Volume 7 | Issue 3 | May 2018

FINANCIAL AID, FINALS, AND FUN By Brianna Hermann , Hixson-Lied Success Scholar As the spring 2018 semester comes to a close here at UNLV, there are a few things students should keep in mind before grabbing that towel and heading for the pool. Since registration for Fall 2018 classes began April 16th, it is important to know that your specific enrollment date and time can be found on your MyUNLV account under the Student Services tab. The last day to add courses for the Fall 2018 semester will be the Friday of the first week of classes. Final schedule checks and room assignments are August 13th-24th. On August 27th, classes will begin. For those students hitting the books during the Summer 2018 term, the last day to register for the first session is May 11th, with classes starting on May 14th. For the second session, the last day to register is June 1st, with classes beginning on June 4th. The final day to register for the third session is July 6th, as those classes start on June 9th. Additional information about important dates and deadlines can be found here .

Courses can be stressful and expensive, but luckily, students can apply for financial aid through the UNLV Financial Aid and Scholarships Office. The office will be available for assistance to answer any and all questions all summer long. This is their contact information: Location: Student Services Complex - Building A (SSC-A), Room 232 Office Phone:702-895-3424 Website here Hours: Monday-Wednesday, and Fridays, 8am to 5pm and Thursdays 9am to 5 pm Students can also apply for and accept grants and scholarships through the financial aid office; however, many UNLV scholarships require students to have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) account. A complete list of UNLV scholarships and deadlines can be found here . While all this information is important, the biggest thing on everyone’s mind are finals. Study week began April 30th and ended May 5th. UNLV offered many events during study week to help students stay relaxed and focused during the stressful time. On Monday, April 30th, students came to the Amargosa room in Lied Library for an unforgettable Nature Trek Virtual Reality Experience where students got to explore an astonishing nature walk without ever leaving the building. On Tuesday, May 1st and Wednesday, May 2nd, students could go to the Amargosa room to “paws” for a study break and pet some furry friends. Afterwards, students stayed for the de-stress zone for a quick snack and study break. On Thursday, May 3rd, students attended the Yoga for Stress Relief event sponsored by Fitness4Finals. There was also a 20-minute guided meditation and an art therapy session in the Pioche Room in Lied Library. Finals week is May 7th to the 12th, so make sure to study hard and stay focused, Rebels.

PREMIER UNLV PHOTO RELEASE VIEWING By Paige Burns, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar Last month, UNLV’s Rebel Events Board hosted the Premier UNLV Photo Release Party. This event was held in the Pida Plaza in front of the Student Union and gave students the opportunity to view photos from the Fall 2017 UNLV Premier. If you have never heard of UNLV Premier, the Rebel Events Board hosts the event at the start of every fall academic semester. UNLV Premier is a campus tradition and is a huge event for our school. This is a get-together for all students to enjoy food, music, entertainment, and the main attraction: the spelling out of “UNLV.” The students attending get into a formation to spell out these letters and a photo is taken. This event occurs every year and is free for all students to attend. At the Photo Release Party, students were able to get a keychain with the photo from the Fall 2017 Premier event. There was also the opportunity to get a yummy mini bundt cake while snagging your keychain! In front of the Student Union, two tables were used: one for student check-in and one to display the keychains and the bundt cakes. Many students were present, as there was music and snacks provided. Organizers such as Alexis Shebay, who was in charge of planning the 2017 Premier, and Donald Wilkinson were helping to run the event to ensure things went smoothly. This brought many students together as we all enjoyed our sweet treats and added our new keychains to our backpacks. The event was a huge success, as all of the bundt cakes were handed out to students. Overall, it was an amazing event where students reminisced about last year’s UNLV Premier. The Rebel Events Board did a great job to promote UNLV Premier and celebrate the success of Premier 2017, while students could enjoy a dessert, spend time with friends, and listen to music.

