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51�ԹϺ��� alumnus Zachary Billot, ’24 Political Science, was named a 2025 Marshall Scholar, marking a milestone as the first in the university’s history to earn this prestigious award. Billot’s award was the culmination of years of extraordinary accomplishments. As an undergraduate in 51�ԹϺ���’s Honors College, he made university history in 2023 as the first to win both the Truman and Udall scholarships in the same year. Now, as a Marshall Scholar, he joins an elite group of leaders whose alumni include Supreme Court justices, Pulitzer Prize winners, and a Nobel laureate.

Supported by a $15 million donation from Sands, 51�ԹϺ��� is establishing the Sands Institute for Chinese Language and Culture as part of its dedication to enriching the educational and cultural landscape of Las Vegas and beyond. The Sands Institute will be housed in 51�ԹϺ���’s newly renovated Maryland Administrative Building, offering a central location accessible to both university students and the broader Las Vegas community. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art classrooms, exhibition spaces, and meeting venues designed to host a wide array of events. With the substantial financial support from Sands, the institute is poised to become an internationally recognized center for the study and appreciation of Chinese language and culture.

51�ԹϺ��� has been recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge as a 2024 “Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting.” The award recognizes colleges and universities for outstanding efforts to increase nonpartisan student voter participation. The Goldfield Room in Lied Library served as both an early voting location and an Election Day polling site, where voters received a unique, Nevada-shaped "I Voted" sticker designed by a 51�ԹϺ��� student.

The 51�ԹϺ��� College of Fine Arts and 51�ԹϺ��� Film hosted an in-depth panel conversation in November regarding plans for Warner Bros. Studio Nevada. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), one of the world’s leading global media and entertainment companies, announced  plans to partner with 51�ԹϺ��� and Birtcher Development through a long-term commitment to lease, operate and fully occupy Nevada Studios – the centerpiece of a film studio tax credit legislative proposal that seeks to establish film and TV studio infrastructure and workforce development programs at 51�ԹϺ���’s Harry Reid Research & Technology Park in Las Vegas.

51�ԹϺ��� Athletics generated more than $109 million annually in added income to the local economy, according to a recent economic impact analysis conducted by labor market analytics company Lightcast. The study highlighted the many ways that 51�ԹϺ��� Athletics creates value, from playing a key role in helping student-athletes increase their employability to generating both dollars and opportunities for Clark County through operations, visitor spending, and human capital.

51�ԹϺ��� was one of just three national finalists for the annual Degree Completion Award from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, which recognized innovative approaches the university has taken recently to drive graduation rates to the highest level in its history. These programs include, Rebel Ready Week, the development of Student Outreach, and Retention, Progression, and Completion coordinators in each college. Thanks to these resources, 51�ԹϺ���; graduation rates are at an all-time high.

Students in the Department of Film are pioneering the future of sound design by beta testing unreleased audio technology software from Holoplot. Using this tool, they created a documentary to showcase its potential and tested the results in Holoplot's U.S. office in Las Vegas. With direct connections to industry leaders, 51�ԹϺ��� students are poised to redefine the boundaries of sound and film innovation.

The 51�ԹϺ��� College of Fine Arts introduced a BA in Creative Practice degree program for students wishing to pursue a career in the arts within a broad context. This innovative degree offers focused coursework in arts leadership, management, and entrepreneurship. With organizations across diverse industries seeking leaders who can integrate knowledge across disciplines, the program equips graduates to excel in a wide range of roles, driving innovation and advocacy in the arts and beyond.