The 51ԹϺ Office of Government and Community Engagement administers annual awards that recognize campus individuals for their exceptional community engagement in the areas of 1) service-learning, 2) community-based research, 3) faculty/staff community outreach activity, and 4) student service.
These awards recognize individuals whose community engagement activity aligns with one or more of the university’s Top Tier 2.0 Community Partnership objectives:
- Build reciprocal relationships as we create and strengthen partnerships, collaborations, and pipeline programs with K-12.
- Leverage 51ԹϺ’s strength to develop collaborative networks and address community needs and challenges.
- Provide cultural, educational, and service programs that are valued, advance learning, and benefit our communities.
- Targeted, intentional engagement efforts to identify, establish, and steward mutually beneficial partnerships with aligned stakeholders centered on distinct and strategic intersections.
- Communicate 51ԹϺ’s strengths to promote the link between the university and the associated benefit to the community, region, state, legislature, and other stakeholders.
Applications must be accompanied by two letters of recommendation -- one from a member of the campus community and one from the primary, off-campus community partner. (Please refer to the “Letter of Recommendation Guidance” document below.)
Self-nominations are welcome. Applications must be submitted for an individual; group applications will not be considered. Applicants can apply for only one award in only one category per year. There is no requirement for the award to be given in every category every year. Award recipients will be recognized at the annual campus recognition ceremony.
To learn more or to apply, please review the award categories and criteria below.
Service-Learning Faculty Award
The Service-Learning Faculty Award is given annually to one faculty member or instructor who has taught a recognized service-learning course*. The selected recipient will receive a monetary award of $2,000.
Community-Based Research Faculty Award
The Community-Based Research Faculty Award is given annually to one faculty member who has conducted community-based research. The selected recipient will receive a monetary award of $2,000.
Faculty/Staff Community Outreach Award
The Faculty/Staff Community Outreach Award is given annually to one academic/administrative faculty or classified staff member who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to 51ԹϺ-related community outreach activities. The selected recipient will receive a monetary award of $1,500.
Student Service Award
The Student Service Award is given annually to one student who has had a positive impact in the Southern Nevada community by volunteering their time and talent to address a community need. The selected recipient will receive a monetary award of $1,000.
2024 51ԹϺ Community Engagement Award Recipients
- Service-Learning Award: Rachel Anderson, William S. Boyd School of Law
- Honorable Mention: Michael Gordon, Greenspun College of Urban Affairs
- Community-Based Research Award: Erika Marquez, School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health
- Honorable Mention: Kara Radzak, School of Integrated Health Sciences
- Faculty/Staff Outreach Award: Rebecca Nathanson, College of Education and William S. Boyd School of Law
- Honorable Mention: Asma Awan, School of Public Health
- Honorable Mention: Jennifer Byrnes, College of Liberal Arts
- Honorable Mention: Sara Hunt, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine
- Honorable Mention: Erica Marti, College of Engineering
- Student Service Award: Makayla Franklin, Hospitality Management Major
- Honorable Mention: Siddharth Raich, Social and Behavioral Health Major
2023 51ԹϺ Community Engagement Award Recipients
- Service-Learning Faculty Award: Christina Demopoulos, School of Dental Medicine
- Community-Based Research Faculty Award: Manoj Sharma, School of Public Health
- Honorable Mention: LeAnne Salazar, College of Education
- Faculty/Staff Outreach Award: Heather Richardson, Student Affairs
- Honorable Mention: Rebecca Nathanson, College of Education and William S. Boyd School of Law
- Student Service Award: Romina Ballesteros-Paniagua, Nutrition Sciences
- Honorable Mention: Kyle Henson, Healthcare Policy and Administration
2022 51ԹϺ Community Engagement Award Recipients
- Service-Learning Faculty Award: Deirdre Clemente, College of Liberal Arts
- Community-Based Research Faculty Award: Edwin Oh, School of Medicine
- Honorable Mention: Renato Liboro, College of Liberal Arts
