Grover C. Magnus 
Before the donation, Sherrard students used homemade teleprompters and an old iPod with voice memos for their TV shows.
SHERRARD, Ill. — The Sherrard School District has received $150,000 in donations for several programs and scholarships that directly benefit students, the school district announced Monday morning. A large portion of the funds will go to the school’s television program.
A $100,000 donation was made by 2009 Sherrard graduate Ryan Carlson, a portion of which was used to purchase video cameras and updated equipment for Sherrard High School TV (STV).
“The substantial donations of Sherrard alumni Ryan Carlson are incredible and greatly appreciated,” Superintendent Alan Boucher said in a statement Wednesday. “The impact is immediate and will help our students and programs excel.”
Earlier this year, the school district said Carlson also donated $50,000 to fund the Academic Achievement Awards, which lost financial support from the Milan Chamber of Commerce several years ago. Half of the funds were used for the 2022 scholarships and the remaining $25,000 will be used for the 2023 scholarships.
“I saw Jim (Mertens) leave, so maybe I’d like to sneak in (WQAD News 8). If I could slip in next to Denise, it would be the opportunity of a lifetime,” Brenin Kreck said , senior of Sherrard.
The elder said that prior to the donation, Sherrard students used homemade teleprompters and an old iPod with voice memos.
The donor, Carlson, is the owner and CEO of Specialty Capital, Inc., a Las Vegas-based private holding company with investments in commercial real estate, development and private equity. Carlson’s company has created projects that span more than two dozen states and include commercial hospitality, entertainment and retail properties.
The school district said Carlson’s philanthropic efforts have raised more than $1,000,000 in donations to dozens of charitable causes through the Carlson Family Trust.
