Spring Commencement Highlights Academic Excellence Among UNLV Graduates
Celebrating the Class of 2026 at the University of Nevada Las Vegas
On May 15 and 16, 2026, the Thomas & Mack Center will host thousands of new UNLV graduates as they cross the stage to receive their diplomas. The Spring Commencement ceremonies represent the culmination of years of rigorous study, personal sacrifice, and community engagement. Among the more than 3,700 degree earners hailing from 34 states and 62 countries, six students have been selected as outstanding graduates who exemplify the highest standards of Academic Excellence at the University of Nevada Las Vegas.
These honorees demonstrate that achievement extends far beyond classroom performance. Their stories encompass groundbreaking research, community service, professional innovation, and leadership in fields ranging from geoscience and medicine to mathematics and urban policy. For prospective students and families evaluating universities in the USA, these profiles offer a concrete picture of what becomes possible when institutional resources meet student ambition.
Submit your application today to join a community where academic achievement and real-world impact go hand in hand.
Research-Driven Solutions to Global Challenges
Gare Ambrose-Igho: Addressing Water Scarcity Through Geoscience
Water scarcity remains one of the most pressing challenges facing Nevada and the world. Gare Ambrose-Igho, a Ph.D. candidate in Geoscience, has dedicated her graduate career to developing mathematical models that predict groundwater availability and agricultural irrigation needs. Originally from Nigeria—a nation where millions lack reliable access to clean drinking water—Gare brings personal urgency to her research.
Her work required years of persistent effort, including digging through unorganized and undigitized data to create accurate maps of well locations. The resulting models account for population growth, climate change, and pollution, offering actionable insights for regions across West Africa. Beyond academia, Gare applied her expertise through a Nevada Gold Mines fellowship, where she mapped well sites, analyzed groundwater samples, and contributed to an interactive museum exhibit designed to teach children about environmental science.
Gare’s accomplishments carry additional significance because she pursued them in a historically white male-dominated field, earning a 3.9 GPA while balancing leadership roles in the African Student Alliance and the Association for Women Geoscientists. She has since joined the Texas Water Development Board as a hydrologist, continuing her mission to develop solutions that alleviate human suffering caused by water scarcity.
Zachary Diaz: Bridging Biology, Neuroscience, and Emergency Medicine
Zachary Diaz graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a 3.96 GPA, but his accomplishments extend well beyond grades. As a future physician-scientist, Zachary has combined clinical experience with cutting-edge research, earning the 2026 Nevada Centennial Medallion and multiple National Science Foundation scholar awards along the way.
His research portfolio includes work on eye tissue regeneration—expected to contribute to a forthcoming journal publication—as well as a NASA-funded neuroscience internship examining how spaceflight affects sensory and motor skills. He will present these findings to the Aerospace Medical Association, demonstrating the caliber of research conducted by UNLV graduates.
Zachary’s commitment to service is equally notable. After a super typhoon struck his native Guam, he returned home to help displaced families secure shelter and emergency supplies. Locally, he has worked as a clinical research assistant in the University Medical Center’s emergency room, gathering data to improve emergency medicine protocols, and supported pharmacy operations at Nellis Air Force Base. He also collaborated with the Desert Research Institute to develop STEM curriculum for second-grade students in the Clark County School District.
Innovation at the Intersection of Academics and Industry
Taylor Gauthier: Mathematics, Computer Science, and Gaming Analytics
Taylor Gauthier’s undergraduate career defies conventional expectations. As a Division I student-athlete competing in Track & Field and Cross Country, she simultaneously completed dual bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science through the UNLV Honors College. Her discipline earned her three Mountain West Conference Scholar-Athlete awards, the Nevada Gold Mines Scholarship, and consistent placement on the Dean’s Honors List.
What sets Taylor apart is her ability to translate academic knowledge into industry value. During internships with engineering and gaming companies, she designed, developed, and sold an original casino game math model to DraftKings in 2025—a remarkable achievement for an undergraduate student. She also conducted National Science Foundation-funded research on machine learning and served as a student ambassador for the College of Engineering, training tour guides and leading outreach efforts for prospective students.
Taylor’s trajectory illustrates how the University of Nevada Las Vegas leverages its location in a global gaming and entertainment hub to provide students with unique professional opportunities that complement rigorous academic training.
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Service and Advocacy in Psychology and Community Health
Giana Honorio: First-Generation Excellence in Neuroscience and Psychology
Graduating college as a first-generation immigrant presents challenges that statistics document but rarely capture in full. Giana Honorio not only navigated these challenges but excelled, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience through the Honors College—funding her entire education through scholarships and grants, including NASA-supported awards and the Bennett Honors Scholarship.
