LAS VEGAS - October 16, 2008 - For the fifth consecutive year, UNLV's Radiography Program can claim at least one student with the top score nationally on the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) exam.

Radiography student Brian Silva scored in the 100th percentile on the exam, placing him among the top scorers nationally. The AART examination, a comprehensive five-part evaluation of student knowledge and experience, is the culminating certification process for students to become healthcare professionals in field of radiography.

So far this year, 21 of 39 UNLV radiography students have taken the exam with a 96 percent pass rate. In 2007, 88 percent of the 44 students in UNLV's radiography program passed the exam on the first try, with three (Mark Lanzua, Carrie McCallister and Frank Tsatsourain) tying for the highest score nationally.

The radiography program at UNLV is a comprehensive, two-year certificate program in the School of Allied Health Sciences that prepares students to enter the workforce as certified radiography technologists or pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in comprehensive medical imaging, health physics, or nuclear medicine. The program admits 45 students each year.