What

University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Spring 2006 Commencement ceremonies

When

Saturday, May 13, 2006

• 9:00 a.m. ceremony: Graduate College, Business, Education, Engineering, Dental, Hotel, and University College.
• 2:00 p.m. ceremony: Graduate College, Law, Fine Arts, Health Sciences, Liberal Arts, Sciences, Urban Affairs

Where

UNLV Thomas & Mack Center

Details

UNLV will award more than 5,100 degrees this year. The Spring 2006 Commencement includes the first graduating class from the UNLV School of Dental Medicine, with 71 graduates being awarded the Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) degree.

Commencement also marks the last official campus ceremony for UNLV President Carol C. Harter, who is retiring June 30. Dr. Harter has led UNLV for more than a decade and has shaken literally thousands of hands as graduating seniors crossed the commencement stage over the past decade.

Media

Media are invited to cover commencement ceremony- a list of special honorees below are strong story ideas surrounding commencement, particularly the outstanding graduates.

9:00 a.m. Ceremony Special Honorees

• Robert Mendenhall- Honorary Doctorate of Laws
• Gary Loveman -Honorary Doctorate of Laws
• Gasper Lazzara, DDS - President's Medal
• Deborah Faiman-Shoofey - President's Medal
• Kevin Page - Distinguished Nevadan and President's Medal

9:00 a.m. Ceremony, Outstanding Graduates Being Recognized

Janine Daugherty is an undergraduate human resources management major who has achieved remarkable academic success despite maintaining full-time employment and an internship at the Clark County Water Reclamation District. In addition to her performance as a student, Janine has had to overcome the personal challenge of having cerebral palsy. Her faculty adviser notes "despite the challenges this disability undoubtedly presents for her, Janine maintains such a positive attitude towards school and life that I am certain few if any classmates and other professors are even aware of her disability."

Shana Goffman is a graduate student who will receive her M.S. in water resource management. Her GPA is an impressive 4.0. She holds a B.A. from University of California, Berkeley in applied mathematics. As a graduate assistant, she taught courses while pursing her graduate degree at UNLV and always received "glowing reviews from students." In the fall, Shana was hired by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation based on her thesis research "Uncertainty Analysis: Mid-Term Operational Model for the Lower Colorado River." That thesis research will contribute to improved management of the Colorado River as a resource for Nevada, Arizona, and California.

Jean Hertzman has been a faculty member in the Food and Beverage Department at UNLV for over a decade and will receive her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education Administration . Hertzman is responsible for management of catering operations and teaches courses that focus on food preparation. In addition, the soon-to-be Dr. Hertzman serves as the Funding Dinner Coordinator and Host of the annual "Friends of Nevada Dinner," where she has helped raise a significant amount of money for the Poverello House homeless Shelter in Las Vegas. Hertzman recently completed a substantial work grant from the United States Department of Agriculture, focusing on proper food handling in the catering industry. She is a past recipient of "Chef of the Year," a prestigious award from the American Culinary Foundation, the Sam and Mary Boyd Award for Distinguished Teaching, and the Boyd Award for Distinguished Service in 2001.

Telma Lopez is a non-traditional undergraduate with a 3.0 GPA who was one of the first students in the University Studies capstone project. She participated in the program through an internship at the UNLV Law School's Nevada Immigrant Resource Project (NIRP). Telma has been a dedicated part of the NIRP who goes above and beyond her responsibilities as an intern. She is an immigrant from Mexico who became a U.S. citizen seven years ago. In addition to her internship, Telma has maintained full-time employment while pursing her degree at UNLV and is a regular volunteer for Junior Achievement, teaching that organization's curriculum to youth at Clark County Schools. Telma is applying for a master's program at UNLV.

2:00 p.m. Ceremony Special Honorees

• Miriam Adelson - Honorary Doctorate of Laws
• Daniel C. Van Epp - President's Medal
• Dr. Hal Rothman - President's Medal
• Leonard Goodall - Distinguished Nevadan
• Marie E. Stever Daly McMillan - Distinguished Nevadan

2:00 p.m. Ceremony, Outstanding Graduates Being Recognized

Bob Ain is a non-traditional student who is finishing his MS degree in mathematics with a stellar GPA. He obtained his B.S. degree from the United States Air Force Academy in 1974. After spending twenty years as an officer and pilot in the US Air Force, he decided to pursue his graduate degree at UNLV. Bob volunteers regularly for the R.O.T.C. program at UNLV, and he is applying to UNLV's doctoral program in mathematics so that he can eventually teach mathematics.

AmiJo Comeford is a Ph.D. candidate in English. She received the 2005 Regents' Scholar Award and the 2005 Barrick Graduate Fellowship to complete work on her dissertation, Melville's Battle Pieces: Race, Reconciliation, and Reunion. In completing her Master of Arts degree in English, she received the Graduate College's 2004 Outstanding Thesis Award for her work in Restlessness: Spiritual Fulfillment or Spiritual Estrangement. In the same year, she also received the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award and was on the National Dean's List. During her time at UNLV, Ms. Comeford has been active in presenting papers at conferences and having her work published in several scholarly publications. She was appointed assistant director of the UNLV Writing Center, providing consultations and workshops for students and overseeing daily operations.

Lori Emptage is a non-traditional student who is graduating with a B.S. in health care administration. She has a 4.0 GPA - the very first health care administration undergraduate to achieve that honor. She finished her degree while raising three children as a single mother and working full-time. One of her children currently attends UNLV, and another will be entering as a freshman this fall. Lori has been employed for a number of years at the Teachers Health Trust, an organization that provides health benefits to Clark County School District. She serves on the Board of the Congregation Ner Tamid Sisterhood, a volunteer organization focused on activism and community development.

Archana Nelliot is a bachelor's student in biology who will be graduating with honors (3.9 GPA). She has been accepted at John Hopkins University for a prestigious master's and Ph.D. program in biotechnology. As an undergraduate student, she has been involved with important research for Dr. Debbie Hoshizaki in the biological sciences and presented her findings at six national conferences- an astounding accomplishment for an undergraduate student. Ms. Nelliot is the first author for a research paper published in Developmental Biology, another significant achievement for an undergraduate student. She is a member of several campus organizations, including academic honorary groups such as Alpha Delta Epsilon. Nelliot also earned the distinctive 2005 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship for her undergraduate research in the natural sciences, the premier undergraduate award of its type in the field. In addition to her stellar academic performance, Archana has been an active member of the community by preparing meals for Shade Tree and she serves as a volunteer tutor.

UNLV Class of 2006 At-a-Glance

• Approximately 5,100 degrees will be awarded
  • 22 percent increase over-all from last year
  • 17 percent increase in undergraduate degrees
  • 35 percent increase in graduate and professional degrees
• 60 percent female and 40 percent male, with nearly 1000 more females than males
• 30 percent of graduates are minority
• Average age of undergraduates is 27
• Average age of graduate and professional is 33
• 77 percent of all graduates are from the state of Nevada- the remainder come from 49 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, and 50 foreign nations
• Since 1964, UNLV has awarded over 73,000 degrees- 53,000 bachelor's, 15,000 master's and specialty degrees, 494 doctoral degrees, and 720 law degrees