As UNLV grads from the class of 2023 step off the stage and into the next phase of their lives, they extend guidance to current and future students in the hopes that they find inspiration and a sense of community on the shared path through academia and beyond.
Colleen Narayan
Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education Math
“High fives run the world!” Colleen Narayan, ‘23 Secondary Education, exclaims.
The college journey is what you make of it, and for Narayan, being bold, she decided early on, was the best way to navigate and thrive in university.
Her path to a degree has always been clear. As a kid, Colleen found her classrooms and teachers comforting, and now when she is able to provide that experience to students herself she sees it as a nod to what her past teachers provided her.
“There’s no finite way to do things, and I learned that just last year,” she said when reflecting on how it’s important to be ready for anything that comes your way. “Opportunity knocks when it wants to, you should always be ready because you never know when it will come.”
Godson Ebenezer Adjovu
Ph.D. Civil and Environmental Engineering
A family visit brought Godson to Las Vegas, but it was water that carried him to his passion in civil and environmental engineering.
“Clean water was very scarce,” he says of his village Lolonya Ada in Ghana, explaining how a desire to explore water resources ignited his path toward a Ph.D. and, ultimately, to UNLV.
Godson advocates for students to take their passion for what they’re studying and get involved in mentorship programs such as the Grad Rebel Advantage program or a research mentorship program.
“There’s so much positivity in having a mentor and having someone you look up to,” he says, adding that a mentor can help students unlock their potential and guide them through their academic journey.
As he looks forward to celebrating his success with family and sharing the joy of his academic achievements, Godson says that it’s just as important to reflect, “How far I've come and what I need to do in the next phase of my life.”
Maria Rios Landin
JD
Recent law graduate Maria Rios Landin didn’t actually want to work among lawyers.
“I got out of high school and I was like, I don’t know what I want to do with my life,” she says, recalling her exploration of job listings. She had avoided positions working for a legal practice until she came across a firm that needed a bilingual speaker. Several years and various immigration work projects later, and with a connection to her personal life, Maria knew what she wanted to do.
She didn’t want to work for lawyers, she wanted to become one.
“I just needed a job, and it turned into my career.”
Though she is proud of her resilience and achievements, she shares her triumphs in memory of her late husband. “Becoming a lawyer is not just for me or for my community, but in his honor, as well.”
Reagan McGrath
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management
Inspired – that's the word Reagan McGrath would use to describe her academic journey here at UNLV.
Earning a Bachelor of Science in hospitality management with a concentration in event design and management, Reagan discovered an environment within the hospitality program that motivated her to step out of her comfort zone. The hands-on experiences and collaborative projects not only honed her skills but also helped her foster a newfound confidence.
With this growing sense of self-assurance, Reagan moved to Orlando, Florida, for a year to work at Walt Disney World while taking online courses. It was challenging to find the right balance between work and school, she says, but she was always proud to show off "UNLV" on her Epcot name tag. The logo was often a conversation starter for her to talk about the experiences she had as a proud hospitality major.
At UNLV, she participated in a wide variety of events, including planning Homecoming 2023 for the Hospitality College, decorating the lobby, and having a Homecoming Festival booth with her senior classmates. “People back home know me as being quiet, but it's empowering that UNLV gave me the confidence to be more myself.”
Since graduating, Reagan has used what she's learned to focus on convention center events. She's now an event services coordinator with the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority for events at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Hynes Convention Center, and The Lawn on D in Boston, Massachusetts.
