UNLV's Hall of Fame: Celebrating Luminaries in the Arts
About the Hall of Fame
The College of Fine Arts Hall of Fame at UNLV was founded in 2003 to honor distinguished individuals and organizations that have made a profound impact on the arts, including visual and performing arts and/or architecture, in Las Vegas and around the world.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas Presents The 20th Anniversary College of Fine Arts Hall of Fame Gala
Dean Nancy J. Uscher cordially invites you to join us on April 2, 2024 and celebrate at The Bleaulive Theater in Fontainebleau Las Vegas. Proceeds will help support scholarships for College of Fine Arts students.
The event is sold out and online registrations are now closed. To be added to the waiting list, please contact Suzette Dacuag at suzette.dacuag@unlv.edu.
Event Details
20th Anniversary College of Fine Arts Hall of Fame Gala at The Bleaulive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas
277 South Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
- Cocktail Reception: 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. at Waterbleau Terrace and Moonstone Events Center
- Dinner & Awards Ceremony: Starts at 5:30 p.m. inside the BleauLive Theatre
- Cocktail Attire recommended
Fontainebleau is offering our guests a special discount on hotel rooms!
There are three ways to book at a preferred rate:
- Online
- Call 1-833-702-7272 and reference the offer code: FINEARTS
- Visit fontainebleaulasvegas.com and use offer code: FINEARTS
Honorary Co-Chairs
Don and Dee Snyder
Don and Dee Snyder have lived in Las Vegas and actively engaged in the community for 36 years.
Don has had a diverse and successful professional career in banking, gaming/hospitality, and higher education. This includes service as Chairman & CEO of First Interstate Bank of Nevada (now Wells Fargo), President of Boyd Gaming Corporation and President of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He currently sits on the Board of Directors for Western Alliance Ban corporation, a NYSE-listed company.
Don provided a leading volunteer role in the creation of The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. He has served as Chairman of the Board for 24 years - 12 years before opening and 12 years since.
Years before assuming senior leadership positions at UNLV in 2010, Don had a long history of volunteer engagement with the university. He became a member of the Board for the UNLV Foundation in 1988, served five years as Chairman of the Board, and chaired UNLV’s comprehensive capital campaign which successfully concluded in 2009.
Don’s active support of the community has included service on the boards of several other non profit organizations and legislative commissions, including the chairmanship of most of those entities. He currently serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations and has recently rejoined United Way’s Board of Directors as Chair.
Dee, Don’s wife of more than 52 years, was an early member of the board which created the Discovery Children’s Museum. She has been a full partner in his professional and community life. They are proud to have been jointly inducted into UNLV’s Palladium Society, to have CCSD recognize their contributions to education with the Don & Dee Snyder Elementary School, and to have the Dee & Don Snyder Founders Room at The Smith Center.
2024 Inductees and Award Recipients
Hall of Fame Inductees
David Copperfield
Emmy Award-winning magician known for his artful combination of storytelling and illusion, described as “the greatest illusionist of our time” by Oprah Winfrey.
Shecky Greene (posthumous)
Las Vegas Strip headliner for over 30 years whose comic genius was described by Bob Hope as the “comedian’s comedian.”
Rita Deanin Abbey (posthumous)
Multidisciplinary artist and among the first art professors at UNLV where she taught for 22 years, earning a stellar reputation among her students, and inspiring the next generation of artists.
Dean's Medal Recipient
Keith Thompson
Critically-acclaimed composer, conductor, musical director, and founder and host of The Composers Showcase of Las Vegas.
College of Fine Arts Limelight Award
Carnell Johnson
Famously known as ‘Golden Pipes,’ he is the voice singing the national anthem at Vegas Golden Knights games. This Las Vegas native is a classically trained bass-baritone with a music degree from UNLV.
College of Fine Arts Alumna of the Year
Cecilia Violeta López
A celebrated soprano, this singing actress has been named one of opera’s “25 Rising Stars” by Opera News.
Thanks to our Hall of Fame Sponsors
Additional Sponsors
- Linda C. Berry
- Juliana & Matthew McRae
Inspiring the Students
The College of Fine Arts at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, has become a leader in preparing students for careers in the arts. Our students have gone on to become award-winning producers and directors; they have danced on Broadway and on the stages of some of the most extraordinary shows in the world; and they have designed award-winning resorts, golf courses, and gaming properties. Their success can be attributed to their talent, excellent faculty, and the firsthand experience they received while studying in a city such as Las Vegas.
Many of our students have been inspired by, and learned much from, generous artists who have given so much of their time – persons such as Tony Curtis, Phyllis McGuire, Vince Falcone, Matt Damon, Anthony Zuiker, and other individuals who have taken time out of their demanding schedules to teach UNLV students.
