Inspired by an unshakable faith in the youth of America and their potential to become tomorrow’s leaders in science and engineering, Beal Bank USA founder Andrew Beal is a champion of science and math education. Under his leadership, Beal Bank and Beal Bank USA have donated millions of dollars to support knowledge and discovery through regional science fairs in Nevada and Texas.

UNLV has long benefited from Mr. Beal’s commitment to excellence in science and mathematics. Since 2006, Beal Bank USA has been a significant sponsor—and in 2009 became the exclusive title sponsor—of the Beal Bank USA Southern Nevada Regional Science & Engineering Fair. This influential event, organized by UNLV’s College of Sciences, is held annually on the UNLV campus.

Nestled in northern Nevada, Nevada Gold Mines (NGM) is a joint venture formed between Barrick and Newmont to create the single largest gold-producing complex in the world. Their mission is to be the world's most valued gold and copper mining business by finding, developing, and owning the best assets, with the best people, to deliver sustainable returns for their owners and partners.

At Nevada Gold Mines, they  count on each other to uphold the highest standards of excellence in everything they do. The company believes in working collaboratively towards  common goals and taking personal responsibility.  NGM also places great importance on treating others with respect and acting with integrity, promoting a culture of teamwork and partnership.  At the end of…

The Nevada Surplus Lines Foundation (NSLF) was founded in May 2019 and funded by the Nevada Surplus Lines Association (NSLA).  As a separate non-profit entity, NSLF provides charitable donations towards educational programs to support achievement and skill development within the insurance industry.

The goal of the NSLF is to perpetuate employment opportunities in the business community, with emphasis on the insurance and risk management industries. Their $5 million gift to UNLV in Spring 2023 will fulfill this goal through the creation of the Kerestesi Center for Insurance and Risk Management.

Tom Kerestesi is past chairman of the NSLF and NSLA, where he served as a director for 26 years. He joined his father, Frank, at Nevada’s oldest insurance agency, Cragin…

A passion for the arts and a desire to bring the joy of artistic expression to others is central to Stephanie Vondrak’s philanthropy. When she moved to Las Vegas from New York 18 years ago, Stephanie brought with her a deep-seated appreciation for theater, music, and the visual arts. And when she wanted to make an impact on the cultural vivacity of Las Vegas, a connection with UNLV’s College of Fine Arts was the natural choice.

In 2021, Stephanie made a $1 million gift to the College of Fine Arts to establish the David and Stephanie Vondrak Endowment for Knowledge in the Arts. The endowment is a tribute to her husband of 42 years, David Vondrak, who passed away in…

The Charles Koch Foundation partners with social entrepreneurs to remove the barriers that prevent people from reaching their potential. They do this by supporting research exploring the key issues of society and funding innovations in postsecondary education, moving society toward mutual benefit, where people succeed by helping others improve their lives.

The Charles Koch Foundation is a key supporter of the Troesh Center for Entrepreneurship, housed in the Lee Business School at UNLV. Their gift advances the discovery, teaching, and sharing of seminal research on entrepreneurship and innovation.

Established three decades ago with a strong base in Hainan, China, Hainan Sunup Investment Group has evolved into a diversified corporation that integrates three core businesses: urban renewal and transformation, rural revitalization and beautification, and operation and integration of cultural tourism. In cooperation with the InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, Hainan Sunup Investment Group has created a series of comprehensive high-end boutique hotels for leisure and business travel, launched Holiday Inn & Suites Sanya Yalong Bay, Hualuxe Hotels and Resorts Yalong Bay, and will launch West Coast Sunup Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts in Haikou. Holiday Inn & Suites Sanya Yalong Bay and Hualuxe Hotels and Resorts Yalong Bay, located in the Yalong Bay National Tourism Resort, close to the beach…

With locations in seven states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Healthcare is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with 3,800 employed physicians and advanced practice providers, a health plans division called SelectHealth with more than 1 million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs.

In recognition of a demonstrated need for expanded OB/GYN care in Southern Nevada, Intermountain Healthcare established the Intermountain Healthcare of Nevada Endowed Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Kerkorian School of Medicine. Their…

The John C. Kish Foundation was founded by John C. Kish, who owned the Skyline Casino in Henderson. John and his partner, Frank "Jack" Plevo, wanted to give back to the Southern Nevada community where they had run a successful casino business. John was very involved in the community while he was alive, helping to establish the John C. Kish Unit of the Boys and Girls Club, UNLV, and various other charitable organizations. The Kish Foundation continues to support the areas of health, education, performing arts, and animal welfare in Southern Nevada.

The Kish Foundation's support of UNLV runs deep and broad. For more than two decades, they have funded scholarships, campus life, and Rebel Athletics. They established an endowed…

Wynn Resorts owns and operates Wynn Las Vegas, Encore Boston Harbor, Wynn Macau, and Wynn Palace, Cotai. As stewards of the destinations they serve, Wynn Resorts invests heavily in enhancing the quality of life in their home communities. To this end, they focus on leveraging their core expertise in hospitality and development to create community engagement and social impact programs that genuinely care for others. Their mission is twofold: build more robust and more resilient communities that their employees can proudly call home, along with world-class centers of tourism guests will travel the world to experience. Because each Wynn Resorts community operates within its own unique framework, customized community development projects to solve specific social challenges are designed.

