Mineral County High School Wins Inaugural Nevada FAFSA Challenge
The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) is proud to announce Mineral County High School (MCHS) as the winner of the inaugural Nevada FAFSA Challenge, a statewide initiative aimed at boosting Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion rates among Nevada high school seniors.
MCHS, located in the rural community of Hawthorne, earned the top spot by achieving a 53.1 percentage point increase in FAFSA completion over the previous year. This was the highest improvement among all participating schools in the state. As the winner, MCHS will receive a $1,000 prize and a custom recognition banner, which will be formally awarded at an upcoming NSHE Board of Regents meeting.
“The FAFSA is a gateway to opportunity, and Mineral County High School has shown what’s possible when a school community comes together to support students,” said Amy J. Carvalho, Chair of the Board of Regents. “This challenge was designed to improve access to higher education, and MCHS delivered an inspiring example of what success looks like, especially in our rural communities.”
NSHE Chancellor Patricia Charlton also praised the school’s achievement. “What Mineral County High School accomplished speaks to the power of intentional planning, community engagement, and a belief in what students can achieve. We’re proud to recognize their efforts and excited to see how this momentum grows across the state.”
MCHS credits its success to a student-centered approach. The school created a senior seminar class that integrates life skills, senior projects, and college and career planning. This structure placed FAFSA completion at the heart of future-readiness conversations. The school also partnered with GEAR UP and Great Basin College to host a FAFSA Night, where every senior attended with a parent.
“We were just the avenue of opportunity,” said Drew Schaar, Career & Technical Educator in Business Management at Mineral County High School and one of the lead organizers of the school’s FAFSA Challenge efforts. “The students created the success by driving home the importance of postsecondary education in rural communities.”
The Nevada FAFSA Challenge was open to high schools participating in NSHE’s FAFSA Completion Initiative. This is a data-sharing program that helps counselors monitor FAFSA progress and support students throughout the financial aid process.
The FAFSA Challenge was developed to increase awareness of financial aid opportunities and promote a college-going culture across Nevada. According to national data, high school seniors who complete the FAFSA are 84 percent more likely to immediately enroll in postsecondary education than those who do not.
