Meet just a few of the 3,720 graduates who will be crossing the stage this week during UNLV's 2026 spring Commencement. From hospitality to sciences, these Rebels are ready to launch — or enhance — their careers and make an impact in their communities and beyond.
Nancy Esposito
Doctor of Public Policy, Greenspun College of Urban Affairs
Nancy Esposito is the graduate engagement and retention coordinator in the School of Nursing. She’s helping graduate students — like herself — cross the finish line toward degrees that will strengthen healthcare services in Nevada communities. She also served as an instructor in the Department of Counselor Education, School Psychology, and Human Services, introducing students to the fields of human services and counseling.
Esposito’s goal after receiving her Ph.D. is to advance policies and initiatives that recognize nurse educators as a key part of the healthcare workforce pipeline.
She says that while much of the conversation on Nevada’s healthcare shortage centers on increasing the number of students in nursing, nurse educators are often overlooked. “By investing in their development and retention, we can more effectively address the nursing shortage and build a stronger, more sustainable healthcare system,” she says.
Paloma Maité Marcos
Bachelor of Science in Earth and Environmental Science, College of Sciences
In a way, this will be Paloma Maité Marcos’ second time graduating from UNLV. The first was at age 5, when she completed the UNLV/CSUN Preschool program.
As an undergraduate, Marcos found ways to both build up her community and help others find theirs through her work with the UNLV Native American Student Association (UNLV NASA) and the UNLV chapter of the Advancing Indigenous Science and Engineers Society. She helped establish the Annual UNLV Powwow and the Mx. Native UNLV Pageant, representing her tribe and UNLV at conferences and symposiums across the country — including in Alaska.
After graduation, Marcos will join a research project at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo focused on groundwater springs and contaminants of emerging concern. She says, “I hope to support tribal communities in remediating lands impacted by resource extraction and in protecting water supplies for future generations.”
Trent Smith
Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Sciences, School of Integrated Health Sciences
For Las Vegas native Trent Smith, his bachelor’s degree is just the beginning. His proudest achievement at UNLV? “Surviving organic chemistry,” he says. With plans to attend medical school, Smith aims to build a career as a physician serving the community that shaped him.
Through his work as an emergency medical scribe at multiple Level II trauma hospitals and as chief of the Las Vegas Emergency Medicine Research Program at University Medical Center, a Level I trauma hospital, he has seen firsthand the gaps and challenges in Nevada’s health care system. He hopes to be part of the solution — improving access to care and outcomes for patients across the region.
“I want to make a real difference in my limited time seeing patients,” Smith says.
Glenda Ordonez
Master of Hospitality Administration, William F. Harrah College of Hospitality
Commencement will be a milestone moment for Glenda Ordonez: Not only is she earning her master’s degree, but she also will be taking the stage as a speaker at the spring 2026 graduate ceremony.
“This opportunity represents not only academic achievement, but also perseverance, growth, and the journey of returning to graduate school later in life while balancing work, family, and personal responsibilities,” she says. She believes her story is a reminder that growth and new beginnings are possible at any stage of life.
After graduation, Ordonez plans to continue growing as a hospitality professional, contributing to the advancement of the industry through AI governance, leadership, research, mentorship, and lifelong learning. She also will continue to develop her brand 7charms7 — an entrepreneurial project in development with UNLV RebelForge and the Nevada SBDC — as she prepares to pursue a Ph.D. in hospitality administration.
Sayla Daily
Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences, College of Sciences
Sayla Daily knows firsthand the power of saying “yes.”
“From student government and research to leadership organizations and conferences, every experience introduced me to new people, challenges, and opportunities for growth,” she says, adding that UNLV became a place where she discovered what she was capable of accomplishing.
After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, Daily will pursue a Master of Science in aerospace engineering at San Diego State University. Her long-term goal is to pioneer new discoveries in the aerospace industry and to solve challenges in fluid dynamics, renewable energy, and space exploration. “I hope to continue conducting research and eventually contribute to organizations such as NASA!,” she says.
James Sarmiento
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Finance, Lee Business School
Mentorship shaped James Sarmiento’s UNLV experience. As a peer mentor, he provided other students the guidance he once sought. In turn, the mentorship he received through the Kerestesi Center and Gamma Iota Sigma helped launch his career.
“What I will miss most about UNLV is the people,” says Sarmiento. “They supported me, challenged me, opened doors for me, and helped shape both my college experience and my future.”
After spending his first years as an undergraduate trying to do it all — juggling three jobs while taking classes full time — Sarmiento shifted his focus to the Kerestesi Center, where he built relationships and developed skills outside the classroom. Those experiences helped lead to his job offer as an associate broker at Aon, where he will work in the company’s construction and infrastructure group.
“I’m excited to start my career in insurance and risk management, learn from experienced professionals, and build a strong foundation in the industry,” Sarmiento says. “Long term, I hope to bring that experience back to Las Vegas and continue contributing to the insurance and risk management community here.”
Elyssa Molinari
Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary Education, College of Education
Elyssa Molinari describes her time at UNLV in single, consistent way: “amazing.” She credits her amazing professors, amazing events like UNLV Premier, and an amazing experience working as a substitute teacher at Derfelt Elementary School for motivating her throughout her program.
Looking ahead, Molinari is excited to have her own classroom and will work to improve at-risk students’ futures by protecting their education and keeping them focused on school.
Her message for the next generation of Rebels?
“Never ever give up on your dreams!”
