Last week, readers of the Sun got a treat in being introduced to Adugna “Adu” Siweya, one of the Las Vegas Valley’s outstanding college graduates this spring.
As reported by Sun staffer Sara MacNeil, Siweya relocated to the United States with an eye toward continuing his career as a pharmacist. But while struggling with the language barrier, he narrowly missed passing an equivalency exam and had to scramble for work.
He then spent 10 years driving a taxi cab in Las Vegas before his daughter enrolled at UNLV and encouraged him to join her. He did, though it required quite a commitment: He had to wake up at 4 a.m. for work, do his time in the cab and then take night classes.
Six years later, the 55-year-old Siweya graduated with a master’s degree in public health, having earned a 3.97 grade-point average. Now, drawing on his personal experiences, he’s hoping to use his degree to spread health awareness among immigrant communities.
Inspirational stories like these make college graduation season a special time in Las Vegas, an annual reminder of the remarkable minds in our community and the commitment of students to academic achievement.
Continuing our tradition, the Sun spotlights some of the outstanding recent grads in our region.
UNLV
• Khadija Bhatti graduated with bachelor’s degrees in biology and political science as well as three minors — addictions treatment, addictions prevention and neuroscience. That’s impressive in and of itself, but even more so considering that Bhatti spent four years in student government, mentored peers through the Honors College and a minority participation program, founded an educational outreach organization for low-income and minority high school students, and was a campus ambassador, among other activities.
• Alvaro Carbonero, who immigrated to the U.S. from Peru at age 18, is a 2020 recipient of the Goldwater Scholarship, the premier undergraduate award for math, natural sciences and engineering. He served as a peer instructor and peer mentor in the Honors College while also co-organizing a student-led digital resource fair for math majors across the country.
• Chengcheng Li, who graduated with a 4.0 GPA and a doctorate in teacher education, did extensive work as a graduate assistant that UNLV credited with raising freshman retention rates and increasing participation among low-income children and teens in UNLV's STEM and math bridge summer camps. Her work also included training secondary school teachers through a professional development workshop funded by a National Science Foundation grant, and collaborating with local teachers to encourage young female students’ interests in STEM fields.
• Nathalie Martinez, who earned bachelor’s degrees in French and anthropology from UNLV, graduated with a number of honors from national academic organizations and with significant contributions in public service to the university. According to the university, she also received “high praise from several professors who called her the best student they’d encountered in their careers.”
• As a child in the Philippines, Lorena Samentar became her family’s breadwinner when her father died. Yet she managed to earn a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of the Philippines, then saved money to come to the U.S. and continue her studies. She received a doctorate in cell and molecular biology with a 3.99 GPA and was selected to the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.
• Michael Schwob, who received a bachelor’s in mathematical sciences, won two major national awards — the Goldwater Scholarship and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship — while founding two new student groups on campus and serving as a student mentor. He also volunteered more than 500 hours to help local low-income students engage with higher education through UNLV’s Army Education Outreach Program, which he helped establish.
Nevada State College
• Naomi Rosen worked toward her bachelor’s degree in deaf studies and minor in interpreting while raising two boys and volunteering in the community. She’s now on her way to becoming one of Nevada State College’s first registered interpreters after passing a qualification exam.
• Carlos Arambula-Quintero’s work in environmental science, including as a student of air quality in non-smoking and smoking areas of several casinos, garnered him several research-related awards. A Dreamer, Arambula-Quintero obtained a bachelor’s degree in environmental and resource science and now plans to seek a Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Utah.
• Yanitza Marmolejos, a first-generation college student and first-generation Dominican American, excelled at NSC, where she earned an undergraduate degree in 2016 and a master’s this year while graduating with a 3.97 GPA. She plans a career in speech-language pathology focusing on early intervention and autism.
• Melissa Camacho earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice while serving the community through NSC’s Criminal Justice Club and the college’s Academic Success Center. She also completed an internship with the Metro Police Family Justice Center and interned for local advocacy organizations.
College of Southern Nevada
• First-generation college student Adrian Edward Bell, a Regents’ Scholar award winner, maintained a 4.0 GPA while working two jobs and balancing multiple extracurricular projects. He graduated with an associate of business degree and plans to continue his education at a four-year school.
• Sharica Lee, 40, stuck with her studies while also taking care of her responsibilities as a mother, caregiver and spouse to her husband, a disabled U.S. Army veteran. She received an associate’s degree in psychology and is scheduled to attend UNLV this fall, where she’ll pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in addictions treatment.
• Amanda “Mandy” Anderson, a Las Vegas native, plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in environmental management — one of three bachelor’s degrees offered by CSN. She obtained her associate’s degree after taking all of her classes online, including science labs.
• Nathacha Nucamendi, also a Las Vegas native, worked two full-time jobs and relied on public transportation while pursuing her associate of arts degree. She’ll now study hospitality management at UNLV.