Through their…

Justice Miriam Shearing is a lawyer who has served in the Nevada judiciary for more than 40 years. During her career, she broke through the all-male bastion of the state judiciary multiple times. She was the first woman to serve as Juvenile Court Referee, as Justice of the Peace in Las Vegas Township, as Nevada District Court Judge, as Juvenile Court Judge, and as Nevada Supreme Court Justice, as well as Chief Justice. A graduate of Cornell University and Boston College Law School, Shearing moved to Las Vegas in 1968 with her husband, ophthalmologist Steven Shearing and their three children.

After retiring from the judiciary, she was drawn to the Beverly Rogers, Carol Harter Black Mountain Institute at…

Since their creation, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians have expressed themselves through a culture of giving. Today, the federally recognized American Indian tribe is a national leader in tribal gaming, and the tradition of giving continues. Their commitment to tribal gaming education at UNLV is just one demonstration of their strength and values, bridging past and future.

The Yuhaaviatam (San Manuel Band of Mission Indians) are one of several clans of Serrano Indians, the indigenous people of California’s San Bernardino highlands and valley. The reservation was established in 1891.

In Spring of 2020, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians reached an historic agreement with UNLV and committed $9 million to support course development, faculty, and programs at…

The Madrigrano family legacy is steeped in a heady brew of relationships and values. For generations, they owned a prominent beer distributorship in Wisconsin. Since making Las Vegas their home in 2012, Aldo and Dawn Madrigrano have been making a mark as local philanthropists and avid advocates for UNLV and Rebel Athletics.

Family values have been their guiding influence in business and in service.

“My parents always said that you need to give back to the city where you do business and where you live,” said Aldo. “When Dawn and I moved to Las Vegas, I saw the university as the center of a great city. UNLV needs to continue to grow and graduate great students.”

The Madrigranos have helped…

Samuel Lionel has a long and illustrious history of bolstering Nevada’s legal community. He and his wife, Lexy Lionel, have created a philanthropic legacy to support generations of legal scholars in perpetuity at the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV.

The Lionels established the Reid-Lionel Scholarship Endowment in 2019 through a $1 million gift to UNLV’s Boyd School of Law. The award recognizes the extraordinary contributions of former U.S. Sen. Harry Reid and Sam Lionel.

Previously, the Lionels funded the Samuel Lionel Professorship in Intellectual Property, a position held by Boyd School of Law professor Marketa Trimble in 2020, as well as the LaFrance-Trimble Award, named for Professor Trimble and UNLV Boyd colleague Mary LaFrance. Before it closed…

Reg Grundy and Joy Chambers-Grundy are groundbreaking figures in the history of Australian and international media. They married and became business partners in the early 1970s, and together they shaped what at one time was the largest independent entertainment production company in the world.

Now, they are groundbreakers in a different medium: scientific exploration of the brain.

The Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience in the Department of Brain Health, School of Integrated Health Sciences at UNLV was launched in 2020, made possible by a landmark $6 million gift. The Center offers hope to patients and families suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders. The Center is a think tank and research enterprise devoted to finding improved approaches to treatment…

Andrew and Peggy Cherng launched a business empire with the founding of Panda Restaurant Group, the world leader in Asian dining experiences. But they don’t measure their success by the size and scope of their business alone.

“Our mission is about creating better lives. Our job is to build an environment where, through learning and personal growth, you naturally become a better, stronger, and wiser person,” explained Andrew Cherng.

Started in 1973, the Cherngs built their company into an international phenomenon that today has thousands of restaurants and employs tens of thousands. The business includes Panda Inn, Panda Express, and Hibachi-San brands. In 1999, they created the organization’s philanthropic arm, Panda Cares, which had raised more than $216 million by…

MGM Resorts International is a committed partner to UNLV, displaying its belief in community engagement, education, and collaboration through its outstanding generosity. MGM Resorts International entered the exclusive Palladium Diamond Society level of philanthropy at UNLV in 2020 by surpassing a cumulative $10 million in giving.

UNLV has grown significantly through its long and multifaceted relationship with MGM Resorts International.

Among many programs, MGM has supported UNLV’s industry-leading Hospitality Hall, the Brookings Mountain West research program, MGM Academic Excellence Scholarship Endowment, and the MGM Resorts Public Policy Institute. All of the investments in UNLV exemplify MGM Resorts International’s commitment to industry, education, community, diversity, sustainability, and leadership on economic and social issues.

MGM Resorts International is an S&P 500® global…

Compassionate care is the essence of Dignity Health, St. Rose Dominican. UNLV has benefited immensely from this guiding principle for years.

Dignity Health has supported UNLV nursing, medicine, and dental programs, as well as athletics and the annual fund. The health care organization has provided scholarships and funded programs that are essential not only to UNLV, but to the community at large.

As the community’s only not-for-profit, faith-based health care system, Dignity Health, St. Rose Dominican’s hospitals have been guided by the vision and core values of the Adrian Dominican Sisters since the 1940s.

A group of seven Adrian Dominican Sisters agreed to travel to Southern Nevada from Adrian, Michigan, in 1947 to provide care. Their…

The philosophy of Gardner Company is to build community through relationships. Company executives believe the mark of a great person is giving back to the community and society.

A full-service real estate firm specializing in the development of office, retail, industrial, and medical buildings, Gardner Company has been a prominent fixture in the Intermountain West business community since the 1970s. It was founded by Kem C. Gardner, who in 2020 served as Chairman of the Board, with Christian Gardner as President and CEO.

The Gardner Company's mission is to design and construct buildings that minimize impact on the environment, improve the surroundings, and enhance the workplace experience for their tenants. In 2020, it had developed more than 32 million square…

Hospitality architecture and interiors firm Klai Juba Wald celebrated its 24th year in 2020. UNLV has been the beneficiary of their philosophy of nurturing enduring relationships while providing vision, leadership, and support to architectural education and practice across the region.

