What does it mean to be a Rebel? 

Well, for one group of soon-to-be UNLV grads, it means confronting issues head-on to make water cleaner, crops more resilient, and mental health more front-of-mind. It means being there for our community’s most vulnerable when they need it most, fearlessly innovating advancements in the fight against cancer, and tracking societal advancements from the ancient past all the way through popular culture of today. 

For more than two decades, the university has sought campus and community nominations for outstanding graduates to be recognized by the president during commencement. President Keith E. Whitfield will carry on the tradition this spring by highlighting 10 graduating students for their academic success, research, and community service.

These 10 students embody the grit, perseverance, and collective achievement of the UNLV Class of 2023. They’re part of an estimated 3,500 expected to graduate from UNLV this spring – a 7% increase over last year. This spring’s graduates range in age from 18 to 76 and hail from 39 states and 50 foreign countries. 

More than 85% of UNLV’s graduates this spring are residents of the Silver State - where 2 in 3 UNLV alumni remain and contribute every day to our communities and our economy. 

Santiago Bataller

Ph.D. in Biological Sciences

Born and raised in the Philippines, Santiago Bataller went from a childhood of living with his large family on an unsteady income to occasionally eating meager meals of only rice with salt as an undergrad. Those experiences sparked his pursuit of a career in science to improve crops for sustainable agriculture and food production amid climate change. 

As a master’s student at the Philippines’ top university, Santiago joined a research team focused on improving the coconut industry. He continued that work while earning a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at UNLV — where he’s won a slew of grants, scholarships, and awards including a Grad College Medallion and first place in the 2022 Rebel Grad Slam 3-Minute Thesis Competition for his highly impactful research on a new generation of more nutritious and climate-resilient rice. 

In addition to lab work and teaching duties, Santiago has mentored new TAs and a dozen undergrads; served as first author on three published or in-process journal articles; and volunteered with young aspiring scientists outside the university through events such as the regional science fair and Nevada Science Olympiad. 

Following graduation, Santiago’s next step is an Oak Ridge Institute of Science and Education postdoctoral fellowship with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Vanessa Booth

B.A. in Political Science; Minors in Brookings Public Policy and Journalism (Honors)

Honors College student Vanessa Marie Iustina Booth graduates this spring with a bachelor’s degree in political science and double minors in Brookings public policy and journalism — three subjects she plans to pair with a law degree and parlay into a career in public service. 

She’s got a great head start. The first-generation college student’s research for Brookings Mountain West explored the opioid crisis, broadband access, and other critical policy issues. She served as a mentor to budding high school researchers, worked as a research intern for the Department of Defense, and created collateral to raise awareness about national security threats while a communications intern for the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Vanessa is also an activist. The former CSUN senator successfully created and implemented a student fee after lobbying with higher education officials to sustain the Scarlet and Gray student newspaper during her tenure as its editor-in-chief. 

She juggled academics with avid community volunteerism, including with the World Wildlife Fund and weekly as a mentor to homeless youth. And her tenacity has earned her numerous scholarships and awards. During Vanessa's time at UNLV, she has been named a Public Policy International Affairs Fellow, a Harry S. Truman Scholarship Finalist, UNLV's 2022 Sam Lieberman Regents Scholar, and a Ronald E. McNair Scholar. Vanessa graduates this spring with Magna Cum Laude honors.

Vanessa’s next stop is Brown University, where she’s received a full tuition scholarship for their accelerated Master of Public Affairs program.

Mae Ling Catayong

B.A. in Psychology (Honors)

Mae Ling Catayong’s undergraduate career is a story of success and the power of overcoming personal hardship: the death of one parent, the demands of caring for another parent navigating a disability, and housing insecurity - each one of these could alone seem insurmountable. But Mae Ling didn't let it derail her. In fact, she persevered and has made serving others facing their own adversity the focus of her life’s work. 

The first-generation college student and psychology major is a UNLV College of Liberal Arts peer mentor who has worked as a research assistant at the UNLV Music Lab, an intern at UNLV's Disability Resource Center, and as a teaching assistant. She’s presented research and talks at numerous conferences and professional events, and won the Grad Rebel Advantage 3-Minute Presentation Competition. 

Outside the classroom, Mae Ling has participated in service-learning projects with the National Alliance for Mental Illness, served as a member of the Psi Chi International Honor Society and American Psychology Association, and organized a series of book donation drives for the homeless. She’s also participated in the Academic Success Center’s Hixson-Lied Success Program and the university’s Philip J. Cohen Scholars program. 

