Meet Our Lee Scholars

Ryan Arinas is a junior pre-Business major with a Global Entrepreneurship minor. Ryan is engaged with the business school as the Vice President of Technology for UNLV DECA, a Senior Associate and Social Media/Content Lead for the Rebel Venture Fund, and the Director of Finance for the Global Entrepreneurship Experience Club. His involvement on campus further extends to the American Cancer Society, where he acts as the Social Media Lead for UNLV’s Rebel Relay for Life, a community-based fundraising event. Beyond that, Ryan is also actively involved in volunteering with the Boys and Girls Club.

Lee Business School is an amazing place for students to learn, grow, and achieve with courage and confidence. The faculty and staff work hard
every day to make sure students have the strength and courage to succeed. Being recognized as a Lee Scholar has made me appreciate all the
support and opportunities this school has provided me. I'm truly grateful to the Lees and everyone else who support this school and its students.
Ryan Arinas

Nadege Barthelmy is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in Accounting. Before entering college, Nadege spent seven years as active duty military and one year as a reservist. She has been heavily involved throughout her college career, acting as President of the First Generation Club, Director of the Rebel Venture Fund (through February 2017), Vice President of the UNLV Black Student Organization, a member of Beta Alpha Psi, and a community ambassador for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Nadege has also interned with various companies, including Ameriprise, a financial services firm, and RiCH Robotics, a Las Vegas start-up company.

I am deeply honored to be named a Lee Scholar. Growing up, I watched my father work various minimum wage jobs. It was hard to think about college when our family couldn’t even keep the lights on. As a single parent, I want to provide for my son without having to sacrifice my own education and professional goals. To me, being recognized as a Lee Scholar means that my parents’ socioeconomic status does not determine the level of education I receive. I can afford to do more than just dream. I can establish educational goals to help reach my professional aspirations. To have such an investment into my education is essentially an investment in the quality of life for my family and our future.
Nadege Barthelmy

Din Gol is a senior majoring in Finance and Hospitality Management. Din is involved with the Chabad Organization, which is a group focused on serving and engaging with the Jewish community. He also has significant work experience, having served as a Meeting Planner and Manager for Gol Art Gallery and Publishing, as well as working for other companies such as Forever Flawless and Tereza Pasta Bar. Din is currently developing a start-up in collaboration with other UNLV students and has a strong passion for art, finance, and the stock market. He hopes to further his education by pursuing an MBA degree after graduation.

I am honored to be a Lee Scholar. My lifelong dream of attending a business school in the United States is moving
forward, thanks to this scholarship. Being part of this program gives me an opportunity to lighten my financial burden,
meet great mentors, and to focus on my goals as a student and as someone that wants to make a difference in the
world. I would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Lee for this opportunity and for inspiring me to give back to the community.
Din Gol

Cody Massey is a senior majoring in Accounting. After graduating high school, Cody became a walk-on student-athlete for UNLV’s men’s soccer team his freshman year. Off the field Cody represents the soccer team as the President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. An Honors College student, he’s received the Honors College Bennett Mentor Scholarship and has served as a mentor to first-year students. Cody is the Director of the Rebel Venture Fund and was a Lee Business School International Ambassador for the 2016-2017 year. Additionally, he’s completed internships at Commerce Street Capital and Union Gaming, focusing on capital raise transactions and the gaming industry, respectively. In the future, Cody wants to work in investment banking with a focus on mergers and acquisitions with the ultimate goal of working in private equity.

It is an honor to be named a Lee Scholar for a second year in a row. I am appreciative of not only their financial support, but also for the
opportunity to interact with and learn from the Lee family. Collectively, they have many great perspectives on business, life, and family.
Cody Massey

Ei Thander Myint is a senior at UNLV majoring in both Economics and Psychology. On campus, Ei participates in the Economics Club, as well as Psi Chi, the Psychology honors society. Originally from Myanmar, Ei moved to America four years ago to pursue her education. She attended Butte College in Northern California where she acted as an Accounting tutor, Computer tutor, Orientation Leader, and Student Assistant, amongst participation in various other clubs and organizations. After earning associate degrees in Business Administration and Psychology, Ei came to Las Vegas to further her studies and take on internship roles. Starting this fall, Ei will be working as a research assistant at the UNLV Social Development Research Lab and will be completing her undergraduate honors thesis.

