $40 for a year's worth of flowers and send $10 of that straight to University of Nevada scholarships via BRSC. Everybody wins. 

The Blooms-for-Tuition Card

• Pay once: $40.
• Get back: One wrapped bouquet worth $15 each month - $180 total value. 
• VIP status: rotating perks like BOGO Champagne & Chocolate truffles, $7.50 upgrade wraps, or free pro arranging when you add a second bouquet. 
• Give back: $10 per card funnels directly to the BRSC scholarship fund. 

Local Impact, Lifted Higher

"The more funds we can raise, the more students we can help. That's what gets us out there before dawn," a BRSC volunteer shared with us. Last year, fundraising revenue allowed the committee to offer four scholarships. If they hit this spring's goal before mid-May, they widen the safety net - opening the doors for a fifth scholarship to majors across engineering, nursing, fine arts, and beyond. 

Want proof of impact? Meet past recipients and read their ambitions at unr.edu/balloonrace/winners. From first-gen scholars to Ph.D. students studying human development and family science, every story started with a community gift. 

Quick Stem-Care Tip

Every monthly wrap comes with professional flower food. Snip stems at a 45-degree angle, dissolve the packet in cool water, and your blooms will stay bright long after the burners cool down. 

Mark Your Calendar

• Now - Mid May: Order cards through the BRSC inquiry form.
• September 5 - 7: Swing by the BRSC booth during the Great Reno Ballon Race for the new pin drop, and raffle prizes including a chance to win a balloon ride!

One Small Card, Twelve Big Smiles

Trade forty bucks for flowers all year - and futures that fly even higher. Learn more about BRSC here.