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.

Dr. Harry Ching is one of only 53 ear, nose, and throat physicians in Nevada.

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.

Lee Business School alum Lorenzo Scardicchio turns personal tragedy into purpose by creating an app for students that provides wellness and suicide prevention resources.

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.