The UNLV Cyber Clinic has been named a finalist for the prestigious Governor’s Points of Light Award in the Collegiate Community Leadership category.
About the Governor’s Points of Light Awards
The Governor’s Points of Light Awards represent the highest honor bestowed by the Governor of Nevada and Nevada Volunteers to recognize individuals, programs, and organizations demonstrating extraordinary community service, cooperation, and leadership across the state. Held annually for more than 20 years, the awards celebrate those who generously give their time to build a vibrant future for Nevadans.
The Collegiate Community Leadership category specifically honors college organizations or individual students who demonstrate extraordinary achievements through community service and local collaboration in Nevada.
Why the UNLV Cyber Clinic Stands Out
• Excellence in Service: The faculty-led, volunteer student-driven UNLV Cyber Clinic offers no-cost cybersecurity services to small businesses—a vital defense given that over 70% of cyberattacks target small businesses. Student teams conduct physical and digital risk analyses, document security findings, and directly guide clients through implementing remediation actions. Over the past few years, student volunteers have completed hundreds of these detailed assessments.
• Commitment to the Community: Each assessment demands an intensive 50–100 hours per client. Because student-client trust is critical when handling sensitive business data, Clinic members maintain year-round dedication and follow a structured operational hierarchy with mandatory weekly meetings. Beyond assessments, student volunteers host community educational events, organize K-12 STEM days, and assist with the week-long GenCyber Camp each summer for high school students.
• Vital Economic Impact: Small businesses account for nearly 99% of Nevada businesses. Because 60% of small companies go out of business within six months of a cyberattack, the Clinic's pro-bono work provides a critical financial lifeline. As client Christian Tenorio of Red Rice shared: "The initial assessment made me aware of potential risks with our point-of-sale (POS) system, the need to have built-in redundancies, and the importance of creating systems to prevent possible cyber attacks going forward."
• Resourceful Partnerships: Students tap into existing small business organizations to deliver cybersecurity awareness presentations to regional groups like the Vegas Chamber, CyberSmartNV, Tech Alley, the Korean-American Chamber of Commerce, and the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce.
With roughly 120 members annually—spanning high school junior members, undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni—the UNLV Cyber Clinic exemplifies collegiate leadership and dedication to protecting Nevada’s local business community.
This year's awards are being held on October 1, 2026, at the Paris Las Vegas.