The Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) named La Voz, the Hispanic law students association at the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV, student organization of the year for its support of Latino law students and the Las Vegas Latino community. La Voz members accepted the award this past weekend at the 2008 HNBA Annual Convention in Hollywood, Calif.

"Civic engagement is a key component of what La Voz does. By volunteering at local elementary schools that have many Hispanic students or reaching out to Hispanic parents, we are showing them that anyone can persevere and get an education, no matter what the odds," said Leslie Nino Fidance, treasurer and former president of the group.

"We selected La Voz because of its members' dedication and commitment to mentoring. We see this as a necessary element of achieving diversity in the legal profession," said Sean A. Andrade, the convention chair and secretary for the 2008 HNBA conference. "The HNBA is proud of the work La Voz has done and we look forward to continuing to work together."

La Voz, a 3-year-old group, participates in many philanthropic projects with the Latino community to encourage better high school and college graduation rates of Hispanics and to increase Hispanic enrollment in law school. For instance, through its mentorship program called Huellas (translated as "footprints" in English), La Voz pairs high school and undergraduate college students with local attorneys in various areas of law to gain insight into the legal profession.

La Voz members have also taken junior high and high school Hispanic students and their parents on tours of UNLV and have held bilingual information sessions that discussed the importance of continuing education beyond high school.

For more information on La Voz, e-mail lavozhlsa@unlv.edu or call the Boyd School of Law at 702-895-3671. Visit <a href="http://www.law.unlv.edu/studentOrganizations.html">Boyd School of Law<a/>.