It is both an honor and a humbling experience to be named a Lee Scholar. The generous contribution from the Lee family makes a huge difference in my undergraduate studies at UNLV. Being a double major, I was often doubtful about this decision mainly due to the financial hardship. However, this scholarship helps settle my financial concerns, allows me to focus on my academic studies, and most importantly gives me an opportunity to be involved more in research, leadership, and community work. I would like to extend my most heartfelt thanks to the Lee family for this award. Their act of generosity certainly teaches me one valuable lesson, which is the importance of giving back to the community!
Ei Thander Myint

Kyle Nowak is a senior majoring in Finance and a minor in Global Entrepreneurship. A member of the honors college, Kyle serves as a mentor and instructor for first-year students. He has served as a Lee International Ambassador in 2016 and 2017, which has given him the opportunity to travel, take classes abroad, and represent Lee Business School on a global level. For the 2017-2018 year, Kyle has been named the Lead Ambassador for the program. He is also an active member of the Rebel Investment Group. A student in the Global Entrepreneurship Experience program, Kyle has shown his first-hand entrepreneurial experience through the development and ownership of his own shaved-ice truck.

I am so honored to be a Lee Scholar for Lee Business School. This opportunity will allow me to continue to foster my education, leadership
abilities, and business endeavors. Additionally, being a Lee Scholar is a unique opportunity to interact with the Lee family. I have and
will always continue to have great amounts of gratitude towards the Lee family and the business school for recognizing me as a scholar.
Kyle Nowak

Katelyn Putman is a senior majoring in Accounting and minoring in Global Entrepreneurship. Katelyn has been a member of UNLV Collegiate DECA and the Global Entrepreneurship Experience Club for the entirety of her college career. Additionally, she has served as the Recruitment Coordinator for Beta Alpha Psi, acted as the 2015-2016 President of Phi Eta Sigma Honor Fraternity, and has represented the business school as a Lee International Ambassador, traveling to London and taking business courses abroad. Katelyn’s internship experience is also impressive as she has interned for the Las Vegas-based company Zappos, and is currently an Operations Intern at Provident Trust Group. After graduation, Katelyn plans on studying to get her CPA and eventually becoming a forensic accountant.

I am so thankful to be named a Lee Scholar because it means that I can spend my last year in college focused on my academics. When I was first
applying for colleges in high school, I was worried about how I would be able to afford classes. I have worked part-time to support myself, but
often this means putting my education second. This year, I can put my education first and not have to worry about working enough to pay my bills.
Katelyn Putman

Skylar Stevens is currently pursuing her Master of Science degree in Accounting, after having earned her BSBA in Accounting from Lee Business School. Skylar is a member of Beta Alpha Psi, the Accounting honor society, and has also represented UNLV on a national level as the Team Captain of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) competition team. She also engages with the campus community as a student assistant at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). Additionally, Skylar’s knowledge and expertise have been a great asset as both an Audit Intern at BDO and an Assurance Intern at Ernst and Young. Skylar will continue with Ernst and Young, joining the firm in the fall of 2018 after completing her degree.

Being a Lee Scholar means a great deal to me. As a second-year transfer student, I felt slightly lost and out of place during my first semesters at
UNLV. Since declaring Accounting as my major, and finding Lee Business School, I haven’t felt out of place. Lee Business School has been my home
away from home for the past three years, and I feel so fortunate to be able to pursue my master’s degree and continue my education here. Being
a Lee Scholar allows me the opportunity and financial freedom to focus on studying and sitting for the CPA exam, in addition to attending classes.
Skylar Stevens

Dilyana Atanasova is a senior pursuing a degree in Finance. In fall 2012, she moved from Bulgaria to the United States to pursue her post-secondary education. Recently, Dilyana completed an internship as a summer analyst with Goldman Sachs in Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition to her studies and professional advancement, she also dedicates her time to several collegiate associations and societies. In spring 2016, she was appointed VP of Social Media for the Financial Management Association, a position she still holds. She was also VP of Events for the National Society of Collegiate Scholars during the 2014-2015 school year. Additionally, she is a member of both Phi Kappa Phi and the National Society of Leadership and Success. Throughout her college career, Dilyana has worked toward honing her customer service, leadership, problem solving, and interpersonal skills.

After graduation, Dilyana plans to obtain her CFA and pursue a career as a financial analyst.

Receiving the Lee Scholarship has been a tremendous honor and will financially assist me to continue toward my goals. The recognition of my hard work, leadership abilities, and academic success has provided me a sense of accomplishment. I am proud to have been awarded this prestigious scholarship, and with it, I will continue to excel.
Dilyana Atanasova

Andrea DeBrino is a senior majoring in Accounting with a minor in Film. She returned to school after taking four years off to work for The Walt Disney Company. Andrea is the lead ambassador in the Lee Business School International Ambassador program, which took her to London to represent UNLV. She is also a director in the Accounting Student Advisory Council, a group of students that advise the accounting department on ways in which to improve the major. She is also the director of marketing for Beta Alpha Psi, an accounting fraternity. In 2015, she represented UNLV as a semi-finalist in the national AICPA Accounting Competition and in 2017 she joined her fellow Lee Scholars at the Berg Cup.