Klai Juba Wald has provided scholarships and internships, and has sponsored its namesake lecture series for the UNLV School of Architecture since 1997. The firm has also been a dedicated supporter of UNLV Athletics, and proudly served as architect of record for the UNLV Fertitta Football Complex.

Every day, Klai Juba Wald’s award-winning team creates design excellence for integrated mixed-use gaming resorts, retail, dining, entertainment, sports, and convention/trade show venues. They take pride in their collaborative design teams, each committed…

UNLV’s outstanding relationship with Joe and Julie Murphy dates back to 1999. Their belief in giving back to the community started early in the development of Joe’s career—and UNLV became a beneficiary of that belief.

Joe Murphy came to Las Vegas in 1981 at age 18 to serve in the U.S. Air Force. After finishing his commitment at Nellis Air Force Base, he met and married his wife Julie, and began his career as an electrician.

In 1989, Joe founded Murphy Electric Inc. He built the company on a reputation of promptness, professionalism, and service, focusing on nourishing relationships with repeat clients.

Today, Murphy Electric’s clients include manufacturers, retailers, schools, banks, data processing centers, industrial facilities,…

Based in Pleasanton, California, Workday is a leading provider of enterprise cloud applications for finance and human resources. Founded in 2005, the company delivers financial management, human capital management, planning, and analytics applications designed for the world’s largest companies, educational institutions, and government agencies.

Workday’s holistic approach to wellness isn’t simply an internal company value, it’s extended to clients such as UNLV. In 2020, Workday supported The PRACTICE, a community mental health clinic located on the university’s main campus, with a $1 million gift to create the Workday Endowment Fund.

At The PRACTICE, faculty experts in clinical and school psychology and mental health counseling train and supervise advanced graduate students in high-quality mental and behavioral health care. Through Workday’s generosity,…

Barrick is a leading gold producer with mining operations and projects in 10 countries. In 2020, more than 4,000 Nevadans worked at Barrick’s three Nevada gold mines and at the company’s technology center in Henderson. But the company's influence doesn't stop there: Barrick also was the state’s largest foreign investor and Nevada’s largest exporter.

Barrick and its employees have been active supporters of charitable causes throughout Nevada, helping to address local community needs, especially in the areas of education, social justice and the arts.

A partner with UNLV since 1989, by 2020 Barrick had invested over $1.7 million in UNLV Athletics, and the colleges of Science, Business and Engineering. Barrick’s largest gift to the university established a position for a…

The mission of the Dunn Family Foundation is to support programs that use education to build a better society and employ innovative approaches to the use of testing and support materials for educational initiatives. The work of the Dunn Family Foundation expresses the values of its founders, teachers Lloyd and Leota M. Dunn, who believed that education is a prime vehicle for the betterment of society. Their belief was that excellence in testing allows educational assets to be employed most efficiently and that professional materials support the teachers in their educational environment. In 2020, the president of the Dunn Family Foundation was Douglas M. Dunn, the only child of the founders.

The Dunn Family Foundation, a supporter of…

Mark L. Fine is the president of Mark L. Fine & Associates, one of Southern Nevada’s preeminent real estate developers. In 1968, he started his career with Chemical Bank in New York City and later helped manage real estate assets for Loeb/Rhoades & Company, a major Wall Street investment banking company. He moved to Las Vegas in 1973.

As the president of American Nevada, he guided the development of Green Valley for 17 years, Las Vegas’s first large-scale master-planned community. During his tenure, Green Valley was rated the nation’s fastest-growing community. Mark also served as president of the Summerlin division of Howard Hughes Corp., helping to launch that master-planned community in 1991.

In 2005, along with his…

Marilyn Larson established the Mel Larson Endowed Chair in Marketing at the Lee Business School in 2017. She made the gift to recognize her late husband. Married in 1979, Marilyn and Mel Larson were partners in life from the day they met and shared 57 years together.

Marketing pioneer and racing aficionado Mel Larson was well known and respected for his business expertise demonstrated as executive vice president of Circus Circus properties for many years. Mel was instrumental in bringing NASCAR racing to Las Vegas and in creating the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He was also an accomplished helicopter pilot. In November 1980, when he learned of the tragic fire at the MGM Grand Hotel, his expertise as…

Flora Mason is a UNLV alumna and a former UNLV instructor. She moved to Las Vegas in 1965 with her late husband, Stuart, whose construction firm built many of the casinos on the Strip, including Caesars Palace. Flora received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from UNLV, and was a lecturer in the Department of English for eight years.

In addition to being a founding member of the University Libraries’ Advisory Board, in 2006 she and Stuart established the Mason Undergraduate Peer Research Coach Program with the University Libraries. The program provides opportunities for students to learn a variety of academic and life skills, including project management, networking, research, and presenting.

Flora founded the Las…

Edward D. Smith moved to Las Vegas in 1950 and became a local business owner and co-founder of Smith-Christensen Enterprises, LLC. The firm has had diverse business interests including retail stores, metal recycling, automotive, landfill and disposal operations, and fast food restaurants. He is also one of the four original partners of Sun Pacific Farming and Shippers and has served on its board of directors. Edward also served as the corporate secretary on the board of American Bank of Commerce for 15 years, until their merger with First Security Corporation in 1997.

