May 2018 Outstanding UNLV Graduates
UNLV students in caps and gowns celebrating commencement
People |
UNLV president will highlight exceptional students at commencement who embody the academic, research, and community impact of the graduating class.
The Scientist and Educator: Jeff Eggleston
man outside
People |
The research he’s done at UNLV has set Eggleston on a path to addressing movement-related impairments in children with developmental disorders or disabilities.
The Dental Enthusiast: Taylor Cohen
woman outside in medical scrubs
People |
After graduation, the Reno native is heading to Portland, Oregon, for a year to complete her general practice residency at Oregon Health & Science University.
The Music Mogul: Chris Berry
man outside
People |
Berry transferred to UNLV so he could mash up communication studies with business to prepare for a career in the music industry.
The Activist-Scholar: Desire Galvez
woman outside by rose garden
People |
At UNLV, the Las Vegas native found a welcoming community. Now she hopes to recreate the positive learning environment she experienced.
The Fearless Lawyer: Monica Pechous
woman outdoors
People |
Pechous got involved in several student organizations, was Lee Business School Ambassador, joined the Honors College, and became a new student orientation leader. Next up: Law school.
The Future Governor: Kanani Espinoza
woman outside
People |
The president of the grad student association and UNLV employee added another Rebel degree to her credentials.
The Health Technologist: Matthew Perrin
man outside in skeleton tshirt
People |
The first-generation student became president of Student Technologists Association in Radiological Science and plans to return this fall for another degree in MRI pathology.
The Cultural Researcher: Katelyn DiBenedetto
woman outside
People |
DiBenedetto came from New York to study with leading professors and live in a different part of the country. “And Las Vegas is that,” she said.
The First-Gen Forerunner: Beatriz Aguirre
woman outside
People |
The Las Vegas native completed her undergrad at Reno and returned home for law school. After graduation, she’ll head north again for a clerkship in Carson City.
The Storyteller: Soni Brown
Soni Brown
People |
The nontraditional student worked as a flight attendant and juggled motherhood as she discovered her path to becoming a storyteller.
The Rebuilder: Breanna Boppre
Breanna Boppre
Research |
Boppre channeled her childhood experience into a lifelong goal of bringing changes to the incarceration system in order to help people rebuild their lives.