WHAT: University of Nevada, Las Vegas Winter 2008 Commencement Ceremony

WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 16, beginning at 4 p.m.

WHERE: Thomas & Mack Center at UNLV

DETAILS: More than 3,000 UNLV undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to participate in this year's winter commencement ceremony, an increase of nearly one-third over last December.

UNLV President David B. Ashley will honor five graduating students during the ceremony for their outstanding achievements both at the university and in the community.

NOTE: Floor access during commencement is limited to participants and credentialed media only.

Guest/Visitor Information

The doors of the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion will open at 3 p.m. All guests should enter through the Thomas & Mack Center, while all graduates should report to Cox Pavilion for line-up. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis; no tickets are required. Ample parking is available in the Thomas & Mack Center lot. The ceremony will last approximately two and a half hours. For more information, please visit http://commencement.unlv.edu.

Outstanding Graduates

Outstanding graduates are chosen each semester by UNLV President David B. Ashley through a semester-long nomination process. Students are chosen based on outstanding academic achievements, community outreach and their ability to overcome adversity.

Eds. - Interview opportunities with outstanding graduates can be arranged prior to commencement by contacting UNLV Public Affairs at 895-3102.

Ilene Ruhoy - Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences
Ilene Ruhoy has already made a tremendous impact in the field of environmental studies. A medical doctor and skilled researcher whose approach blends both her academic and clinical training, Ilene has become a leading voice in the effort to minimize environmental exposure to unused pharmaceuticals. Her work has been cited by media outlets worldwide and is currently used by numerous federal agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency and Food & Drug Administration - shining a positive light on the excellence of UNLV graduate student research. Ilene currently sits on the Green Pharmacy Advisory Board of the Teleosis Institute of Health Professionals, serves as director of the institute for environmental medicine at Touro University, and was recently awarded a fellowship from the prestigious University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.

Hamidou Diawara - Ph.D. in Civil & Environmental Engineering
Hamidou Diawara has achieved remarkable success in both research and leadership while at UNLV. A father of three who hails from Mali in West Africa, Hamidou researches the properties of self-consolidating concrete - an emerging class of materials with the potential to improve construction efficiency and reduce costs, time and labor. Hamidou completed the Ph.D. program in just three-and-a-half years while maintaining a 3.93 grade point average and co-authoring five peer-reviewed publications, with16 more either in press or under preparation. A tutor and mentor to undergraduate and graduate engineering students, Hamidou served as the Graduate and Professional Student Association representative and instructor for the college's Civil Engineering Materials Lab.

Juan Plata - B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
Juan Plata's accomplishments as an undergraduate student serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of access to higher education. A first-generation college student and recent Colombian immigrant, Juan posted a near perfect grade point average in mechanical engineering, is past president of his college's honor society, and is a published researcher in the challenging field of biomedical engineering. Juan also spent the last two summers working with top UNLV researchers as part of the McNair Scholars Institute and the National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. Juan, who will graduate with both departmental and university honors, hopes his academic success leads to a future in research and serves as a message to other underrepresented and first-generation students that a career in higher education is possible.

David Cotter - B.S. in Biological Sciences
David Cotter's combination of academic excellence and civic engagement have set the bar for both research success and community outreach among UNLV undergraduates. A promising researcher in the field of microbiology, David has conducted three high-level research projects resulting in multiple conference presentations and a peer-reviewed publication. He participated in the prestigious Biomedical Research Apprenticeship Program at Washington University in St. Louis last summer, resulting in a full scholarship offer from the university's top-ranked Medical Scientist Training Program. In addition to volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, the Boys & Girls Club, and Green Up Las Vegas Wash, David is active in UNLV's pre-medical honor society, for which he was responsible for raising more than $8,000 to support a tropical medicine internship for disadvantaged students.

Elsie Hernandez - B.A. in Elementary Education
Elsie Hernandez is proof that individual perseverance and dedicated support from family can overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. Elsie is a mother of two young children and the first of her five siblings to attend college. A former participant in the TRIO Student Support Services program though the Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach, Elsie achieved a 3.0 grade point average and made the College of Education Dean's List in 2007. Her passion for learning - a credit to the unwavering support of her parents and husband - led her to pursue a degree in elementary education and a future career as a third grade teacher in the Clark County School District.