GRADUATING FROM UNLV  By Yana Ryjova, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar

My name is Yana Ryjova, and I am a senior Hixson-Lied Scholar. This semester, I am graduating Summa Cum Laude with my bachelor’s degree in Psychology. I am incredibly thankful for all of the opportunities and experiences I have had at UNLV, and I am so excited to be graduating as a proud Rebel! I have gained so much from being a Hixson-Lied Scholar during my time at UNLV. Firstly, I have gained a community of support, including a group of mentors who have helped me whenever I was struggling and a group of peers who I can call my friends. Additionally, this program has given me the chance to give back to my campus community. I have loved serving as a peer mentor for the Academic Success Center’s first-year seminar course and feel like I have been able to make a difference helping many students with their transitions to college. Finally, I could not have completed college without the generous support of our donor, Ms. Hixson, who has created this program because of her belief that ordinary individuals can make big changes. In addition to being a Hixson-Lied Scholar, I have been incredibly involved in undergraduate research and have found my passion working in many diverse research labs on campus. During my time at UNLV, I have been able to complete an Honors Thesis, looking at infant speech preferences, and have been able to complete an independent research project examining what UNLV students learn from taking a second-year seminar course. As it turns out, students really improve in their inquiry, critical thinking, and communication skills as a result of such a course! I even got to present these findings at the biggest educational psychology research conference in the United States, the American Educational Research Association. Although I have loved my time at UNLV, after graduation, I will have to leave the school that I call home. After graduation, I am going to pursue my Ph.D. degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Southern California (USC) on a full-ride scholarship! I would not have been able to accomplish this without the amazing opportunities that I have found at UNLV or the wonderful mentors that I have worked with. I truly cannot believe that I am graduating so soon, but I am excited for what is ahead. I’ll miss you UNLV!

MY ENDEAVORS AS A REBEL  By Bridget Manguiat , Hixson-Lied Success Scholar Hello, my name is Bridget Manguiat, and I am a senior here at UNLV and a Hixson-Lied Success Scholar with the Academic Success Center. In Spring 2019, I will be expecting to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Design. In my time here at UNLV, I’ve gone through many experiences in order to better understand myself and my style within the Graphic Design program. Even now, I am still experiencing so many new things to add to my skill set. To introduce myself more, I graduated from Southeast Career and Technical Academy where I majored in nursing. After I participated in clinicals at Desert Springs Hospital, I decided that it was not for me and that I missed having some form of art in my life. Once I came to UNLV, I decided to take the risk and make a one-eighty jump from medicine into art. It was not a simple decision, and it most certainly was not always easy throughout the semesters. At some point, I got a job at the UNLV/CSUN preschool on campus, wondering if maybe I wanted to go into education instead. Needless to say, I decided to stay in my current major in graphic design for various reasons. For me, it has always been difficult deciding what to put my focus on because I like so many things and dislike very few things. It is difficult to distinguish just how much I like certain subjects or activities. Even when I don’t like certain activities, I still end up putting my best effort into it.

Along with my job as a teacher’s assistant, I also took up a minor in marketing. Marketing is a great balance of many things I like as a whole—design, anthropology, sociology, and psychology. As of now, my post-graduation plans are a bundle of possibilities. I started aiming to be a teacher in graphic design for technical high schools as my main goal; however, it depends on how I like my marketing classes which I am currently taking. I might pursue that instead. As it is now, graduate school is slowly becoming a possibility, as that was not my original plan. The Hixson-Lied Success Scholars Program has been a great resource for enhancing my professional skills. In general, it’s been a great support system to have. Overall, I’ve learned that while school is important, taking care of my mental and physical health has been just as important, and that goes for every major. I’ve learned that just saying “I won’t give up” won’t make anything come true and that I need to move and take action if I want anything to happen. Knowing my limits, knowing who my friends are, knowing who I can talk to, and knowing that it’s okay to struggle were the biggest takeaways. It’s never a bad thing to ask questions. Asking questions means you’re willing to learn and try something new. You’re not alone. There are people who care about you and wish you the best in life. It may not seem like it sometimes, but they’re there. Be the best version of yourself, because it’ll work out somehow if you’re always trying your best. The people that matter most are going to see you putting your best efforts into what you’re doing and support you in whatever you decide you want or don’t want to do. You just have to remember that every tunnel has a light somewhere peeking through. Life as an undergrad is simply part of the very beginning of your entire first step in life. It is absolutely normal to go through a discovery period, or even a rediscovery period, of yourself. You’re going to learn more about yourself than you ever have, and through those endeavors, you’ll definitely grow. Know your strengths, know your limits, but most of all, just know that everything will be alright.

