By Jessica Hernandez
Lincoln County Record
The Lincoln Community Coalition of Nevada (LCC) hosted a dance at Meadow Valley Middle School (MVMS) with the help of the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows Servicing Lincoln County (BGC). The Feb. 15 event featured a variety of Valentine’s Day-themed activities.
Rodney Balser, site coordinator for BGC in Panaca, DJ’ed the event, with student-suggested songs keeping the crowd on their feet. Members of the MVMS dance committee led group dances, line dances, and encouraged peer participation. The Macarena, cupid shuffle, side shuffle and church walk were included on the group dance playlist.
MVMS Students attend the Valentine’s Dance held on Feb. 15, 2024.
Students also had the option of participating in one of the other activities provided by LCC and BGC. Just outside the dance floor, students could create tissue paper hearts or enter to win one of many raffle prizes. Students were invited to take home LCC swag and complete a youth survey.
Friend groups small and large filtered in and out of the BGC photo booth room. Costumes, props and wild poses made for loud laughs and sweet keepsakes. Hot cocoa, a chocolate fountain, chips, fruit and doughnuts lined the tables in the snack room. A movie was playing across the hall for those seeking a more relaxed atmosphere.
LCC staff Crystal Dineley and Hayley Gloeckner made intermittent announcements and raffle calls throughout the event. Excited winners took home gift cards to local businesses and certificates for free services.
2024 MVMS Cowboy and Cowgirl Court winners Max Heath, Kylie Cox and Arianna Taylor.
Before the closing bell rang, students gathered for the announcement of three special raffle winners. Arianna Taylor, Kylie Cox and Max Heath were crowned the Cowboy and Cowgirl Court winners. After receiving flowers, noisemakers and certificates, the students were invited to lead a group chicken dance. The winners chose a new partner each round, and their previous partners would then each choose a new dancer to enter the circle. When the song was over, nearly every student had joined in.
LCC staff thanked the kids and school staff for attending and businesses for donating prizes. “We are just thankful that the kids had fun,” said Dineley after the event. “We can’t wait to bring future youth events to the community.”
The LCC and BGC plan to continue supporting youth substance abuse prevention and mental health through additional community initiatives. Both organizations are helping to plan activities during the last week of school at MVMS.