Carson City, CA…Royce Ponton gave birth to a new baby boy, Leviathan Wayne Ponton at 12:53 AM on Jan. 1, the first baby of 2020 at Carson Tahoe; he also achieved the title of first Northern Nevada baby born in 2020! But, unbeknownst to Royce, she had even more to celebrate! For the first time ever, Western Nevada College (WNC) provided the first New Year baby a full academic scholarship through the college’s foundation. Now, when Leviathan is of age and decides to explore higher education, he will have one less thing to worry about following high school graduation.
The donation came as a wonderful surprise to the family. “We are so excited to receive such a significant, meaningful gift for our little boy from WNC and Carson Tahoe,” said Royce. “I would have loved a scholarship so I’m grateful he will have the opportunity. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”

WNC has been providing convenient access to higher education since 1971, so with three campuses located in Carson City, Fallon, and Douglas County, Leviathan will have his choice of where to attend.

“We welcome Leviathan into the Wildcat family,” said WNC President Dr. Solis. “We know what impact higher education can have on someone’s life and we’re excited to present this unique gift to him.”

Each year, Carson Tahoe Health puts together a basket full of goodies for both the first baby born of the new year and the last baby born of the previous year. It takes a bit of luck, too, as Carson Tahoe Health delivered 1,250 babies this year, a hospital record, to date! In addition to the scholarship, Leviathan and his family received a plethora of new baby essentials from Carson Tahoe Health. As the region’s only Baby-Friendly® designated hospital, Carson Tahoe made certain all gifts enhanced optimal outcomes for mom and baby. Based on “10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding,” this international program recognizes birthing facilities that offer mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies.

“Although we’ve been offering a gift basket to the first baby born for many years, this year was especially exciting,” said Diane Rush, Director of Marketing & Public Information. “With the addition of the generous gift from WNC, we were able to team up with our community partner to ensure a healthy start and a future education for this sweet baby.”

So, what about the last baby born in 2019? They didn’t miss out on the spirit of giving. For over 20 years the Western Nevada Cattlewomen have generously donated a $200 gift certificate for Butler’s Meat to the last baby of the year, ensuring they are not forgotten. Carson Tahoe welcomed a baby boy born Dec. 31, 2019 at 11:30 PM to Cidney Puff. The family also received a basket of Baby-Friendly new baby essentials from Carson Tahoe.

– @WesternNevadaCollege | @CarsonTahoe –

For nearly 50 years Western Nevada College has helped students prepare for a variety of professional careers through associate and bachelor degrees, industry certifications and workforce training. WNC offers exemplary academics, affordability and student satisfaction. Through our multiple campuses, resource and learning centers, cohorts and expanding online offerings, Western is positioned to serve students throughout the state and accommodate individuals who must maintain commitments to work and family. The college’s foundation awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships during the 2018-19 school year because of generous donations from private donors and local businesses. For more information on WNC, go to WNC.edu.

Carson Tahoe Health is a local, not-for-profit healthcare system with 240 licensed acute care beds. Serving a population of over 250,000, CTH features two hospitals, two urgent cares, an emergent care center, outpatient services and a provider network with 21 regional locations. The system is headquartered on a beautiful master planned 80-acre medical campus nestled among the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in North Carson City. As the system’s cornerstone, Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center (CTRMC), voted 5th most beautiful hospital in the nation, was the first Baby-Friendly designated hospital in Nevada. Also included on the campus is Carson Tahoe Sierra Surgery, the 15-bed boutique elective surgery arm of CTRMC, and Carson Tahoe Cancer Center, an affiliate of Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah. For more information, go to www.carsontahoe.com.