GRADUATING SCHOLAR  By Mario Verduzco , Hixson-Lied Success Scholar

Earlier today, I finally took the time to pick up my cap and gown from the UNLV bookstore. For the first time this semester, I finally realized that I am graduating. I heard it for the entire semester, “Wow Mario, you are almost done,” but the reality of it did not hit me until I was walking out of the bookstore with my cap and gown in my hand. As I was walking to meet my friend, I began reflecting on my time here at UNLV. For four years, I did homework, studied for exams, and listened to lectures all to receive a piece of paper; however, even though I did do a lot of “school things,” I feel that these four years at UNLV have given me much more than just a piece of paper. I met so many amazing people and have developed awesome relationships; I have experienced tons of new things and have been forced to push the boundaries of my comfort zone to places I never could imagine. During my time here, I have been a part of many groups and organizations, and each and every single one has added to my experience. I had the privilege of becoming a Hixson-Lied Scholar which has helped me both financially and academically. The organization and its amazing leadership team enabled me to become a leader in our community and leverage my own skills and experience in order to mentor and help others. I am also a proud member of the Howard Hughes College of Engineering pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. This major and its faculty have helped me become a professional engineer who can tackle any problem thrown at me. I have also had the opportunity to intern with Intel Corp. and learn how modern engineering is applied to the real world. Although I am counting the days until graduation, I am so thankful for UNLV. This school has given me many opportunities, but just like every great chapter in a book, my chapter here at UNLV has come to an end. This summer, I will be working for Intel Corp. for the second year in a row as a graduate student intern, and in the fall, I will be beginning my graduate studies at the University of California, San Diego. I look forward to continuing to grow both personally and academically, but I will never forget my original alma mater because I will forever be a Runnin’ Rebel.

ONE MORE LAP UNTIL THE FINISH LINE By Sarah Mirjavadi , Hixson-Lied Success Scholar Who would have thought that four years at UNLV and being a Hixson-Lied Scholar would have come and gone so quickly? It feels just like yesterday I walked into my first college course, not sure of what to expect. It was especially scary hearing all the horror stories of what my major entailed. With that, I can proudly say that I will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences next fall. So why did I decide to torture myself with biology as my major? Ever since I was young, I’ve always wanted to become a veterinarian and that career pretty much ensured that a pre-professional biology degree was the path I needed to take. I did not find all the classes I had to take painful. I did enjoy learning about different topics pertaining to science, even if they weren’t a biology class. Being a part of the Hixson-Lied Success Scholars Program is what kept me moving forward to strive for success. Not many students get the luxury of having a great group of faculty and staff willing to hold your hand through college while at the same time, letting you discover what works best for you. Having an academic coach to guide me and help me with time management and good study habits played a large role in keeping me on track. Peer mentoring first-year students once a week not only strengthened my presentation skills but made me realize the impact I can have on people. For most of my life, I will be mentoring owners on how to care for their pets and can use that valuable experience to do it effectively. Our monthly meetings topped everything off with other professional skills I can take with me during my long career. Besides Hixson-Lied, I spent the last three years being involved in a pre-health honors organization called Alpha Epsilon Delta, or AED. Through AED, I was able to get involved with the community and gain animal experience with the Heaven Can Wait Feral Cat Clinic, which is the committee I co-chair. Being put in a leadership position relating to my career really did inspire me to work harder. Another milestone during my stay at UNLV has been getting into Dr. Frank van Breukelen’s research lab. In lab, we work with the species Tenrec ecaudatus . Besides being able to apply my knowledge of biology, I really enjoy caring for these critters. They encourage me to specialize in both small and exotic animals in the future. All in all, my stay at UNLV exceeded my expectations. I never would have thought that shy Sarah would have become so involved on campus. I got to meet some wonderful people along the way and made many good memories. I look forward to what next semester has to offer. I will be sure to reflect on everything I’ve learned and experienced at UNLV when I attend my future school of veterinary medicine.

