A year's worth of celebratory activities are under way as UNLV commemorates its 40th anniversary.

The celebration kicked off Aug. 27 as hundreds of UNLV students, faculty, and staff gathered for Premier UNLV -- an event that included a barbecue; performances by bands and vocal groups, the cutting of a huge birthday cake, and the formation of an illuminated "UNLV 40" created by students holding keychain flashlights.

Another highlight of the 40th anniversary events planned for the fall semester will be linked to UNLV's annual homecoming celebration later this month. While the homecoming game against the Illinois State Redbirds is scheduled for Sept. 27, other homecoming-related activities will occur throughout the week.

"During homecoming week, the UNLV Alumni Association will donate 40 trees to UNLV in honor of the 40th anniversary," said Carl Cook, assistant director of alumni relations. The majority of the trees will be planted between the softball diamond and the Classroom Building Complex in an area to be known in the future as Alumni Walk, he said. Others will be planted near the James R. Dickinson Library, future home of UNLV's William S. Boyd School of Law. That area will be known as Alumni Grove.

This fall UNLV also is opening a new tailgate party area at Sam Boyd Stadium. The Rebel Experience, located in the northwest part of the stadium parking lot, will allow several groups that typically tailgate at football games -- including students and alumni -- to tailgate together at an improved facility, Cook said. Entertainment, including UNLV's marching band, will be provided at the tailgate parties. The homecoming tailgate party will begin at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 27.

The homecoming game is scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. Throughout the evening various events will commemorate the anniversary.

"The 40th anniversary celebration is a time to establish and reinforce traditions," said Les Raschko, UNLV's director of publications and reprographics, who is co-chair of the 40th anniversary committee. "This anniversary also allows us to bring together groups of people with an interest in UNLV in order to educate as well as to commemorate and celebrate our past and future."

Lynn McGue, 40th anniversary committee co-chair and alumni and community relations programs manager, said, "It is a celebration of UNLV's proud past and promising future as we move forward as a premier urban university."

A partial list of 40th anniversary-related events scheduled for the 1997-98 academic year includes:

-- Now through Sept. 26: Art Exhibit: "Landminds: Works on Paper," featuring the artwork of former UNLV Dean Michael McCollum. Weekdays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery. A reception with the artist is scheduled for 6 - 8 p.m. Sept. 15. 895-4210.

-- Ongoing Exhibit: Faculty Showcase highlighting College of Education faculty. Weekdays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Carlson Education Building, Room 301. 895-4329.

-- Sept. 18. College of Education Open House: Award presentations and donation of books to Paradise Professional Development School. 9 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. Carlson Education Building, Room 301. 895-4329.

-- September - February: Exhibit: History of UNLV Financial Aid. Weekdays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Student Financial Services Lobby, Student Services Complex, Room 232. 895-4112.

-- September - May: Exhibit: Prominent business and community leaders who received financial aid. Weekdays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.. Student Financial Services Lobby, Student Services Complex, Room 232. 895-4112.

-- Oct. 2 - 12: Premier of "The Brother's Silence," a play written by UNLV emeritus professor of theatre Jerry Crawford. Performances Oct. 2 - 4 and 8 - 11 at 8 p.m.; Oct. 5 and 12 at 2 p.m. at Judy Bayley Theatre. 895-3535.

-- Oct. 16: Ground breaking for the Stan Fulton Building, which will house the UNLV International Gaming Institute, 9:30 a.m. at the southeast corner of Flamingo Road and Swenson Street. 895-1795.

-- Oct. 17 - 31: Exhibit: Pictorial history of UNLV student housing. Weekdays, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Hazel M. Wilson Dining Commons. 895-3489.

-- March 5: College of Liberal Arts Open House and Retrospective: 40 Years of Success. 2 - 4 p.m. Flora Dungan Humanities Building, Room 240. 895-4311.

-- March 26-27: "Dance Concert 3." Ballet, modern dance, and jazz. 8 p.m. both days, as well as 2 p.m. March 27 in Judy Bayley Theatre. 895-3827.

For more information on UNLV's 40th anniversary festivities, be sure to check UNLV's web site at http://www.UNLV.edu.