Edward attended Mt. San Antonio College, American College of Life Underwriters, and Bryn Mawr. And he has been active in the Las Vegas community.…

Established in 1965, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that provide civic and human services, foster educational achievement, expand opportunities for youth and adults, develop the next generation of hospitality leaders, and lead innovation in health and medicine.

The Marriotts believed that people will be empowered and positive change will result from giving to worthy causes. As a young man, J. Willard experienced this kind of giving on a personal level. He had left school to help on his family’s farm and didn’t have the means to enroll in college. Aaron Tracy, a teacher at Weber College, gave him the support he needed. When J. Willard graduated from Weber, Tracy—then president of the…

Philanthropists Jon and Karen Huntsman founded the Huntsman Foundation in 1988. Their son, Peter R. Huntsman, is chief executive of the Huntsman Corporation, a global manufacturer and marketer of specialty chemicals. He was named chief executive officer of the Huntsman Foundation in 2015. The Foundation supports cancer research, public education, higher education, the underserved, and programs that serve women, children, and the homeless.

The Huntsmans are widely recognized for their humanitarian giving, which, including contributions to the homeless, the ill and the under-privileged, exceeded $1.5 billion in 2018. The Chronicle of Philanthropy placed Jon and Karen Huntsman second on their 2007 list of largest American donors. In 2015, Jon Huntsman was awarded the Philanthropy Roundtable’s…

Selma F. Bartlett has been instrumental in promoting community, real estate, medical, professional, and educational development in Southern Nevada for more than six decades. She has earned many accolades and awards, and has provided personal and financial support to many causes most important to her, including her loyal support for higher education at UNLV.

Selma received the UNLV President’s Medal in 2002, the Silver State Award in 2007, and was inducted into the Nevada Business Hall of Fame in 2016.

As a result of her extensive community efforts, the Selma Bartlett Elementary School was named after her in 1992. She also was instrumental in founding the Nevada State College in 2002, and with the Dominican sisters and a local manufacturing…

As extraordinary philanthropists, Buck and Aurora Wong subscribe to the ancient Chinese proverb, “If you are planning for a year, sow rice. If you are planning for a decade, plant trees. If you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.” The Wongs freely give back to the community they have called home since 1985 and they have generously supported UNLV since 1989.

Buck has served on the UNLV Foundation Board of Trustees since 2000, transitioning to Trustee Emeritus in 2018. Aurora joined the Board as a Trustee in 2019. As donors to UNLV, the Wongs have provided extensive support of the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering, the Engineering Advanced Studies Building, the Hepatitis B Free Program, and the Annual…

Longtime UNLV supporter and one of its greatest fans, Hope Anstett and her late husband, Joe, were founding members of the Runnin’ Rebel Basketball Club and the Founder’s Circle for Black Mountain Institute. Hope attended Fifth Street Grammar School and Las Vegas High School. The couple met at the University of Oregon and married the day after graduation. Joe reported for active duty in the U.S. Army, leaving six months later for Korea, serving as a tank commander. After his return, they made Las Vegas their home.

Hope and Joe shared a passion for education and the belief that education is a stepping stone to success. Together, they found it especially important to encourage student-athletes to…

The Eleanor Kagi Foundation – A Lynn M. Bennett Legacy carries on the important philanthropy of the late Lynn Bennett, widow of Sahara Hotel and Casino owner William (Bill) Bennett. Lynn had a special fondness for education and animal welfare. She passed away in 2006.

The Lynn M. Bennett Early Childhood Development Center at UNLV is an example of her thoughtful generosity. In 2004, Lynn was awarded the President’s Medal for her extensive contributions to the university.

The Kagi Foundation is named in memory of Lynn’s mother, Eleanor Kagi, a woman of modest means, whose kindness enriched and inspired those around her. Eleanor was born in Switzerland in 1917 and moved to the New York area as a…

Rob Roy is CEO and founder of Switch, developer of the world-renowned SUPERNAP data centers. SUPERNAP data centers are recognized among the world's leaders in data center ecosystem design, development, and mission critical operations.

Since founding Switch, the inventor and entrepreneur has transformed the way data center ecosystems are engineered and utilized. As the chief inventor and designer of SUPERNAP facilities and their technology solutions platforms, Rob is widely considered the data center industry’s most successful technology entrepreneur.

Rob is committed to paying forward the success of Switch. In 2012, he created The Innevation Center, a 65,000-square-foot entrepreneurial hub, as a philanthropic effort to support economic diversification and foster collaboration between Nevada businesses and…

Sheldon G. Adelson was  a visionary leader and entrepreneur, loyal to his family, friends and employees. An internationally renowned businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, his career spanned nearly seven decades and included creating and developing more than 50 companies, including the COMDEX trade show for the computer industry. At his direction, COMDEX became the world’s largest trade show.

Mr. Adelson was the founder of Las Vegas Sands Corp., a company which has become one of the leading global developers of integrated resorts. In Las Vegas, he is credited for helping transform the city from a gaming-centric regional location into the leading convention city in the United States. His influence and integrated resort developments have helped to redefine tourism and gaming in Macao…

A smart business woman, a fine lady, and a friend to all are descriptions people have used when remembering Clarine “Kitty” Rodman. She was an especially good friend to UNLV.

Kitty served as a Trustee for the UNLV Foundation for more than 25 years. She also chaired the Special Projects Committee, lending her expertise to numerous events including the UNLV Foundation Annual Dinner. In this capacity, she strove to demonstrate to donors how much UNLV appreciated their commitment of financial resources, time, and talent.