- Faculty/Staff Community Outreach Award: Laura Kruskall, School of Integrated Health Sciences
- Honorable Mentions: Christine Smith, William S. Boyd School of Law; and Erica Marti, College of Engineering
- Student Service Award: Abriana Perez, College of Sciences
- Honorable Mentions: Zachary Billot, Political Science; Vanessa Booth, Political Science; Kenny Jimison, Journalism; Siddharth Raich, Social and Behavioral Health; and Nicole Santero, Sociology
2021 51ԹϺ Community Engagement Award Recipients
- Service-Learning Faculty Award: Jennifer Nash, School of Integrated Health Sciences
- Honorable Mention: John Starkey, Lee Business School
- Community-Based Research Faculty Award: Patrice Leverett, College of Education
- Honorable Mention: Anne Weisman, School of Medicine
- Faculty/Staff Community Outreach Award: John Starkey, Lee Business School
- Honorable Mentions: Laura Kruskall, School of Integrated Health Sciences; and Tracy Spies, College of Education
- Student Service Award: Ayla Gelsinger, College of Liberal Arts
- Honorable Mentions: Nabeh Nader, Colleges of Sciences and Liberal Arts; David Rice, College of Sciences; and Candace Wells, College of Liberal Arts
2020 51ԹϺ Community Engagement Award Recipients
- Service-Learning Faculty Award: Elena Gandia Garcia, Ph.D., Department of World Languages and Culture, College of Liberal Arts
- Honorable Mentions: Valerie Taylor, Ed.D., Interdisciplinary, Gender, and Ethnic Studies, College of Liberal Arts; Nathan Slife, Ph.D., Department of Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education, College of Education; and Diane Villa, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts
- Community-Based Research Faculty Award: Szu-Ping Lee, Ph.D., Department of Physical Therapy, School of Integrated Health Sciences
- Honorable Mention: Richard Baynosa, M.D., FACS, Division of Plastic Surgery, School of Medicine
- Faculty/Staff Community Outreach Award: Deborah Arteaga, Ph.D., Department of World Languages and Culture, College of Liberal Arts
- Honorable Mentions: Alisha Kerlin, MFA, Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art, College of Fine Arts; and Rebecca Nathanson, Ph.D., Educational Psychology and Higher Education, College of Education and William S. Boyd School of Law
- Student Service Award: Francisco Valenzuela, Undergraduate Student, School of Life Sciences, College of Sciences
- Honorable Mentions: Elizabeth Groesbeck, Graduate Student, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine; and Daynee Rosales, Graduate Student, Department of English, College of Liberal Arts
2019 51ԹϺ Community Engagement Award Recipients
- Service-Learning Faculty Award: Noelle Lefforge, Department of Psychology
- Honorable Mentions: Laura Culley, School of Medicine; and Elena Gandia Garcia, Department of World Languages and Cultures
- Community-Based Research Faculty Award: Jay Shen, School of Community Health Sciences
- Honorable Mention: Patrice Leverett, College of Education
- Faculty/Staff Community Outreach Award: Shekinah Hoffman, International Gaming Institute
- Honorable Mentions: Paul Chestovich, School of Medicine; and Jose Melendrez, School of Community Health Sciences
- Student Service Award: Ginger Christian, School of Medicine
- Honorable Mentions: Donnis Davis, Carmen Hollifield, Kelsey Kincaid, Isami Lines, Mason Montano, and Cole Crosby, School of Medicine; Erdogan Kaya, Department of Teaching and Learning; and Joseph Thomson, Department of History
2018 51ԹϺ Community Engagement Award Recipients
- Service-Learning Faculty Award: Minnie Wood, MS, APRN, ANP-BC, School of Nursing
- Honorable Mentions: Alison Sloat, Ph.D., College of Sciences; and Laura Culley, M.D., M.P.H., School of Medicine
- Community-Based Research Faculty Award: Margaret Alexis Kennedy, Ph.D., Department of Criminal Justice
- Honorable Mentions: Brad Donohue, Ph.D., Department of Psychology; and Andrew Freeman, Ph.D., Department of Psychology
- Faculty/Staff Community Outreach Award: Fatma Nasoz, Ph.D., Department of Computer Science
- Honorable Mentions: Laura Barrera, Esq., William S. Boyd School of Law; and Dr. Christina Demopoulos, School of Dental Medicine
- Student Service Award: Brenna Spector, Department of Film
- Honorable Mentions - Erdogan Kaya, Department of Teaching and Learning; Marwa Maki, School of Medicine; and Kristina Cordes, School of Medicine
2017 Community Engagement Award Recipients
- Service-Learning Faculty Award: Anna C. Smedley-López, Ph.D.
- Community-Based Research Faculty Award: Christie Batson, Ph.D.
- Staff Service Award: Keith Rogers
- Student Service Award: Autumn Spicer