Mae Ling graduates with a 4.0 GPA and honors, but her service to the Southern Nevada community continues. She’s returning to UNLV to pursue a Master of Healthcare Administration, where she’ll seek ways to improve the efficiency of healthcare overall and accessibility of healthcare for underserved populations.

Trey Curtis-Brown

M.S. in Emergency and Crisis Management

Devotion, perseverance, and personal growth are all part of being an Outstanding Graduate – but taking those to the next level and becoming irreplaceable is what Trey Curtis-Brown achieved. Described as the “total package” by his peers, Trey is a graduate student earning a master’s in emergency and crisis management. 

As a graduate assistant with the School of Integrated Health Sciences, he was a driving force in the adoption and rollout of the You @ UNLV app, which provides physical and mental health advice for staff and students. He also secured the first grant for the UNLV food pantry – which serves hundreds on our campus and within the community – and worked as a senior lab instructor for human anatomy and physiology courses. 

Trey has been a constant presence throughout the campus during his time as both an undergraduate and graduate student, serving as a constituent to CSUN, GPSA, greek life and university committees and always exemplifying what it means to be a UNLV Rebel. His efforts in ensuring the future success of the university earned him the university’s “Most Involved Student” and “Most Influential Rebel” awards. Trey plans to pursue a doctoral degree, and hopes to do so here at UNLV.

Janelle Ferraris

B.A. in Psychology (Honors)

Janelle Ferraris graduates Summa Cum Laude as a member of the Honors College with a major in psychology and a minor in human services. 

Throughout her undergraduate career, Janelle was highly involved in psychological research, clinical work, and professional associations. She has served as a research assistant in multiple psychology labs on campus over the past three years, she has presented research at multiple conferences (where she earned top honors), and she’s been published in the Journal of Substance Abuse & Addiction Treatment.

Janelle’s strong research pursuits continued as a member of a graduate college research program and with the Honors College, where she studied topics including the portrayal of characters of color in teen media and the evolution of racial representation in Spider-Man movies. 

Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Janelle has performed as a violinist in both the Honors College Chamber Ensemble and the Nevada Chamber Orchestra. She also worked as a peer mentor for the Honors College. Additionally, she has served as vice president/secretary of the UNLV Psychology Club and as president of the UNLV Psi Chi chapter of the International Honor Society in Psychology, and as the clinical intake coordinator for the Eating Disorder Institute of Las Vegas. Following graduation, Janelle will take a brief hiatus from her studies before pursuing a doctoral degree in clinical psychology. 

Citlally Lopez-Flores

B.S. in Biology (Honors)

Citlally Lopez-Flores is on a quest to break down cultural, gender, and language barriers on her way to becoming a physician who unlocks cures for diseases while making medical care accessible to underserved populations. 

The Latina, first-generation college student is the first recipient in UNLV history of a prestigious Pfizer fellowship that she used to research a drug that inhibits cancer cells. When not tutoring organic chemistry students or serving as a biology TA, the Honors College student helps translate for Spanish-speaking ER patients at local hospitals. An avid community volunteer, Citlally helped nurses in a vaccine clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic and interacted with patients to ease their stress. 

Citlally also became a certified mental health crisis assistant and helped organize events and advocate for policies and education as a member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She has spoken to media around the nation to help encourage other women of color to pursue STEM careers. 

Citlally graduates today with a 4.0 GPA and bachelor’s degree in biological sciences. Her next stop: right down the road, where she’ll continue her commitment to the Las Vegas community as a student in the UNLV School of Medicine. 

Kelsey Elizabeth Matthews

B.A. in Social Work (Honors)

In a city built on the odds, Kelsey Elizabeth Matthews built herself on defying them. She came to Las Vegas from Connecticut on her own at age 18, and is now a first-generation college graduate sporting a 4.0 GPA and a degree in Social Work. Kelsey has dedicated herself to public service by helping those struggling with addiction. She’s already a certified mental health professional, was crowned the first-ever Miss Nevada Volunteer, and is graduating Summa Cum Laude as a member of the Honors College.  

