Six School District 51 employees gifted new cars

By NATHAN DEAL

Nathan.Deal@gjsentinel.com

Six Mesa County Valley School District 51 employees were stunned Saturday night when they were gifted car keys during the D51 Foundation’s annual White Iced Celebration.

On Tuesday afternoon, at Red Rock Auto Group, they got to see what those keys are for: for each of them, a 2025 Nissan Leaf, presented with large, white bows on top. Each car includes a two-year lease.

The partnership between the D51 Foundation and Red Rock Auto Group benefited six: Bookcliff Middle School Teacher Ryan McLaughlin, Fruita Monument High School Teacher Katie Hummel, Orchard Avenue Elementary School Counselor Janelle Gustafson, Palisade High School Career Coordinator Crystal Green, Central High School Kitchen Manager Samantha Sidebottom and Mount Garfield Middle School Teacher Joshua Lehman.

“This experience has been exciting, humbling and just a reminder of how much kindness and generosity exists in this community,” Green said. “This is an odd, grand gesture for me because, in reality, I feel like I was just doing my job, and I didn’t do it alone ... I wish I could share this with the many people who support me in what I do.

“I will say it’s nice to have the community support and recognize the hard work educators do on a daily basis.”

“My jaw dropped as I opened my box to find a key to a new 2025 Nissan Leaf,” McLaughlin said. “This is a very generous gift and will play a pivotal role in my family’s life, as we were considering purchasing an electric vehicle. Thank you once again to Red Rock Auto Group and all of the sponsors for your generosity and support of the D51 Foundation.”

“I feel incredibly grateful to Red Rock Auto Group for supporting educators in D51,” Gustafson said. “I am so honored to be the recipient of a free two-year lease that will help my family immensely. The initial shock has transformed into gratitude, and I am so excited to drive around representing D51 Foundation and Red Rock Nissan in my new Nissan Leaf.”

“I was stunned when I saw the car keys from RRAG,” Hummel said. “It’s incredibly humbling and exciting to receive such a generous gift. I’m looking forward to driving my blue Leaf to my school sites!” These donations — which D51 Foundation Director Angela Christensen called some of the most exciting in the foundation’s history — come two years after Red Rock Auto Group donated more than $100,000 to the organization.

“The moment we handed the White Iced Award recipients their car keys on Saturday night was unforgettable,” Christensen said. “They were stunned. It felt like something you would see on television, the kind of extraordinary gesture you rarely witness in real life.”

Red Rock Platform Manager Bryan Knight added: “We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated employees of District 51 who work tirelessly to create a nurturing and enriching environment for our students. Their commitment to excellence and their unwavering support for both students and families truly make a difference in our community. Almost all of us in the Red Rock Auto Group have children, family members or friends that attend a District 51 school, and we get to see firsthand the impact the schools have on them. It truly takes a community to raise our children.”

The ceremony was attended by D51 Superintendent Brian Hill ahead of a D51 Board of Education meeting an hour later.

“Our educators shape lives, spark curiosity and instill a love of learning that lasts a lifetime. It’s only fitting that, today, we celebrate them in a way that matches their commitment with an amazing gift – thanks to one of our engaged and supportive community partners,” Hill said.

“To our award-winning staff, congratulations. This moment is a reflection of your passion, your resilience and the countless lives you’ve impacted.”

Six District 51 staff members were each gifted a 2025 Nissan Leaf on a two-year lease from Red Rock Auto Group after being recognized as honorees of the White Iced Award at the District 51 Foundation’s White Iced Celebration on Saturday, photo on Tuesday.

Photos by LARRY ROBINSON / The Daily Sentinel

Mt. Garfield faculty member Joshua Lehman, left, and Fruita Monument High School faculty member Katie Hummel, right, walk between 2025 Nissan Leafs on a two-year lease from Red Rock Auto Group.