[slideshow id=2]
The Northern Nevada International Center (NNIC) celebrated its 10th Annual Global Gala on Friday, April 3, 2009. Dr. Carina Black, Executive Director of the NNIC, estimated about 265 people were in attendance on Friday, including Nevada’s First Lady, Mrs. Dawn Gibbons. The festivities were held at the Eldorado Hotel Convention Center. The theme of this year’s gala is “Think Global, Act Local – Renewing American Friendship with the World.” In addition to keynote speaker Business for Diplomatic Action Executive Director Cari Guittard, the evening schedule included a variety of local entertainment, including the Accent String Ensemble, the Sierra Nevada Balalaika Society, the Namira Bellydancers, the Whitney Myer Band and Christina Thomas, a Miss Indian World Candidate.
Washoe County students competed in the annual essay contest sponsored in part by the Reno Sunrise Rotary Club. The topic for the essays was “Renewing American Friendships with the World” and the categories were divided into Elementary, Middle School and High School. The winner in each of the three categories were Bailey Ivory from Van Gorder Elementary; Mikaela Caudell from Dilworth Middle School and finally Ben Calingaert from Damonte Ranch High School. In addition, the NNIC presented awards to Carmelo Urza, Director of the University Studies Abroad Consortium; Dr. Susan Bender, Director of UNR’s Office of International Students and Scholars; and Mary Lewellen, an international development expert.
We would like to thank all of our friends, partners and supporters for their support, and our board members, staff and volunteers whose invaluable work made the even such a success!
We would also like to express our deep appreciation to our table sponsors:
Ms. Allison Wren, Mr. Ted Stoever, Mike and Karren Smith, Ted Morse & Mary Lewellen, Tim & Claudia Ortega-Lukas, Ms. Antonia Neubauer, Chief Justice Miriam Shearing, Randy & Patricia Idler, Truckee Meadows Community College, University Study Abroad Consortium, Hart & Holland LLC, Northern Nevada Black Culture Awareness Society, Whole Foods, Myths and Mountains, and Turning Point Global Voice.
We would like to thank our friends and supporters who donated to the silent auction:
Ben Alec, Jon and Val Chappel, SalsaReno (Rebecca), India Kebab, Siena Reno, Janel Walsh, Rajan Zed, Carina Black, Toni Neubauer, Cheryl Lyngar, Wayne Howle, Los Compadres, Karren and Michael Smith, Claudia Ortega, Somerset Golf Club, Zen, Jenny Mahon, Ted Morse, Franz’s Backstube, Patty Idler, Wild River Grill, Allison Wren, Jack and Anita Bevans, The Squeeze Inn, The Tinder Box, and Whispering Vine.