PUZZLE MAKING AND RISK TAKING By Brenna Spector, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar

College is a time for growth, discovery, and hard work. Oftentimes, there are so many moving parts, that it can seem as though one is trying to piece together an impossible jigsaw puzzle. It certainly felt like it did for me numerous times throughout my time spent in college. However, as I complete my degree this May, I have been able to reflect upon my experience with surprise and even a little pride. One of the long-standing themes of my time in college has been moving out of my comfort zone and learning about new things. Entering college as a film major, a whole new world opened up to me. Hinging on the simple and singular love of photography and visual storytelling, I decided to major in film my senior year of high school despite the fact that I had no previous experience with it. Once I began my first semester, I worked my hardest to be involved on film sets and tried out various roles within the film industry. Throughout my four years, I wrote and directed a short film as well as directed and shot a long form documentary on the process of building a concert marimba. I even briefly switched my major to jazz composition and explored improvisation and music theory. As I will be graduating with my bachelor's degree in Film Studies this May, I can recognize with happiness that I never failed to take risks throughout my time in college.

One of the reasons I was able to follow my interests and take risks during my college experience has been the scholarships I have been so fortunate enough to receive. As a Hixson-Lied Success Scholar, I was able to receive the academic and financial support to help me through college. Every month, I attended meetings with academic success coaches who gave me the support I needed to succeed in areas such as campus resources, time management, and even other personal issues that arose. The reduction of financial stress the scholarship afforded me also helped with navigating my degree with much more ease. Without the supportive campus nucleus that the Hixson-Lied scholarship provided, college would have been much more difficult. With graduation sneaking up on me and my fellow May graduates, the pressure to have our futures planned out mounts like a pile of growing laundry. As the days and weeks go on, more and more thoughts and concerns pile up. The quest becomes not only to assemble the complex pieces of the college puzzle, but then connect those pieces to the larger puzzle of life. "What are you going to do?" and "Are you staying here or relocating?" buzz constantly in daily interactions. In my own meditations on these questions and my future, I seem to focus on my most basic, big picture wishes and desires. Granted that I am fortunate enough to live to old age, I hope to reflect on the positive ways in which I impacted those close to me and those in my daily interactions throughout my life. I want to be like the people I look up to now: confident, wise, disciplined, and loving. Striving to attain these traits and a lifestyle that affords me to do so transcends the immediate 'when' and 'where' of the now. As long as my short-term decisions are always informed by my larger goals in life, I am able to find and reach my peace.

Congratulations, Graduates!

MEET OUR DONORS

Ms. Christina M. Hixson Ms. Christina M. Hixson graduated from high school in Clarinda, Iowa and moved to Omaha, Nebraska to attend business school. She later went to work for Mr. Ernst F. Lied , a car dealership owner in Omaha and in 1960 she joined Mr. Lied in Las Vegas, Nevada as his assistant. After Mr. Lied’s death in 1980, Ms. Hixson became the sole trustee of the Lied Foundation Trust and turned the Lied Foundation Trust into one of the largest foundations in the state of Nevada at that time. Ms. Hixson has a special understanding of young people who, like her, came from a challenging family background and are willing to work hard.

Mr. Ernst F. Lied Mr. Ernst F. Lied was born in Columbus, Ohio and attended the University of Kansas for two years, where he played on the golf team. He ultimately graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1927. Mr. Lied became a Buick dealer in Omaha, Nebraska and later his dealership was ranked third in the country for the number of cars sold. Mr. Lied established his charitable foundation in 1972, and upon his death in 1980 at age 74 nearly his entire estate funded the Lied Foundation Trust. Lied Foundation Trust has enhanced the capabilities of many schools and enriched the quality of many lives!

*All photos used are original, can be found on unlv.edu, UNLV social media,have references indicated, or require no attribution.

Visit the ASC Website

UNLV | Academic Success Center | (702) 895-3177| asc@unlv.edu| www.unlv.edu/asc

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