Kitty was a founding member of the UNLV Jean Nidetch Women’s Center. She provided generous support to UNLV’s physical therapy program, which bears her name, and supported many student initiatives. Her generosity continues to weave its…

Christina M. Hixson graduated from high school in Clarinda, Iowa, borrowed money from her uncle, and moved to Omaha, Nebraska to attend business school. After seven months, she went to work for Ernst F. Lied, a car dealership owner in Omaha. In 1960, she joined Mr. Lied in Las Vegas as his assistant. When Mr. Lied passed away in 1980, Christina became the sole trustee of the Lied Foundation Trust, which he had established in memory of his parents, Ernst M. and Ida K. Lied. Christina turned the Lied Foundation Trust into one of the largest foundations in the state of Nevada at that time.

UNLV is a fortunate beneficiary of Christina’s foresight and commitment to higher education. The landscape…

Carolyn Hanna and her late husband, Gary, made a commitment to help the residents of Las Vegas, the city they called home for more than 50 years. Carolyn Hanna recollected Gary often saying, “The people of Las Vegas supported my business, so I want to give back.” Gary founded, owned, and operated Las Vegas Dodge, Chrysler-Plymouth and Nissan, and was recognized by Time magazine as Man of the Year in the automotive category for the most cars sold nationwide. Married for 46 years, the couple began to focus on their philanthropic legacy after Gary retired in 1997. Gary passed away in 2011, and Carolyn focused on bringing his wishes to fruition.

Carolyn embraced occasions to give of her time, talent,…

The Lee Family—Theodore, Doris, Greg, Dana and Ernest—is committed to integrity, community, and philanthropy. Hard work, honesty and generosity define their giving. Today the family business owns real estate and the Eureka Casinos in Las Vegas and Mesquite.

Over the years, Lee Family members served as Trustees of the UNLV Foundation, and on the boards of the Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority, the Las Vegas Philharmonic, the Problem Gambling Center, the Meadows School, Nevada Ballet Theatre, the Las Vegas Art Museum and Communities in Schools.

Ted and Doris moved to Las Vegas in 1971. Ted grew up in Stockton, California. He was educated at Harvard College, served in the U.S. Army, and attended law school and earned an MBA…

Caesars Foundation and Caesars Entertainment have fostered and sustained a multiyear, multifaceted partnership with UNLV. In 2012, their support for the university had ranged from funding scholarships, to providing a gift to support the naming of the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, to creating the Caesars Hospitality Research Center. Caesars Foundation also provided support to the Black Mountain Institute, and Caesars Entertainment partnered with the Women’s Research Institute of Nevada at UNLV to help sponsor the National Education for Women’s Leadership program.

Caesars strives to both set and raise the corporate social responsibility standards for its properties, its company, and the industry. They accomplish this by adhering to a higher code – the Code of Commitment. This code…

Bob Boughner is a proud UNLV alumnus and retired executive of Boyd Gaming Corporation. In his role with Boyd Gaming, Bob oversaw new business development efforts, including expansion into new and existing markets; building corporate relationships and alliances; and pursuing new business opportunities. He also served as president of Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, N.J.

A single quote captures Bob’s approach to his professional and personal life: “Real joy comes not from the ease of riches nor the praise of men, but from doing something worthwhile.” It is a philosophy that guided him over the course of his career, as he consistently sought to have a positive and lasting impact on the community of Las Vegas.

Bob…

Dr. Robert and Paula Mendenhall have been ardent supporters of UNLV for more more than three decades. Their legacy is realized in bricks and mortar--and hardwood floors--in the Mendenhall Center, a practice facility for Runnin’ Rebels basketball. Bob and Paula’s stamp is also evident on the Mendenhall Innovation Program, established at the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering in 2006 to promote technology and engineering education.

Born on a farm in Alberta, Canada, Bob learned the value of a strong work ethic at an early age. His first job in 1937 was as a water boy. He later worked as a flagman for his grandfather’s Utah construction company. After he and Paula married, Bob accepted a position in Southern Nevada…

Ralph Engelstad was well-known in Nevada as a leading gaming executive and entrepreneur. He was one of the largest real estate owners in the United States, as well as one of its most generous philanthropists. Before his passing, Mr. Engelstad and his wife Betty set the stage for the creation of a foundation that would enable their family to redirect their assets to meet the needs of others. In 2011, under the guidance of Betty Engelstad, their daughter Kris Engelstad McGarry and fellow trustees, the Engelstad Foundation (formerly the Engelstad Family Foundation) had donated more than $200 million to philanthropic causes, including more than $80 million to numerous organizations in Southern Nevada.

In 2009, the Engelstad Foundation established the Engelstad…

George Maloof, Jr. played football at UNLV from 1984 to 1987. He graduated with a degree in business administration and a focus in hotel management, and went to work in his family’s diversified business ventures that include gaming, sports and multimedia entertainment.

George established himself as an innovative leader in the hotel and gaming industries. He was the driving power behind one of Las Vegas’ most famous destinations, the Palms Casino Resort, conceptualizing a unique brand of amenities that set a new standard of a destination resort.

He spearheaded the expansion of Maloof Companies into Las Vegas in 1994 when he opened the Fiesta Casino Hotel. When it sold in 2000, George led the building and operation of the…

Over the years, Bill and Bonnie Paulos have been familiar figures courtside at the Thomas & Mack, as well as at UNLV’s William F. Harrah College of Hospitality. Bill, a 1969 graduate of hospitality, was its 2006 Alumnus of the Year. He and Bonnie have been ardent supporters of the Rebel Athletics Fund, the Coaches Continuity Fund, and the Jerry Vallen Professorship Endowment, showing their Rebel pride at every opportunity.

