SPARKS – Jantell Damonte Martin wants to dress people up someday after getting a fashion degree from the International Academy of Design and Technology in Las Vegas.

“Since I was a little girl, I was always into clothes,” she said.

She’ll get a shot at her dream thanks in part to the help of the Sparks Chamber of Commerce, which presented her with a four-year $500 scholarship on Wednesday. It’s especially helpful since she’s in foster care and has no family to rely upon for financial aid for college.

“If it wasn’t for scholarships, I wouldn’t be having this opportunity,” said Martin, who received a 4.0 grade point average this semester at Sparks High School, an accomplishment that surprised even herself.

At Wednesday’s annual Tony Armstrong Memorial Scholarship Luncheon, held by the Sparks Chamber of Commerce, sponsors of the program awarded six Sparks-area high school seniors with four-year scholarships based on their outstanding achievement and as “returns on investment.”

They were also honored with the hope from Sparks Chamber executive director Len Stevens and Washoe County School District Superintendent Heath Morrison that wherever life takes them, they’ll return to the Reno-Sparks community and reinvest their resources into the next generation. Stevens, who said education is crucial locally and state-wide, called on local businesses and individuals to provide the school district with assistance in improving the graduation rate

“I hope all the recipients take on the responsibility to give back to their community,” Stevens said. “I commend Dr. Morrison, his staff and all the (teachers) unions) for their work … (to go beyond) the talk and back it up. It’s another thing to put dreams into action. We need to look at ways to help the school district produce way more graduates.”

Sparks High Principal Doug Parry said the luncheon put on an outside organization like the Sparks Chamber is meaningful to the district and its students.

“These kids’ events say a lot about how hard the students work,” Parry said. “When you look at the challenges they’ve overcome … it’s unbelievable. Some of these kids are the first in their families to go on to college. They’re truly deserving.”

Katrina Spencer of Reed High School, another winner, said she’s fortunate to be a recipient. Spencer will go on to Bethany University in Santa Cruz, Calif., where she will play volleyball and study to become a teacher. Bethany is also a Christian university, which was important in her college choice.

“I wanted to go somewhere where I could play volleyball in college and the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) doesn’t give full-ride scholarships,” she said.

Spencer has played volleyball since she was about 10 and said she’s especially in need of the financial aid because her mother is a realtor and said her income wavers in these hard economic times.

She also knew Tony Armstrong before he died and always had intentions of pursuing the scholarship since it was established.

“When I heard I was actually receiving it, I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh,’ ” Spencer said.

Recipients of the scholarship have their names placed on plaques that hang in each of the three Sparks schools. They receive four-year stipends, which means the Sparks Chamber and sponsors follow the progress of each of the winners to ensure they’re still in good standing to keep their scholarships.

Stevens said supporting education helps in a “myriad of ways” and pays off for the community in the long run.

“The underlying message is we hope you come back and establish yourselves in this community to become leaders and have the strength to pursue your dreams,” Stevens said.

Morrison called each winner a shining example among many youth in the community who never collect their diplomas.

“Please remember you’re the ambassadors,” Morrison said. “You didn’t get the scholarships because you’re smart and capable. You got the scholarships because you’re coming back to be the future leaders and future presidents.”