Kelsey was among just 58 college students nationwide named a 2022 Harry S. Truman scholar for her academic achievement and leadership. The four-time pageant titleholder has a personal connection to her work — she lost her mother at a young age to the opioid crisis — and Kelsey has used her platform to bring awareness to drug abuse treatment and prevention. She has worked at advocacy groups such as H.O.P.E. Counseling Services, Vegas Stronger, and CARE Coalition, and has been involved with the Nevada Senate to pass legislation on bills related to substance abuse. 

Kelsey also became a licensed volunteer for the Clark County Department of Family Services and Child Haven. As an ordained chaplain with Messages of Faith Ministry, she also serves as a spiritual first responder with the Las Vegas Metro Police Department. In addition, Kelsey is a state committee member for the Nevada Recovery Advocacy Project, sits on the board for H.O.P.E. Compassionate Healthcare, and is a national ambassador for Shatterproof: Stronger than Addicition. 

After graduation, Kelsey plans to enter the workforce to continue serving the Las Vegas community while continuing her studies with the Chaplaincy Nevada Academy of Religious Studies. 

Claira Ralston

Ph.D. in Anthropology

Claira Ralston’s strong research, teaching, and service record reads more like that of a seasoned professor than a newly minted anthropology doctoral degree recipient: three peer-reviewed journal articles, four book chapters, 22 conference papers, co-authorship of a book, and curricular design for a new medical school program. And she did it all while maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Claira’s scholarly work in bioarchaeology focuses on interpreting ancient skeletal remains to track the origin and evolution of gender violence in human groups. Her work has taken her throughout the U.S. and Europe, and her skill in forensic anthropology has led to her assisting medical examiners following tragedies in Las Vegas and throughout the Southwest.

In 2017, she was hired as a graduate assistant for the newly formed UNLV School of Medicine to design and teach courses in human anatomy. Claira’s role as an educator extends also to K-12, as she’s worked tirelessly to bring careers in anthropology, forensics, and bioarchaeology to students and community members through work with the Nevada State Museum and within CCSD schools. Claira has distinguished herself as a scholar and teacher, and is a truly outstanding graduate.

Dana Surwill

B.S. in Biochemistry; Minors in Aerospace Studies, Spanish, and Psychology

Dana Surwill’s accomplishments continue to blur the lines of what’s possible. She is graduating with a bachelor’s in biochemistry, along with minors in aerospace studies, Spanish, and psychology — with honors and all at 19 years old. 

Dana first enrolled in UNLV’s early studies program when she was 12, and she started taking honors courses at UNLV at age 15. In addition to these feats, Dana is a Cadet Lt. Col. in the Civil Air Patrol, the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary that is responsible in part for inland search and rescue and developing leaders of tomorrow. She’s also an accomplished rhythmic gymnast, winning the Level 8 Senior Regional Rhythmic Gymnastics championship in 2019. 

On top of this, she’s involved with numerous honor societies, including Alpha Epsilon Delta, the National Society of Leadership and Success, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Silver Wings, and Arnold Air Society. Surwill’s dedication to veterans has earned her recognition from the governor’s office, as she has amassed more than 3,950 total community service hours. Last year, Dana was one of just 12 Civil Air Patrol cadets selected to represent the U.S. in the International Air Cadet Exchange.

She plans to pursue a master’s in public health in the fall — at UNLV — with aspirations of becoming a flight surgeon in the Air Force.

Savanna Vacek

B.S. in Civil Engineering

Savanna Vacek, who graduates with a bachelor of science in civil engineering and an impressive 3.9 GPA, has made the most of every opportunity at UNLV. And – as a woman in the male-dominated field of engineering — she has also stood out as a leader, an advocate, and as a positive role model for the next generation of women in STEM.  

Savanna has engaged in extensive research during her time as an undergraduate, tackling issues related to water quality and water resource management — critically important topics here in Southern Nevada and around the world. 

Very involved both on campus and in the community, Savanna has served in student government, as an RA, as a research assistant, and as recruitment chair for Sigma Kappa Sorority. She also spent time as vice president of UNLV’s chapter of Engineers without Borders, where she and her peers completed projects in Nicaragua and Guatemala to improve sanitation infrastructure and construct a schoolhouse for a local community. 

Savanna has earned numerous university and community awards and scholarships, which includes selection this spring as the UNLV undergraduate recipient of the systemwide Sam Lieberman Regents Award for her academic and research accomplishments. She’ll continue her journey at UNLV this fall as part of engineering’s accelerated BS-MS program.