Two UNLV students, undergraduate Kelli Jones and graduate student Cheryl Radeloff, are slated to receive Regent Scholar Awards from the Board of Regents of the University and Community College System of Nevada.
The women, who each will receive a $5,000 stipend as part of the award, were recommended for the honor by UNLV President Carol C. Harter. The awards recognize academic accomplishments, on- and off-campus leadership contributions, and the potential for continued success.
Jones is a special education major who works at the UNLV preschool with students who have developmental delays. Jones, who is in her senior year, also volunteers her time at the Andre Agassi Boys and Girls Club, serving as a role model for youngsters from diverse backgrounds.
In nominating Jones for the award, special education professor Colleen Thoma said, "Kelli is a leader in the classroom and in the community. She is working on independent research and learning, something that is not often offered to an undergraduate student in this department, and she is already using her knowledge to impact the lives of kids."
Radeloff, a sociology doctoral candidate who is serving her second year as president of the Graduate Student Association (GSA), was nominated by Paul Ferguson, dean of the Graduate College.
"Cheryl has demonstrated an untiring commitment to improving the welfare of graduate students at UNLV and has brought a clear sense of mission and professionalism to the operations of the GSA," he said.
In a letter supporting Radeloff's nomination, sociology professor Barbara Brents said, "Cheryl is the most dedicated, insightful, and engaged student that I have worked with in the 12 years I have been at UNLV. She is a natural intellectual. I have seen few students as immersed in ideas and the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake as Cheryl."
Radeloff teaches introductory sociology classes and selected courses in the women's studies program. She also has presented a number of papers at national conferences.
The Regent Scholar Awards will be on the March agenda of the Board of Regents.