Passionate about film, Andrea spends her free time freelancing as a production assistant and sometimes works as an extra. She is also the president of UNLV's film club, Cinefemmes, a group dedicated to supporting women in the film industry. Andrea will graduate this May and plans to return to the Pacific Northwest, where she was born and raised.

Receiving the Lee Scholar honor means a lot to me: it gave me the opportunity to continue on with my education. I was put in a tight spot financially, and because of this scholarship, I am able to continue on without worrying about how to be a full-time student while supporting myself financially. I am so grateful that I can finish my education because of the generosity of the Lee family.
Andrea DeBrino

Jason Kreitz is a senior Economics major with minors in Math and Japanese, as well as being an active member of the UNLV Honors Rebellion. He grew up in Las Vegas and graduated from Liberty High School in 2012. After a few stints with the Colleges of Science and Liberal Arts, he found his home at Lee Business School in the Department of Economics. He is currently a member of the Financial Management Association and the International Business Club. Last fall, Jason joined a team that represented the International Business Club in the 2015 Contender Challenge and ultimately received MVP awards in the operations and ethics challenges. In March 2016 and 2017, he joined his fellow Lee Scholar, Joe Kuhn, in competing at the Berg Cup at the University of Pittsburgh, a nationally known ethics case study competition, where they placed in the top 8 and top 4, respectively, out of more 60 colleges.

Jason is currently an intern at Boyd Gaming, where he is working under the director of Financial Analysis. He is developing his skills in data analytics and hopes to pursue a master’s degree in Data Science.

I am incredibly grateful to the Lee Family for their dedication to Lee Business School. The Lee Scholar scholarship is paying for my studies in my final year, allowing me to pursue lasting experiences - including competitions and extracurricular activities - over immediate wages. Moreover, the experience has given me an opportunity to be surrounded with a diverse group of individuals that strive to make an impact within their respective communities. The Lee Family embraces a pay-it-forward mentality through their commitment to UNLV's students; I am thankful to have experienced their generosity personally.
Jason Kreitz

Joe Kuhn is a senior pursuing dual bachelor’s degrees in Finance and Accounting from UNLV Lee Business School. Raised in a military family, Joe’s formative years were spent in various destinations around the world and led to him developing a passion for international business and culture. He is a non-traditional undergraduate student with more than five years of operational management experience and is currently a research assistant in the Department of Finance. Joe currently serves as the president of the UNLV Financial Management Association (FMA) and is a member of Beta Alpha Psi. Previously, he served as an International Ambassador. In March of 2016 and 2017 he led teams of undergraduates – including current Lee Scholar Jason Kreitz and former Lee Scholar Daniel Dinev – to the Berg Cup at the University of Pittsburgh, a nationally known ethics and data analytics case study competition, where they placed in the top 8 and top 4, respectively, out of more than 60 colleges. He helped FMA to win the 2014 Contender Challenge, place second in 2015 where he also collected three individual MVP awards, and once again first place in 2016. Joe also gives back to the local Las Vegas community by working with Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada and contributes to multiple charitable organizations.

After graduation, Joe seeks to obtain his CPA license and return to his hometown of San Diego to pursue a position in public auditing. In time, he would like to become the CFO of an international firm.

I cannot begin to express my gratitude to the Lee family and to those who have helped me get to where I am today. To be selected for such a prestigious award is both humbling and an incredible honor. This scholarship allows me to continue to focus on my academics, involvement, and leadership during my final year at UNLV.
Joe Kuhn

Cody Massey is a senior majoring in Accounting. After graduating from Timber Creek High School in Fort Worth, Texas in 2013, where as a senior he earned first team all-district honors and was named Team MVP, Cody became a walk-on student-athlete for UNLV’s men’s soccer team his freshman year. Off the field Cody represents the soccer team as the chief of staff for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He is a mentor and recipient of the Honors College Bennet Mentor Scholarship, serves as director of finance for the Rebel Venture Fund, and is a Lee Business School International Ambassador. Additionally, Cody has earned placement on the Dean’s List every semester he’s been eligible.

Outside of school Cody continues to be a positive influence. One such way is his involvement with children diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and his initiative to coordinate community service opportunities with the UNLV Men’s Soccer Team.