It is only fitting that the UNLV College of Fine Arts establish the College of Fine Arts Hall of Fame at UNLV to honor those people who have contributed to the arts in Southern Nevada.
Past Inductees
- 2023 Inductees — Brad Garrett, Virko Baley, Gloria Dea, Clarence Gilyard, James Stanford, Dean's Medal Recipients; Nelson Sardelli, Clarence Gilyard, College of Fine Arts Alumni of the Year; Cecilia Schafler, Dwayne Eshenbaugh
- 2022 Inductees — Dionne Warwick, Cynthia Gregory, Paul Anka, Michael Tylo, Dean's Medal Recipients; Fawn Douglas, Dave Loeb, Kenny Rampton, College of Fine Arts Alumnus of the Year; Cooper Rust
- 2022 Inductees — Dionne Warwick, Cynthia Gregory, Paul Anka, Michael Tylo, Dean's Medal Recipients; Fawn Douglas, Dave Loeb, Kenny Rampton, College of Fine Arts Alumnus of the Year; Cooper Rust
- 2021 Inductees — Ann-Margret, Dave Hickey, Mac King, Scott “Carrot Top” Thompson, Dean's Medal recipients; Justin Favela, Candy Schneider, College of Fine Arts Alumnus of the Year; Giovanna Sardelli, Sush Machida, Las Vegas Newcomer Award; Brian Newman
- 2020 Inductees – Postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19
- 2019 Inductees — Carolyn Goodman, Oscar Goodman, Ronald Husband, Frankie Moreno; John Katsilometes, Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns, Dean's Medal recipients; Michael Del Gatto, AIA '96 and '99, 2018 College of Fine Arts Alumnus of the Year
- 2018 Inductees — Denise Scott Brown, Dale Chihuly, Leslie Jackson Chihuly, Guy Laliberté, Myron Martin, Claudette Robinson; Dr. Harvey Allen Godorov, William Lowman Dean's Medal recipients; Tim Bavington '90 MFA, 2017 College of Fine Arts Alumnus of the Year
- 2017 Inductees — Lance Burton, Matthew Gray Gubler, Willie Harris; Carol Channing, Debbie Reynolds, Dean's Medal recipients; George Grove '01, 2016 College of Fine Arts Alumnus of the Year
- 2016 Inductees — Marlena Shaw, Hugh Taylor, Johnny Thompson; Patrick Duffy, Dean's Medal recipient; Danielle Kelly '07, 2015 College of Fine Arts Alumna of the Year
- 2015 Inductees — Keith G. Boman, M.D., Gary Nelson, Paul Curtis Steelman; Jack A. Rappaport, Dean’s Medal recipient; Joe Aldridge ‘79, 2014 College of Fine Arts Alumnus of the Year
- 2014 Inductees — Tim Bavington, Sue Kim, Joe Williams (posthumously); June T. Brennan, Dean’s Medal recipient; Ronnie Vannucci '11, 2013 College of Fine Arts Alumnus of the Year
- 2013 Inductees — Vincent Falcone, Joel Bergman, Jeanette Farmer; Robin & Danny Greenspun, Dean’s Medal recipients; Eric Whitacre ’95, 2012 College of Fine Arts Alumnus of the Year
- 2012 Inductees — Penn & Teller, George Garlock, Peter Foy (posthumously); Edward D. Smith, Dean’s Medal recipient; David Howryla ’97, ’00, 2011 College of Fine Arts Alumnus of the Year
- 2011 Inductees — Danny Gans (posthumously), Roger Thomas, The Rainbow Company Youth Theatre; Thomas Schoeman, Dean’s Medal recipient
- 2009 Inductees — Bernice Fischer, Lorraine Hunt-Bono, Liberace (posthumously), Siegfried & Roy, William E. Snyder FAIA
- 2008 Inductees — Robert Goulet (posthumously), Clint Holmes, Tony Marnell, Vassili Sulich, The Killers
- 2007 Inductees — Nancy Houssels, Rich Little, Thomas Schoeman, Anthony Zuiker
- 2006 Inductees — Frederic Apcar, Mary Healy Hayes, John Klai II, Wayne Newton
- 2005 Inductees — Phyllis McGuire
- 2004 Inductee — Tony Curtis
- 2003 Inductee — George Sidney
Nomination Form
Who would you like to see in the College of Fine Arts Hall of Fame next year? Nominate your choice for the 2025 Hall of Fame Award! For details and a nomination form contact:
Suzette Dacuag
College of Fine Arts
UNLV
4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Box 455013
Las Vegas, NV 89154-5013
Phone: 702-895-5676
Email: suzette.dacuag@unlv.edu