Pay It Forward Project started in South Lake Tahoe makes its way to WNC and Carson City

The Pay It Forward Project has helped South Lake Tahoe students for several years, and it has now made its way to Western Nevada College. The new scholarship opportunity at the school started in hopes of encouraging students to assist others with acts of kindness throughout their lives, reminding them that they can make a positive difference in our society one step at a time.

Since 2015, longtime Lake Tahoe resident, and South Tahoe High graduate, John McDougall has helped his alma mater, Mt. Tallac, and George Whittell high school students; Lake Tahoe Community College students; and LTCC fire academy students Pay It Forward. In other words, the project has shown these students some generosity and kindness so they would demonstrate benevolence toward members of their own communities.

After relocating to Carson City, McDougall extended the Pay It Forward Project to Carson High School in 2020-21 and plans to establish the project at Douglas High School for the 2021-22 school year. During his brief time as a Carson City resident, he has also created an endowment for the Pay it Forward Scholarship at Western Nevada College, providing a $1,000 annual student scholarship and encouragement to contribute to their community.

           
The Pay It Forward Project also provides matching grant funds for student clubs and high school seniors doing community projects. This past year a senior from Carson High School completed a community project to raise funds for socks, gloves, and diapers for the Carson City community during the health pandemic. The Pay it Forward Project matched donations of up to $500, which was divided between F.I.S.H. and the Ron Woods Center. The student was successful in raising $2,263.90 to assist these two important organizations. This same student was provided a scholarship to assist with her future college education.

“Our mission is to educate and encourage youth to make a positive difference in their communities. Philanthropy is just something I learned as I went along and especially while a member of our community Rotary club,” McDougall said. “I just think in our society it is important to assist each other when we can and acknowledge the needs in our communities. We want to assist people who are struggling to get an education who are very qualified to have one, in addition to showing them they can make a positive difference by assisting others.”

The whole idea for the scholarship project began after seeing how a student helped by a scholarship from the Tahoe Douglas Rotary Club returned to the club and suggested that it provide his scholarship to someone else. The Pay It Forward Project encourages others, especially youths of a community, to do charitable deeds for others, donate time to community or environmental projects to show that they care and that we all can make a positive difference. This crusade to educate and spread goodwill with random acts of kindness has resulted in many heartwarming stories.

“One of the important things that I see with a scholarship is not to just hand a kid a check; it is a matter of sitting down and talking to them a bit,” McDougall said. “There’s a certain way that students can pay this forward, including helping a teacher, someone in school, or a neighbor. It does not require money; it is different things that we can do to help each other. Students are encouraged to do that, and that is important because sometimes if you say, ‘Here’s a check, get a good education.’ Wait a minute now, the process is a little bit more than that.”

McDougall toured WNC facilities last summer to see new science labs, a reimagined library, practical manufacturing and mechatronics labs, a vibrant art gallery, and more, coming away impressed by the facilities and equipment that the college provides its students.

For a WNC student to qualify for the McDougall Pay It Forward Scholarship, he or she must demonstrate clear and consistent commitment to community service and have a financial need. The Pay it Forward Project grants can assist them in those community projects.

“Students can be really creative to help others; it’s just a matter of them channeling their energy,” McDougall said.