Bill started his career at the Fremont Hotel & Casino and the Royal Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. He joined Circus Circus Enterprises in 1980. His leadership in developing new properties helped the company grow into one of the most successful operators in Nevada. He was named 1992’s Casino Industry…

It is said that scientists dream and engineers do. Harriet and Fred Cox were dreamers and doers. They made dreams of countless UNLV students come true through their philanthropy, having donated more than $1 million in support of the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering.

The Coxes were involved with UNLV since Harriet established a scholarship in her husband’s honor in 1998. They subsequently funded a scholarship to attract female students to engineering, as well as the Engineering College’s capstone program: the Senior Design Competition.

The founder of four corporations – Emulex Corporation, Manufacturers Capital, Microdata Corporation, and Dynus Incorporated—Fred was valedictorian of Texas A&M University and later received two graduate degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During his engineering…

Generations of Runnin’ Rebel athletes, scholars and fans can thank Bill and Bonnie Wortman for helping them get their Reb on. For decades, the Wortmans supported UNLV, the Rebel Athletics Fund, and athletic scholarships. A 1971 graduate of UNLV’s College of Business, Bill was named Alumni of the Year in 1986, and has served on the College of Business Executive Advisory Board, and the UNLV Foundation Board of Trustees.

Bill began his career as an accountant before joining Caesars Palace as controller in 1978. He was promoted to president and COO of Caesars Tahoe. In 1984, he purchased a majority equity position in the Fallon Nugget Casino and the Bonanza Inn Hotel & Casino, and later purchased an equity position…

In its time, National Security Technologies, LLC (NSTec) was committed to responsible corporate citizenship, and UNLV was a strong case-in-point. In 2011, the company marked five years of robust support for science and engineering programs at UNLV, including the FIRST Robotics competition, the Multi-Cultural Program Engineering Scholarship, the UNLV Science Bowl, the Science and Engineering Complex building fund, and more. The National Security Technologies, LLC Courtyard at the Science and Engineering Building is named in recognition of their contributions.

NSTec was formed in 2005 as a joint venture between Northrop Grumman Corporation, AECOM, CH2M Hill, and Nuclear Fuel Services. Its missions included defense experimentation and stockpile stewardship, homeland security and defense applications, and environmental management.

Dr. Sanford and Sandra Berman were proud sponsors of the Dr. Sanford I. Berman Debate Forum and the Dr. Sanford I. Berman Scholarship at UNLV. They believed that participation in all forms of academic debate could help young people become agents of positive change in the world.

Thanks to their dedication, the UNLV Debate Team was resurrected in 2008 after a 10-year absence and went on to garner national recognition. The Berman Debate Forum also hosted a high school debate competition, The Las Vegas Classic Invitational Collegiate Debate Tournament, which quickly grew to be a renowned event of its kind in America.

Sanford was born in Virginia, Minnesota. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, his master’s…

Ralph Engelstad was well-known in Nevada as a leading gaming executive and entrepreneur. He was one of the largest real estate owners in the U.S., as well as one of its most generous philanthropists. Before his passing, Mr. Engelstad and his wife Betty set the stage for the creation of a foundation that would enable their family to redirect their assets to meet the needs of others. In 2011, under the guidance of Betty Engelstad, their daughter Kris Engelstad McGarry, and fellow trustees, the Engelstad Foundation (formerly the Engelstad Family Foundation) had donated more than $200 million to philanthropic causes, including more than $80 million to numerous organizations in Southern Nevada.

In 2009, the Engelstad Foundation established the Engelstad Scholars…

In August 2010, UNLV received a $1 million donation from KONAMI to establish the Konami Gaming Fund in support the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality’s faculty, students, and administration. KONAMI’s generous gift supported an endowment that helped pay for gaming management students to pursue professional development opportunities; unrestricted funds for the hospitality college to address emerging needs; and support for the Academic Corporate Council Annual Giving Program. KONAMI’S investment in the hospitality college’s gaming management program was a testament to the commitment of its leadership to empower the industry professionals and leaders of the future. In recognition of the company's support of gaming education, the gaming lab located in the UNLV Stan Fulton Building will be formally named the…

Mannetta ’93 and Dr. Michael Braunstein’s involvement with UNLV, and the Marjorie Barrick Museum in particular, extends back for decades and, thanks to their dedication to the university, our students, and the community, will reach well into the future. Beginning in 1978, only two years after relocating to Las Vegas, the Braunsteins donated hundreds of extraordinary pre-Columbian artifacts, antique retablos (portraits of saints painted on tin), rare old Guatemalan and Bolivian hand-woven textiles, and valuable Mexican dance masks.

Through the Braunstein Foundation, the Braunstein’s partnered with the Barrick Museum in 2006 to sponsor the Braunstein Symposium, an academic conference on ancient Mesoamerican cultures – free to UNLV students and faculty. The symposium provided a forum for the presentation of cutting-edge…

Sodexo, Inc. & Affiliates is among the leading providers of integrated food and facilities management, serving industries that includes higher education, government agencies, defense, and business and industry. Widely respected for its dedication to excellent service, Sodexo is also recognized for its culture of corporate citizenship, awarding in-kind donations and capital grants to hunger-related organizations, scholarships honoring students for community service, and myriad education institutions around the world.