Gania converted her academic interests into direct service. She worked as a physical therapy technician, volunteered in hospice care, and assisted with the Eighth Judicial Court’s addiction and mental health diversion program. As an intern with UNR Extension’s Hope for Family Resilience Program, she helped empower domestic violence survivors and supported substance abuse recovery efforts. Her undergraduate thesis examined teaching practices for students with autism, and she spent time in Italy enhancing her study of child development.
Currently, Giana works as a research assistant in UNLV’s BRaIN laboratory, analyzing the effects of sleep deprivation, alcohol, and space radiation on behavior. Her profile demonstrates how Academic Excellence and community service reinforce each other when students receive proper institutional support.
Mayahuel Velazquez: Auditory Research and Mental Health Advocacy
Mayahuel Velazquez graduates with a 3.88 GPA, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and a minor in Family Studies. For two years, she served as a research assistant in UNLV’s Auditory Cognition and Development Lab, studying how children and adolescents develop responses to unfamiliar sounds—a line of inquiry with implications for music education and cognitive development. Her work earned a best poster presentation award at UNLV’s undergraduate research symposium and recognition as Research Assistant of the Year in 2025.
Maya’s service record spans multiple organizations. She served as secretary of the Psi Chi International Honor Society, worked as a peer mentor through the Outreach Undergraduate Mentoring Program, and completed an internship at UNLV’s Mojave Counseling Adult Psychiatry and Mental Health Clinic, where she led groups focused on symptom management, mindfulness, and anger management. She also volunteered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness and Three Square, assisting with meal-packing initiatives for children and senior community meal distributions.
Maya has been accepted to all of her top-choice graduate programs and will pursue a master’s degree in couple and family therapy from UNLV’s Kerkorian School of Medicine—a decision that reflects confidence in the university’s graduate offerings.
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Leadership in Urban Policy and Food Systems
Kelli Kelly: Combating Food Insecurity Through Policy and Direct Action
Kelli Kelly’s work demonstrates that graduate education can drive immediate, measurable community impact. While pursuing a Master of Arts in Urban Leadership with a near-perfect GPA, she served as executive director of the Fallon Food Hub, where she secured $1.25 million in funding to prevent farm closures, distributed 105,000 pounds of food to 3,500 households—including tribal communities—and strengthened connections between growers and local businesses.
Her policy contributions are equally significant. Kelli contributed to statewide food insecurity research for the Guinn Center, co-authored a forthcoming white paper on state-level food systems policy, and led development of Nevada Assembly Bill 352, which expands sales limits for cottage food operations and was unanimously adopted by the legislature. As a Nevada Small Business Development Center advisor, she helped launch 40 new ventures.
Kelli’s profile illustrates how the University of Nevada Las Vegas positions graduate students to address systemic challenges through a combination of research, direct service, and policy advocacy. She continues to serve in multiple governance roles and is developing a regional toolkit to support municipal planning in Southern Nevada.
What These Profiles Reveal About UNLV’s Educational Model
The six outstanding UNLV graduates of Spring 2026 share common threads that offer insights for prospective students and their families. Each honoree combined rigorous coursework with research, service, or professional experience—often all three simultaneously. Each leveraged university resources, from honors programs and research labs to fellowships and internship networks, to extend their learning beyond the classroom. And each addressed real problems: water scarcity, medical conditions, food insecurity, mental health, educational access, and industry innovation.
The Spring Commencement ceremonies will celebrate these achievements alongside those of thousands of other graduates. But for those considering where to pursue higher education in the USA, these stories provide specific, verifiable evidence of what the University of Nevada Las Vegas makes possible for students who arrive with ambition and willingness to work.
Explore our related articles for further reading on academic programs, research opportunities, and student outcomes at UNLV.
Looking Ahead: The Impact of the Class of 2026
As these graduates transition into careers and advanced study, their work will continue to ripple outward. Gare Ambrose-Igho will influence water policy in Texas and beyond. Zachary Diaz will contribute to emergency medicine and neuroscience research. Taylor Gauthier will shape gaming analytics and machine learning applications. Giana Honorio and Mayahuel Velazquez will advance mental health care and family therapy. Kelli Kelly will continue driving policy changes that affect food access across Nevada.
For the University of Nevada Las Vegas, their success reflects the institution’s broader mission: to produce graduates who do not merely earn degrees but who use their education to solve problems and improve communities. The Spring Commencement of 2026 marks not an ending, but the beginning of these contributions.
Share your experiences in the comments below—what does academic excellence mean to you, and how do you see education creating impact in your community?
