PBS Reno Spotlight Awards Gala is One Week Away
RENO, NV (SEP 11, 2026) – The 2026 PBS Reno Spotlight Awards Gala takes place in one week – September 18, 2026 – at the Reno Ballroom in downtown Reno. Doors open at 5pm.
Everyone is invited to participate in a silent auction that features a wide variety of items including experiences, wine, art, and more. People may participate virtually and register for bidding at pbsreno.org/spotlight beginning September 17.
During the Spotlight Awards Gala, PBS Reno will announce the winners of five categories:
Extraordinary Individual
Exec. Director, Northern Nevada International Center at UNR
CEO, Empowered Ventures Media Group
CEO, Locus Development Group and Board President, Reno Ice
Extraordinary Student
Student Government Association Senator, TMCC
Lemonade Stand Owner = 1,000+ backpacks
Philanthropist and Founder of Kids Teach University (KTU)
Extraordinary Educator
Music Teacher and Choir Director, Bohach Elementary School
Early Childhood Special Education Teacher, JWood Raw Elementary School
Principal, Traner Middle School
Extraordinary Community Group
Extraordinary Business
PBS Reno will also honor Nick and Debbie Rossi, this year’s Extraordinary Philanthropists.
“Our annual Spotlight Awards Gala gives us the opportunity to recognize and thank those in our community who provide consistent leadership and service, which benefit all of us,” said Kurt Mische, PBS Reno President and CEO. “The Rossis have given this leadership in their personal and professional lives and are worthy to follow in the steps of our previous honorees.”
“We’re honored to recognize Nick and Debbie Rossi for the meaningful impact they’ve had on our community,” said Emma Glenn, PBS Reno Vice President of Development. “Their generosity and willingness to step up when there’s a need reflect the very best of what makes northern Nevada such a special place. People like the Rossis remind us how powerful community support can be.”
The Spotlight Awards Gala is PBS Reno’s biggest fundraiser of the year with proceeds benefiting PBS Reno Curiosity Classroom workshops, local productions, and community events including Be My Neighbor Day.
About PBS Reno
In fiscal year 2024-2025, PBS Reno reached 592,189 monthly viewers in northern and central Nevada and northeastern California across several platforms including three broadcast channels (PBS Reno 5.1, Reno Create 5.2, and PBS KIDS on PBS Reno 5.3), a YouTube channel, YouTube TV, online, livestreams, and digital platforms. PBS Reno provides PBS national programming and award-earning, locally-produced content, with many local segments posted weekly to PBS Reno’s YouTube channel. PBSReno.org provides engaging interactive content, including the video portal at watch.PBSReno.org that streams all locally-produced content and most PBS national content. PBS Reno serves students, teachers, parents and caregivers through immersive educational services including Curiosity Classroom workshops that bring classroom lessons to life with standards-based lessons and activities. Through the support of local corporations and foundations, as well as thousands of individual members, PBS Reno has been delivering public television and educational services to the communities it serves since September 29, 1983.
Contact us:
Membership Questions: membership@pbsreno.org
Programming Hotline: programming@pbsreno.org
Phone: 775.600.0555
Address: 1670 N. Virginia St. • Reno NV 89503