Regents honor 2012’s top Nevadans

The Board of Regents today named recipients for several prestigious awards, including the 2012 Distinguished Nevadans.

The Distinguished Nevadan represents the most prestigious award conferred by the Board of Regents. It is bestowed upon prominent individuals who have made significant achievements that have contributed to the cultural, scientific or social advancement of Nevada. The recipients will be honored at commencements in Reno and Las Vegas in May.

2012 Distinguished Nevadans

• Judge Carl J. Christensen, Retired  
• Dr. Michael A. Golberg (posthumously)
• Ms. Pat Lundvall
• Mr. Stanley Paher
• Dr. Rachakonda D. Prabhu
• Mr. Guy L. Rocha  

In addition, the following 2012 Regents’ Awards were announced:

Regents’ Creative Activity Award

The Board of Regents established the Regents’ Award for Creative Activity in 1993. This award recognizes significant accomplishments which bring recognition, as well as national and international stature, to the Nevada System of Higher Education. The honoree receives a $5,000 stipend and a medal. The 2012 honoree is Joseph DeLappe of the University of Nevada, Reno. 

Regents’ Teaching Award

In 1996, the Board of Regents approved the establishment of the annual Regents’ Teaching Award. This award honors outstanding instructional contributions to the Nevada System of Higher Education. Two awards are granted yearly, one from UNLV, UNR, NSC or DRI, and the other from CSN, GBC, TMCC or WNC. Each honoree receives a $5,000 stipend and a medal. The 2012 honorees are:

• Daniel Bouweraerts, Truckee Meadows Community College
• Dr. Kevin Graziano, Nevada State College.

View all Regents’ Teaching Award Nominees

Academic Advisors Award

The Board of Regents established the Regents’ Academic Advising Award in 1998. This award honors outstanding academic student advising with one award granted to a community college advisor and two awards granted to advisors at the state college or universities. Each honoree receives a $5,000 stipend. The 2012 honorees are:

• Jana Wolf, College of Southern Nevada
• Cynthia Birk, University of Nevada, Reno (undergraduate)
• Dr. Curtis Love, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (graduate)

2012 Regents’ Scholar Award

The Regents’ Scholar Award is bestowed upon one student from each NSHE institution for their academic achievements, leadership ability and service contributions. Each honoree receives a $5,000 stipend. The 2012 honorees are:

• Ms. Carleen Saladino, College of Southern Nevada
• Ms. Vivian Farnsworth, Great Basin College
• Ms. Anam Qadir, Nevada State College
• Ms. Lisa Hoffman-Davis, Truckee Meadows Community College
• Ms. Emily Tamadonfar, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (undergraduate)
• Mr. Nicholas Thaler, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (graduate)
• Mr. Muir Morrison, University of Nevada, Reno (undergraduate)
• Ms. Crystal Colombini, University of Nevada, Reno (graduate)
• Ms. Maira Ibarra, Western Nevada College

Regents’ Researcher Award

The Board of Regents established the Regents’ Researcher Award in 1992. This award is bestowed upon faculty members with a substantial record of accomplishments, including a significant amount of research and scholarly work with recognition, clear evidence of the national and/or international stature of the research, and in the case of grants and contracts, must have been competitive on a national or international level. The honoree receives a $5,000 stipend and a medal. The 2012 honoree is Dr. Faramarz Gordaninejad of the University of Nevada, Reno.

2012 Honorary Degrees

Honorary Baccalaureate Degrees 

• Ms. Eleanor Little, Great Basin College

Honorary Associate Degrees

• Mr. Donal Hummer, Jr., Western Nevada College
• Senator Mike McGinness, Western Nevada College
• Mr. Thomas Schoeman, College of Southern Nevada