By Educational Service Unit 13
SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. — Students from the Valley Alternative Learning Transitioning School (VALTS), a program of Educational Service Unit 13, presented a check for $1,688 to the Festival of Hope Monday morning, continuing a student-led fundraising effort that has connected creativity, learning and community impact.
The Festival of Hope is a volunteer-driven nonprofit dedicated to helping cancer patients in western Nebraska and eastern Wyoming by assisting with non-medical expenses such as travel, rent and utilities during treatment.
Over the past three years, VALTS students have taken an active role in designing, producing and selling handmade items to support the cause. What began with slime creations evolved into handcrafted gnomes over the past two years, with each item reflecting the creativity, effort and purpose behind the work.
“What made this project so special was watching students realize that something they created could help someone going through a really difficult time,” said Karen Reason, VALTS Math Teacher and project lead. “They walked away with skills, but more importantly, with compassion and purpose.”
The partnership between VALTS and Festival of Hope began in 2018 with a unique project: students and staff created a custom guitar signed by country music artist Josh Turner. The guitar was auctioned for $3,700 and later re-auctioned, helping establish a lasting connection between VALTS and the organization. Since then, VALTS students have raised a total of $8,467.40 for Festival of Hope, in addition to funds generated through the guitar’s re-auction.
Over the years, the project has helped students build real-world skills in planning, production, communication and entrepreneurship—while making a meaningful impact in their community.
VALTS serves students across the Nebraska Panhandle, providing flexible, personalized learning opportunities that connect academic growth with real-world application. Projects like this reflect the program’s commitment to helping students build skills, find purpose and make meaningful contributions to their communities.