Sodexo Inc. & Affiliates became a strategic partner to UNLV in 2000, delivering exceptional quality of Sodexo products paired with its outstanding level of customer service. Sodexo team members worked as an integral part of UNLV. They directly impacted the lives of our students, faculty, and staff every day – demonstrating through…

When it comes to promoting and advancing higher education in Nevada, Bank of America stands out. Since 1990, Bank of America has provided major funding to help deserving individuals, regardless of race, gender, or economic status, with access to a college education. For UNLV, Bank of America’s contributions have touched the lives of hundreds of students, faculty, and staff members.

Bank of America’s philanthropic investment in UNLV’s Annual Fund enables the university to address its greatest needs, meet unexpected challenges, and take advantage of special opportunities.

Additionally, its ongoing support of the Rebel Athletic Fund Scholarship has opened the doors for greater numbers of men and women, who may otherwise opt out of a college education due to financial limitations,…

Ted and Maria Quirk have been supportive of UNLV for decades, both personally and philanthropically.

Ted has been an active Trustee of the UNLV Foundation, having served as the Foundation's chairman and treasurer, and chair of a number of committees. He was a founder and president of the Rebel Golf Foundation and was a founding member of the UNLV Research Committee. He has also lent his outstanding service to the UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame committee and the Harry Reid Silver State Research Award committee. Ted’s dedication bridged partnerships with individuals and organizations whose philanthropic contributions promote and sustain the university.

Maria has actively supported the Jean Nidetch Women’s Center, helping it to fulfill the goals of providing services and…

Don and Dee Snyder have been recognized for their philanthropic work throughout our community. Their involvement with UNLV spans decades; they have served as philanthropists and outstanding volunteers.

Don’s service on the UNLV Foundation Board of Trustees, including serving as chairman of the Board for five years, chairing and participating on a number of committees, and serving as co-chair of the comprehensive Invent the Future fundraising campaign, helped to bring new support for the university and strengthen existing partnerships. Don worked diligently to advance the capital campaign and bring it to a successful conclusion.

The Snyders’ philanthropic contributions include providing funds for emerging projects on campus that supplement students’ academic experience. These funds provide scholarships, unparalleled travel opportunities, and unique…

William G. Bennett is considered by many casino industry experts to be among the first 100 people who shaped Southern Nevada. Widely recognized for his business acumen, William was also deeply respected for his work ethic and generosity. His spirit of giving is evident in his significant philanthropic contributions to a variety of local organizations, UNLV.

In the late 1990s, William donated the first of a series of important gifts to UNLV, a $2.5 million gift for the Bennett Professional Development Center. The center, administered by UNLV’s College of Education, serves as an interactive training facility for student teachers. Soon thereafter, he donated $5 million to establish the Lynn Bennett Early Childhood Education Center, an on-campus preschool facility where UNLV…

William S. Boyd co-founded Boyd Gaming Corporation in 1974 with his father, Sam Boyd. A practicing attorney for 15 years, he turned his attention to gaming full-time in 1975, and has since developed and operated Boyd Gaming properties in major markets throughout the United States.

A resident of Las Vegas since 1941, Bill is also an avid community supporter, and has shared his philanthropy with UNLV. He is a member of the UNLV Foundation Board of Trustees and an honorary co-chair of UNLV’s comprehensive fundraising campaign, Invent the Future.

Bill Boyd and The Boyd Foundation have been long-time supporters of the university, and in 1997 Bill provided the initial gift for the creation of the William S. Boyd School of…

Stan Fulton has been a dedicated supporter of UNLV, its students, and its academic and community initiatives. Stan is widely recognized as a pioneering entrepreneur and slot machine developer. His business enterprises have helped the Southern Nevada region and its residents grow and prosper, and in turn his philanthropy has helped UNLV to thrive as well.

Through his gifts to fund the Stan Fulton Scholarship Endowment, as well as his major contributions to the Rebel Athletic Fund Scholarships and to the Dee Smith Scholarship Endowment, Stan has helped many deserving individuals pursue their goals of a college education.

Another impactful way in which he has advanced UNLV’s standing as one of the nation’s leading higher education institutions is through his…

The Lied Foundation Trust was established in 1972 by Ernst F. Lied. Prior to his passing in 1980, Ernst named his associate Christina M. Hixson as the sole trustee of the trust. In alignment with Ernst’s wishes and his desire to help where the need is greatest, the Lied Foundation Trust has donated more than $297.5 million for small and major projects in Nevada, California, Utah, Washington, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska.

At UNLV, Christina’s philanthropic involvement through the Lied Foundation Trust has been instrumental in advancing the academic experience for thousands of students. The donation of more than $15 million to fund the Lied Library on the UNLV campus enabled the university, in collaboration with the State of Nevada, to…

Kirk Kerkorian’s entrepreneurial genius not only shaped the hotel resort industry in Las Vegas, but it also improved the quality of life for thousands of individuals throughout the world. In 1989, Kirk founded The Lincy Foundation, which has made charitable contributions to many organizations within Southern Nevada, across the country, and around the world, including UNLV.

In 2008, The Lincy Foundation donated $5 million to furnish and equip a new clinical skills lab for medical and nursing students and to support an initiative to better coordinate higher education health sciences programs across the state. A contribution that benefitted students at UNLV, among other schools, this generous gift was instrumental in producing highly-qualified nurses and doctors more effectively and efficiently—alleviating the…

Mel and Ruth Wolzinger were active supporters of UNLV, its students, and its academic and community initiatives for decades. Through their time and support, including Mel’s service on the UNLV Foundation Board of Trustees, the Wolzinger’s generous contributions to the university left an indelible imprint that will continue to touch the lives of students who choose UNLV.

