After a career in the beer industry, Silver State Award winner Aldo Madrigrano and his wife, Dawn, left Wisconsin for Las Vegas and immediately began investing in their new community. Priority No. 1: UNLV.

When the dream of being a pro athlete failed to materialize, James Navalta followed in his father’s academic footsteps. Now, the kinesiology professor is the 2025 Outstanding Faculty Award winner.

David Ross credits UNLV for helping him fulfill his boyhood dream of reaching the pinnacle of the casino management business. Which is why the 2025 Fred C. Albrecht Outstanding Alumnus is always there whenever his alma mater needs him.

Whether uplifting small businesses, supporting her alma mater, or championing student success as a Nevada regent, this year’s Achievement in Service Award recipient is happy to lend a helping hand.

Two decades after discovering a passion for teaching that she didn’t know she had, two-time grad Debbie Palacios is the College of Education Alumna of the Year.

Nadim Guirguis and Megan Tufteland pivoted in their careers, they found dentistry. That led the Dental Medicine Alumni of the Year to UNLV — and to each other.

As a young adult, Dave Swallow had to make a difficult family decision, one that led the Engineering Alumnus of the Year to UNLV and positively shaped his personal and professional trajectories.

Iñaki Sandoval has enjoyed immense success as a world-class performer, composer, producer and educator. And the Fine Arts Alumnus of the Year credits UNLV for paving the way.

After building a career in the manufactured home industry, Leo Poggione — UNLV’s 1991 Homecoming King — reigns supreme as the Business School Alumnus of the Year.

A passion for justice drove Boyd Law Alumna of the Year Shane Jasmine Young to become a difference-making lawyer. Now her twin daughters (and fellow Rebels) are following in her footsteps.

A brief campus visit during a chance trip to Las Vegas set the Hospitality Alumnus of the Year on a journey to the top of the hotel-casino org chart.

When Dr. Faun Lee Powers isn’t caring for patients, the School of Medicine Alumna of the Year is back at her alma mater shaping the next generation of mental health practitioners.

The UNLV School of Nursing Alumnus of the Year overcame a rocky academic start to earn two degrees in a field that has long been his calling.

More than a quarter-century ago, Andrew Belanger landed an internship with the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s public services department — the same department the Honors College Alumnus of the Year now runs.

Whether in her role as a health management executive or working alongside her alma mater, Public Health Alumna of the Year Sarah Bussmann is deeply committed to improving a complex and often-flawed system.

Sciences Alumnus of the Year Scott Wade parlayed a campus job into a prolific career as an environmental scientist (and novelist … and karate black belt … and community leader).

Anne Weisman, the 2025 Graduate College Alumna of the Year, turned a near-fatal tragedy into a lifelong passion for learning, serving, and helping everyone in her orbit get the most out of life.

Dave Valenta is quick to credit his UNLV degree for helping him climb the law-enforcement ladder. Now the Urban Affairs Alumnus of the Year is back on campus prepping the next generation of justice seekers.

Felicia Hersh’s original career plan vanished in the blink of an eye. Thankfully, another quickly surfaced, nudging the Liberal Arts Alumna of the Year into a career rich with history.

After two UNLV degrees paved the way to success for Kevin Pitt, the Integrated Health Sciences Alumnus of the Year is doing his part to help future Rebel graduates.