Pardee Homes helps students

In what has become a June tradition, Pardee Homes recently awarded scholarships to three Southern Nevada high school seniors as part of the Pardee Homes Community Building Scholarship Program through The Public Education Foundation.

The 2012 scholarship recipients include Nasko Balaktchiev and Dana Dimalanta of Advanced Technologies Academy and Amy Messol of Northwest Career and Technical Academy.

Each received a $1,500 scholarship, which can be renewed annually if they maintain high grades and a full-course schedule each semester.

"We are tremendously proud to continue to offer scholarships to local students, which is in keeping with Pardee's strong dedication to the Southern Nevada community where our legacy extends more than six decades," said Dan Hale, the company's vice president of community development.

"Our 2012 scholarship recipients represent many of our community's brightest young minds, and we are proud of their commitment to pursuing a post-secondary education," said Judi Steele, president of the foundation. "We are also very grateful to our donors who believe in the value of education and are committed to helping our students achieve their career aspirations, especially during these difficult economic times."

Created in conjunction with the builder's 50th anniversary in Southern Nevada in 2002, the Pardee Community Building Scholarship supports high school seniors who demonstrate an interest in homebuilding and community development and plan to attend an accredited college or university in Nevada.

"Whether it's awarding scholarships to local students or building a community park, Pardee Homes has strong ties to the communities in which we build homes," Hale said.

Since Pardee Homes began its scholarship with the Public Education Foundation, the company has awarded more than $350,000 in scholarships to more than 80 Clark County students.

Working with the Public Education Foundation, students were invited to submit an essay related to development in Las Vegas. Each student also had to demonstrate a strong record of academic achievement as well as involvement in extracurricular community and student activities.

Pardee has built homes for more than 40,000 families in the Las Vegas Valley since 1952.

Newly opened communities include LivingSmart Homes in Mountain's Edge in southwestern Las Vegas, Providence in northwestern Las Vegas and Eldorado Ridge in the Eldorado master-planned community in North Las Vegas.

Durango Ranch, near the intersection of Pebble and Cimarron roads in southwestern Las Vegas, features single-story homes on large home sites with optional casitas and garages that can accommodate as many as four cars.

Other Pardee neighborhoods include Montclaire in Henderson, Riverstone in Prescott Park and Solstice in Aliante in North Las Vegas.

For information about Pardee neighborhoods in the Las Vegas area, call 702-604-3332 or visit www.pardeehomes.com. Follow Pardee www.facebook.com/PardeeHomesLasVegas.