Clark County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates will be the keynote speaker at the May 4 student awards reception sponsored by the UNLV Alliance of Professionals of African Heritage.

The awards event, now in its 18th year, is set for 4 p.m. in the Cox Pavilion. The event is free and open to the public. People wishing to attend are asked to RSVP to 895-4777.

The top awards to be presented at the event are the Roosevelt Fitzgerald Outstanding Student Awards and the Thomas Wilson Community Service Awards.

The Roosevelt Fitzgerald Award, named in honor of the former UNLV anthropology professor and director of ethnic studies, will be presented to a total of four students - one male and one female undergraduate student and one male and one female graduate student. It is awarded on the basis of academic performance, campus leadership, and participation in university activities.

The Thomas Wilson Community Service Award, named in honor of UNLV's first African-American education professor, will be presented to the top male and female graduate and undergraduate students based on citizenship, involvement in service activities on and off campus, and academic performance.