51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ

"Two of the greatest skills I've been able to obtain through my work with the Multicultural Program (MP) are a sense of confidence and advanced leadership skills. Working with the MP since 2013, I've been able to participate in numerous events that have allowed me to work with both current 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ students, local HS students, visiting students, and various professionals and faculty. Holding multiple leadership positions through multiple student organizations within the MP, I was able to learn how to thoroughly embrace students from numerous backgrounds and address them in a manner that allowed me to identify their needs and determine how I could best assist them in achieving their goals. Through the College of Engineering (COE) I was able to build genuine friendships, introduce and welcome K-12 students to 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ and engineering, while also learning to become a much more well-rounded student simultaneously. As my confidence began to grow, I eventually took it amongst myself to start assisting other students as I prepared for graduation. As I currently mentor several students as a 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ alum, I can honestly say that without the opportunities given to me through the MP, I wouldn't be the young professional that I am today. Witnessing what the MP has been able to accomplish throughout the years is what motivates me to be a lifelong advocate and supporter of Dr. J and the MP. The MP has been able to positively impact the lives of many individuals throughout the Las Vegas valley and has been an integral aspect of supporting 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's "Different. Daring. Diverse." mantra as it embraces being a Minority Serving Institution (MSI) and helping all underrepresented students of various backgrounds. From my own experience, Dr. J and the MP contributed towards my education in the form of scholarships throughout my undergraduate years and without these contributions, I wouldn't have been able to complete my education. I've witnessed similar contributions being given to other students who needed additional support, while also providing students who weren't in the colleges that the MP governs employment opportunities to support their collegiate journeys as well. All in all, I'm absolutely thankful for Dr. J and the MP and I want to congratulate them on reaching another great milestone in their existence! Keep being great and positively impacting the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ and Las Vegas communities!"

Darius Jackson

"I participated in the Nevada Summer Transportation Institute (NVSTI) as an incoming high school Junior in 2016, and the program was the catalyst to the new-found sense of purpose, identity, and confidence that I still value deeply today. I got closer to people who changed my life. My roommate during the camp is my roommate in college now, as we both ended up over 2,400 miles away from Las Vegas in the small town of Ithaca, New York. We had our first ever college experiences at the NVSTI-- living in a dorm, eating at the dining hall, listening to lectures, and collaborating on a group project. It is amazing to think about how far we have gone since then. I am so grateful to have gotten closer to her through this camp, and so happy that we were able to reunite two years later at Cornell. In addition to my peers at the camp, the mentors made a lasting impact on me. As I have seen their accomplishments throughout the years--graduating, entering medical school and Ph.D programs--I feel inspired and motivated by their hard work and tenacity. Their graciousness, guidance, and support during the camp has helped me shape my own values and goals, and to this day I look up to them as my role models. Finally, I was touched by the warmth and passion of everyone I encountered. The amount of support I received from start to finish of the project was amazing and I was empowered by the dedication of those around me. Thank you so much, Dr. J, for impacting the lives of so many people and providing this opportunity to us!"

Anita On

"Southwest Gas Corporation has been a supporter and advisor of the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Multicultural Program for over 25 years. We have a strong internship program here at Southwest Gas, and this has been a win-win opportunity for the company and the Multicultural Program. Many students have gone through the internship program and benefited from the work experience and soft skills learned. Several of those students have joined the company as full time employees. The company has also been a regular contributor to the Multicultural Program scholarship fund which has helped many underrepresented minority students pursue their dreams of a career in science or engineering. Additionally, Southwest Gas has been a sponsor of the Nevada Summer Transportation Institute which is coordinated by the Multicultural Program. The company has provided tours of pressure reduction stations and has given demonstrations of the properties of natural gas to support this program. As a strong advocate of building diverse teams in the workplace, Southwest Gas looks forward to continued cooperation, support and reciprocal benefits with the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Multicultural Program."

Jerry Schmitz, P.E., VP/Engineering Staff