September 1, 2026
Nevada State Parks is excited to announce that Starlit Skies, designed by Montserrat Franco Hernandez, has been selected as the winner of this school year’s 5th Grade Adventure Pass Design Challenge.
Hundreds of talented Nevada students submitted designs during the past school year, making the selection process more difficult than ever. Each year, the creativity and imagination displayed by Nevada’s 5th graders continue to make choosing a winning design increasingly challenging.
To celebrate her achievement, Montserrat and her family were invited to spend a day at Sand Harbor State Park. During their visit, they received a warm welcome from park staff, including Nevada State Parks mascot Carson Kit Fox. Montserrat was also presented with her very own Adventure Pass, which she can continue to use to explore Nevada’s state parks throughout her 6th grade school year.
Montserrat hopes to become a veterinarian when she grows up. She currently helps her father care for horses and enjoys drawing in her free time. She is excited to see her artwork featured on this year’s Adventure Pass and looks forward to using it to explore even more of Nevada’s State Parks.
The 5th Grade Pass program was established by AB385 and has been providing free annual entrance passes to Nevada’s state parks for all 5th graders since 2017. Now in its 9th year, the program offers students and their families free entry to all Nevada State Parks from July through the following August.
To submit an entry into the design contest, parents and teachers can download the entry form here. Entries can be submitted either by email or by mail to Nevada State Parks no later than May 31.