Through the Wolzinger Family Research Scholarship Endowment and other scholarships they established, as well as many generous contributions to athletic programs, the Wolzingers provided major funding to help deserving individuals – regardless of race, gender, or economic status – with access to a college education.

Their generous contributions also reached key campus areas such as the Black Mountain Institute, the Wilson Advising Center,…

The Greenspun family has played a major role in the growth and development of Las Vegas since patriarch Herman Milton “Hank” Greenspun was a partner in the opening of radio station KRAM 920 AM in 1947, and published the first issue of The Las Vegas Sun newspaper in 1950. The Greenspuns also model a spirit of philanthropy. Their involvement with UNLV spans decades and generations, and they have truly made a mark on the campus.

Thanks to the family’s leadership and generosity, UNLV was able to establish the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs and the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies to carry on Hank’s legacy. The family also helped make possible the five-story Greenspun Hall, which houses…

Las Vegas-based TRIRIGA Inc., founded by UNLV alumnus Anthony Marnell III ’98, was a global leader in integrated workplace management systems. The company was later acquired by IBM. But as TRIRIGA's Chairman, Anthony brought the company and the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality together through a $2.7 million gift of enterprise software and services.

The college used TRIRIGA’s products to educate faculty and students about the company’s enterprise software and how it applied to the  hospitality industry, including the management of hotels, resorts, and event centers. They also learned about resources supporting environmental sustainability—an ongoing area of focus for the industry's future.

TRIRIGA’s donation was a platform upon which hospitality students learned the industry standard for…

Station Casinos, Inc.’s long-standing relationship with UNLV focused on two objectives: providing a path for students to attend the university and giving them the opportunities they need to have a rewarding, successful college experience. Through many of its properties—including Palace Station, Green Valley Ranch, Texas Station, Fiesta Station, Sunset Station, Boulder Station, and Santa Fe Station—Station Casinos, Inc. invested in scholarships for its employees and their family members, and provided resources for myriad UNLV programs, including the Lied Institute for Real Estate Studies, the Thomas and Mack Legal Clinic, KUNV, the Nevada Business Hall of Fame, the Rebel Athletic Fund, fine arts programming, and the Annual Fund.

Most notably, Station Casinos, Inc. funded several core initiatives that  promoted…

The Bernard Osher Foundation was founded in 1977 by Bernard and Barbro Osher with the mission to improve quality of life through support of higher education and the arts. Known as “the quiet philanthropist,” Bernard, a respected businessman and community leader, was noted by Business Week in November 2007 as the 11th most generous philanthropist in the world. Through the foundation, he and his wife invested in two highly successful academic assets at UNLV—the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and the Osher Reentry Scholarship Endowment.

In 2008, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNLV was one of 122 such programs in universities and colleges in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Thanks to the Bernard Osher Foundation’s support,…

Established in 1989, The Lincy Foundation was a primary philanthropic vehicle of Mr. Kirk Kerkorian. By 2008, The Lincy Foundation had invested more than $700 million in humanitarian efforts both in Armenia and the United States; Mr. Kerkorian had been listed as one of Business Week’s 50 Most Generous Philanthropists.

Helping families reach their full potential was one of the cornerstones of The Lincy Foundation. The organization was an ardent supporter of many Southern Nevada nonprofit organizations, and focused its efforts on humanitarian support that will improve life in the community.

In August 2008, The Lincy Foundation donated $3.2 million to furnish and equip a new clinical skills lab for medical and nursing students, which supported an initiative…

Southwest Gas Corporation has been a donor to UNLV since 1986. In 2007, the company made a significant commitment to the Science and Engineering Building, the most recent in a series of investments in programs and activities throughout UNLV. Over the years, Southwest Gas had supported the Academic Corporate Council, the Dean’s Associates Program, the Nevada Business Hall of Fame, the Senior Design Dinner in Engineering, the Minority Engineering Program, scholarships, Lied Real Estate Endowment, the Southwest Gas Distinguished Artist, the Center for Economic Education, Athletic scholarships, and the Charles H. McCrea Scholarship Endowment.

Southwest Gas Corporation’s philanthropy program played a leading role in the Las Vegas community through their dedication to strengthening organizations in areas where their…

Robert Mendenhall is the founder and president of Las Vegas Paving Corporation. He invented and patented the Asphalt Recycling Process, as well as numerous other inventions that benefit the construction industry, and help conserve our natural resources. Bob was inducted into the Nevada Inventors Hall of Fame in 1984. He gave an unrestricted gift of $1 million to the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering, and has been a contributor and a judge for the college’s Senior Design Competition. He was recognized at the May 2006 Commencement with an Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree.  

Born in Canada, Bob moved to Springville, Utah, with his family when he was eight years old. Consistently fascinated by all things mechanical, he…

In 2005, Mel and Ruth were honored with their first induction into the Palladium Society, thanks in part to their generous gift that established the Wolzinger Family Research Scholarship Endowment Fund for the Colleges of Sciences and Engineering. The gift provided for four annual scholarships of at least $10,000 each, two for undergraduate students and two for graduate students

The Wolzinger were active supporters of UNLV, its students, and its academic and community initiatives for decades. Through their time and support, including Mel’s service on the UNLV Foundation Board of Trustees, the couple's generous contributions to the university left an indelible imprint that will continue to touch the lives of students who choose UNLV.

Through this, and additional, scholarships…