Nevada Association of
Financial Aid Administrators

President's Update October 2019

 


Greetings from the great state of Nevada!

Last year during the Federal Student Aid Conference in Atlanta, it was announced that the 2019 Federal Student Aid Conference would be in Reno, Nevada. Which I sensed from the murmurs around me, this announcement was a surprise to all in attendance! For those of us from northern Nevada, we were just as surprised as everyone else in the room! Overhearing some of the side chatter in the room, it reminded me that the Reno/Tahoe region is still a hidden hotspot to many of our colleagues from around the country. So if this is your first trip or you have visited before – We can’t wait to see you in the Biggest Little City!

As a native to northern Nevada, I wanted to share with all of my WASFAA colleagues a few insider tips for your upcoming trip to Reno. In addition to the regular Hotel/Casino attractions in Downtown Reno and the other large resort properties, Reno has so much more to offer including: outstanding restaurants, an emerging art and culture scene, festivals, outdoor adventure, easy access to the Comstock, and we are a quick jaunt to the Jewel of the Sierra – Lake Tahoe. Hopefully, the insight below will make your trip to Reno a fantastic experience.




Local Insider Recommendations

Food:

Breakfast: Reno is known for easy access to a late night/early morning breakfast in most all Hotel/Casino Coffee Shops, but if that is not your scene, check out of one of the following great local hotspots:

Lunch: The Reno Sparks Convention Center is conveniently located near a number of chain restaurants, such as Olive Garden, Claim Jumper, Red Robin, and multiple fast food stops. However, if you are looking for something with more local flavor, burger and shakes, check out a hidden spot just a block away from the convention center.

Dinner: All of the major Hotel/Casino properties offer outstanding dinning options, however if you are looking to get out of the Casino environment, the Reno River Walk is a great place to spend your evening along with outstanding dining options, consider checking out:

If you are interested in exploring more areas of town, you could also consider:


Entertainment/Recreation

Your trip to Reno, won’t we complete without a quick peak at the Jewel of the Sierra – Lake Tahoe. For those of us who live in this region, we take for granted the pure beauty of the lake. Lake Tahoe can easily be accessed from Reno within 45 minutes.

If the lake is not for you and you prefer something off the beaten path, consider a short 30 minute drive to Virginia City, Nevada. Step back in time and experience the old west and heyday of the mining boom in the Silver State.

Not interested in taking a drive, that is ok! There is plenty of activity going on in and around town. Check out Visit Reno/Tahoe for exciting events and things to do around the region!

 

Now that I have tried my best to play tour guide, on to some NAFAA News. NAFAA officers are busy working on our website transition and have decided to follow WASFAA’s lead and have selected MemberLeap as our new web and membership database provider. We are also still working with our neighbors to the south in Arizona (AASFAA) on a joint conference in Laughlin, NV. This exciting joint conference venture will enhance and provide each state’s membership with a more robust conference. We are diving in the planning stages and are looking forward to working with our friends from Arizona.


Signing off for now and we look forward to seeing you in the Biggest Little City December 3-6!

JW Lazzari, President