In classrooms and community centers across Southern Nevada, Kyle “Kai” Fairweather asks students a simple question: What do you believe is possible for your future?

More than 3,000 young people have answered that question through workshops he designed to help them build confidence, set goals, and take action.

Fairweather, a senior studying international business at Lee Business School, has been named the 2026 UNLV Student Service Award recipient, recognizing his impact across Southern Nevada.

Building a Program with Measurable Impact

Fairweather founded Mindset Matters, a community based youth program designed to reach students who may not have access to mentorship or leadership development. The program focuses on helping students rethink failure, build confidence, and take action through goal-setting and community support.

Launched in 2025, Mindset Matters has reached more than 3,000 students through 41 workshops across Southern Nevada.

“Many young people have incredible potential but don’t always have access to the guidance or encouragement that helps them see what’s possible,” Fairweather said. “Mindset Matters was created to meet people where they are and give them tools that help them believe in their ability to grow and succeed.”

Fairweather developed the program in partnership with Changing the Narrative Inc., a nonprofit focused on empowering underserved youth through creativity, entrepreneurship, and leadership development.

Along the way, he has mobilized more than 50 UNLV student volunteers and coordinated programming across schools, nonprofits, and community groups. The impact shows up in the data:

• 90% of participants reported increased life satisfaction
• 93% set and pursued personal goals
• 85% reported greater confidence in leadership roles

Leadership in Practice

In addition to leading workshops, Fairweather mentors students one on one. 

During one session with a student, he noticed something was off and paused to ask a simple question: Are you OK?

The student told him she felt stuck. She was studying business at UNLV, but dance had been part of her life since she was three. What held her back wasn’t failure — it was the fear of disappointing her parents or making the wrong choice.

Then she showed him videos of her dancing.

“It was obvious she was incredibly talented,” Fairweather said.

Instead of asking her to choose, he asked her to think differently. What if both could exist? What if dance was part of her future and her business? 

By their next meeting, she had reconnected with her instructor and started taking advanced classes. By the third meeting, she had landed her first paid dance gig on Fremont Street. 

“What changed wasn’t her situation overnight,” Fairweather said. “It was her mindset.”

Extending Impact Across Campus and Community

Fairweather’s community engagement work extends beyond a single initiative. He’s contributed to mentorship and outreach efforts through Upward Bound, GEAR UP, Junior Achievement, and FIRST Nevada Robotics — helping students explore education and career pathways.

On campus, he serves as a peer mentor with UNLV’s First Year Experience program, supporting students as they transition to college and connecting them with campus resources.

“Kai builds service initiatives that benefit both the community and UNLV students,” said John Starkey, associate director of the Kerestesi Center for Insurance and Risk Management. “He connects student leadership with real community needs through mentorship, outreach, and programming that creates measurable outcomes.”

“His ability to inspire and unite people toward a common goal has been invaluable,” said Malik Hassan Asare-Osei, co-founder and chief operations officer of Changing the Narrative.

Fairweather has contributed more than 730 hours of volunteer service – work he sees as creating long-term impact.

“The most meaningful service gives people tools they can carry forward long after the program ends,” he said.

He will graduate from UNLV next month and plans to expand Mindset Matters nationally — building on a model that has already reached thousands of students across Southern Nevada.

About the Community Engagement Awards

The UNLV Office of Government and Community Engagement administers annual awards that recognize students, staff, and faculty for their exceptional Carnegie-defined academic community engagement in the areas of service-learning, community-based research, faculty/staff community outreach activity, and student service. Learn more about the Community Engagement Awards.