MGM Mirage-Hites Scholarship benefits CSN graduates

At the College of Southern Nevada, it is called the MGM Mirage-Hites Education Endowed Scholarship. But for James Hughes III and Ben Jantzen, it is called their future.

The scholarship was created to "assist CSN graduates who have performed at a high level of academic excellence and who are continuing their studies at any Nevada System of Higher Education baccalaureate degree-granting institution."

For the 43-year-old Hughes, the scholarship is enabling him to continue his studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He recently graduated from CSN with an Associate of Applied Science in radiation therapy (3.67 GPA) and is now working toward a public administration degree with a goal of becoming director of a medical facility.

"It wasn't that long ago I was working with a jackhammer and doing drywall at Mandalay Bay and Bellagio," said Hughes. "Now I'm using my brain instead of my brawn."

Hughes, a native of Gary, Ind., came to Las Vegas in 1996 with a wife and three children to work construction.

"It was good for a while," he recalled, "but in time my wife left me with the kids and the construction work disappeared. I was laid off and only the only thing that kept me going was the encouragement from my new wife.

"In 2009, I enrolled at CSN where I became a bright-eyed freshman intimidated by the college scene. I didn't have a clue. But everyone welcomed me. The professors supported me and taught me how to study and fellow students helped me build my confidence."

That confidence has been passed on to his children.

"My oldest son is a senior at Simpson College in Iowa where he plays football and will be graduating with a degree in biology," said Hughes. "My other son is going to be a freshman at UNR and my daughter is a nursing student in Pennsylvania. And to top it off, I now have a 3-year-old who keeps me going."

The MGM Mirage-Hites Scholarship pays tuition for four semesters, and Hughes has every intention of graduating within that time.

"It's been surreal," he said. "My biggest hurdle was learning how to study again and how to read textbooks and comprehend what I had read. I had distractions with my kids, but that just meant I had to stay focused. Also, because I was an older student, I felt I had to put in more effort but my life experiences gave me determination. Many young people don't realize the opportunities that are out there. Success is just over the rainbow if you stay on track and I'm on track."

Staying on track is the main goal for Ben Jantzen. His scholarship comes after achieving a 4.0 GPA and graduating CSN with a degree in general studies. He is now attending UNLV (dual major in history and political science) and eventually wants to attend Boyd School of Law.

Jantzen was born in Haysville, Kan., and moved to Las Vegas in 1997. At the time, he was an international flight attendant traveling around the world, commuting back and forth to San Francisco while flying to New York, Honolulu, Tokyo, London, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, Frankfurt and Beijing.

Jantzen's life changed instantaneously on Aug. 7, 2005.

"I was with friends and family on a trampoline while on vacation in Chicago," he said. "As I was performing flips, I lost my balance and fell on my head and neck, shattering my fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae and crushing my spinal cord. I was flown to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where doctors replaced my fragmented pieces of bone with titanium pins.

"However, there was nothing they could do to repair my crushed spinal cord. I was told I would be permanently paralyzed from the shoulders down," he added.

These days, Jantzen, a quadriplegic, lives in a North Las Vegas nursing home and doesn't take anything for granted. He is grateful to everyone at CSN who has given him support and direction. He now realizes he's on the biggest adventure of his life.

"This scholarship is amazing as nothing like this has ever happened to me before," he said. "What I know now is that if there's a will, there's a way."

The 47-year-old attends class online with the help of Dragon NaturallySpeaking, a speech recognition software system. As Jantzen speaks into a microphone, his computer writes essays and term papers, sends emails, launches applications, open files and controls the mouse.

"I take my schooling very seriously," he said. "Part of that comes from the support I have received from many different individuals at CSN especially Joanna Jezierska, a counselor, and Anita Stockbauer from the Disabled Resource Center. Both were there whenever I needed them. I am so thankful to CSN."

Alumnus interested in learning more about the MGM Mirage-Hites Education Endowed Scholarship can contact the CSN Foundation Scholarship coordinator at 651-5831.