It is truly an honor to be named a Lee Scholar. Being able to join such a prestigious group is invaluable. I am very appreciative of the Lee family and everything they do for Lee Business School. The Lee Scholarship has not only provided a great financial support, but it has also allowed me the ability to interact and learn from members of the Lee family. This is perhaps the most valuable aspect, as the Lee family are great mentors to have.
Cody Massey

Kristian Que is a senior seeking both a BSBA in Economics and a MSBA in Marketing. Born on the Visayan island of Panay in the Philippines, at the age of seven Que moved from the Philippines to the United States. After back-and-forth transitions between the Philippines and California, the family settled in Las Vegas. Shortly after graduating from Horizon High School, Que enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served for four years as an infantryman anti-tank assaultman. Following his service as a Marine, Que enlisted in the Nevada Army National Guard, where he served for four years as a cavalryman and armored cavalry scout. During his military service, Que received several service awards and advanced learning opportunities. Que is Systems Administrator at Global Gold Inc. and is certified as a CompTIA IT Technician, Comp TIA Network Professional, and Security Professional.

Since enrolling at UNLV in 2010, Que received a certificate of achievement from the Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency in Writing, and has been named to the UNLV Lee Business School Dean's Honor Roll for spring 2013 and spring 2015. A member of the Society for Collegiate Leadership & Achievement (SCLA) and an active member of UNLV's German Club, Kristian also strives for continuous improvement in all aspects of his life, including physical fitness, personal finances, emotional well-being, and fostering positive relationships with family, friends and colleagues. Upon graduation this May, he plans to pursue a master's degree in Economics and eventually a Ph.D. Kristian was recognized as a Lee Scholar for the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 academic years.

Regards being recognized as a Lee Scholar, words cannot convey the gratitude I have for the Lee Scholarship. Not only am I a full-time student, I am also a single father of two. My time is devoted to my studies and to the care of my children exclusively. Before I returned to school, I saved just enough to sustain myself and my family for the time it would take to achieve an undergraduate degree. Since then, I decided on a dual-degree and extended the time it would take to achieve that goal. With my savings dwindling and my VA education benefits nearly exhausted, the Lee Scholars Program has given me the means to achieve my goals without having to choose between graduating or dropping out to provide for my family. The Lee Scholarship not only allows me to see my initial goals realized, but to actually expand my goals to include grad school. The Lee Scholars Program has also provided me numerous networking opportunities with key figures here in Las Vegas.
Kristian Que

Zhiheng (Zing) Xue is a graduate student in the Master of Science in Accounting program at Lee Business School. A 2012 graduate of Durango High School, Zing became an undergraduate peer research coach with UNLV Lied Library during her freshman year. During her time as a peer coach, Zing co-taught ENG 102 classes with librarians and presented at the 2015 National Resource Center Conference about the benefits of peer assistance in the classroom. Zing joined various organizations where she’s been actively involved in the business school. She served as a Lee Business School Student Ambassador for two consecutive years and was the membership and fundraising director for Beta Alpha Psi, an international honorary organization for business students. Additionally, Zing competed in Deloitte’s FanTAXtic Competition in 2013 and the 2015 AICPA Accounting Competition. Zing was an accounting apprentice for Zappos during her junior year and a tax intern for Deloitte Tax LLP during her senior year. Currently, Zing is a graduate assistant in the Career and Professional Development Office at Lee Business School.

Upon graduation, Zing will begin working as a consultant in the business tax group for Deloitte Tax LLP.

It is such a distinct honor to be nominated as a Lee Scholar. Being a business student has given me the privilege to receive a phenomenal education and extraordinary career opportunities from Lee Business School. Receiving this scholarship alleviates financial stress and allows me to focus on my academic studies.
Zhiheng (Zing) Xue

NgaSze (Cecilia) Yau is a senior pursuing dual degrees in Accounting and Hospitality Management. She was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to the United States with her family when she was six. Cecilia has spent the majority of her life in Las Vegas and is a 2013 graduate of Sierra Vista High School. Currently serving as a lead with the Lee Business School Ambassadors, she is also an active member of two other business school organizations: UNLV DECA and Beta Alpha Psi. With these organizations, Cecilia has competed in numerous competitions, including the 2013 and 2015 Contenders Challenge, Utah DECA's Fall Leadership Conference, and Collegiate DECA's International Career Development Conference. In addition, Cecilia is a Bennett Honors Mentor, a program within the Honors College that helps incoming Honors College freshmen assimilate to a successful college life.

After graduation, Cecilia plans to launch her career in public accounting with Ernst & Young and pursue the CPA designation.

The Lee Scholarship has opened many new doors for me, not only because it allows me to focus on my academics and involvement on campus, but also because it introduces me to a cohort of like-minded, high-achieving students.
NgaSze (Cecilia) Yau

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