Thursday, April 22, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

ON THE SCENE: Former astronaut Ride speaks at UNLV Foundation dinner

UNLV President Carol Harter, left, and UNLV Foundation Chairman Terry Wright, right, honor Sonja and Michael Saltman, who received a Palladium Society Award on behalf of the Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution. COURTESY PHOTOS UNLV PHOTO SERVICES Sally Ride, from left, Aurora Wong and Buck Wong attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Foundation donor recognition dinner Saturday. Ride was the distinguished speaker at the event. Steve and Janet Linder attend the 16th annual UNLV Foundation donor recognition dinner at Bellagio. UNLV history professor Hal Rothman, center, is congratulated by Carol Harter, left, and Terry Wright after receiving the Harry Reid Silver State Research Award during the UNLV Foundation donor recognition dinner. Larissa Youens, on stilts, welcomes guests Brian Beckner, left, and Eddie Torres to the Epicurean Affair. Kristie Morrison, from left, Irina VanDePol, Emilee Barlow and Kristen Owens wait to serve arriving guests margaritas and Dr Pepper tacos at the annual Epicurean Affair. Tonya Tovias and Richard Hanano flash smiles for the camera during the 14th annual Epicurean Affair recently at Caesars Palace. Karen and Marshall Andrew enjoy the specialty fare during the Epicurean Affair at Caesars Palace last week. Photo by MARIAN UMHOEFER/REVIEW-JOURNAL

New members of the Palladium Society were announced along with the winner of the Harry Reid Silver State Research Award Saturday during the UNLV Foundation's 16th annual donor recognition dinner at Bellagio.

The evening began with a private reception hosted by Wells Fargo for the event's distinguished speaker, Sally Ride, the first American woman in space and now a physics professor at the University of California, San Diego.

Reception guests included University of Nevada, Las Vegas President Carol Harter and her husband Michael Harter, Jay and Tamara Kornmayer, Mendy Elliott, Mark Brown, John Gallagher, Dee and Don Snyder, Claudine Williams, Elaine Wynn, Carolyn Sparks, J.A. Tiberti, Ralph and Sandra Litton, Joyce Mack, Rene and John O'Reilly, Lulu and Jack Lehman, Sherry and Bruce Layne, Nancy and Kell Houssels, Liz and Pete Gibson, Patty and Kevin Page, Phyllis Griffith, and university Regents Stavros Anthony, Doug Hill, Thalia Dondero and Mark Alden.

The private reception was followed by cocktails in the ballroom's foyer and then the dinner. The beautifully set formal tables were covered in gold brocade with a profusion of red roses as centerpieces. Foundation trustee Kitty Rodman heads the special projects committee that organized the event.

UNLV Foundation Chairman Terry Wright welcomed the guests and introduced the UNLV Jazz Combo that entertained before dinner.

The meal included a radicchio cup of field greens, dried cherries, raisins and candied pecans with raspberry-honey dressing; an entree of Muscovy duck leg with lobster ravioli; and dessert of strawberry tiramisu. Southern Wine & Spirits provided the dinner wines.

Wright and Carol Harter presented the Palladium Society Awards to those who have contributed $1 million to the university. This year's five inductees join a group of 69. Inductees included the city of Las Vegas for its commitment to provide $150,000 annually to support UNLV-TV and two other local programming partners for Channel 70; Monsanto Co. for its gift of 11 high-end Sun computers enabling UNLV researchers to accelerate their studies in bioinformatics; Sun Microsystems for 11 software licenses to facilitate the bioinformatics research; Sonja and Michael Saltman for the Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution, a program emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to resolving disputes; and Sierra Health Services/Health Plan of Nevada for helping to fund the Science, Engineering and Technology Building.

Hal Rothman, chairman of the history department at UNLV, received the Harry Reid Silver State Research Award.

Ride was introduced by foundation first vice chairman Jay Kornmayer, representing Wells Fargo as presenting sponsor, and Mark Brown, chief executive officer of Brown & Partners, as supporting sponsor.

Ride took her first historic trip into space on the space shuttle Challenger June 18, 1983. While showing photos of her space travel on two video screens, Ride told the UNLV audience about her 343 hours in space.

Special guests at the dinner included Audrey and Barry McCool, parents of the late astronaut William McCool.

Also in attendance were Beverly and Jim Rogers, Wing Fong, Joann Levy, Mannetta Braunstein, Jackie Leonard, Karen Borgman, Joseph and Joan Lapan, Irmalee and Ian Ross, Joyce Schneider, Jeanne Hood, Michael O'Dowd and Eva Higgins.

Food and fun: The 14th annual Epicurean Affair took place April 15 in the Garden of the Gods pool area at Caesars Palace. The evening showcased Las Vegas' top restaurants and nightclubs.

This night of indulgence topped off Las Vegas' 25th annual International Hotel & Restaurant Show.

More than a thousand guests sampling the finest in cuisine joined Van Heffner, president and chief executive officer of the Nevada Hotel & Lodging Association and Nevada Restaurant Association, and Caesars Palace President Mark Juliano and his wife, Jacqueline.

Proceeds from the event will benefit scholarship programs for Nevada schools.

In addition to sampling food and libations, the event included extravagant food displays and entertainment.

Preceding this event was the International Hospitality Awards Luncheon where Paymon Raouf, owner of Paymon's Mediterranean Café & Lounge, Hookah Lounge and the Mediterranean Gourmet Market, was honored as the Nevada Restaurateur of the Year.

Hawaiian nuptials: The wedding of James "Jim" Michael Rhodes and Glynda Ann Jenkins took place in Maui, Hawaii, on April 4. The couple flew 77 family and friends from Las Vegas to the islands. All were their guests at the Grand Wailea Hotel for a week in celebration of their marriage.

The groom is the son of Betsy Rhodes and the late Leonard Rhodes. The bride is the daughter of Betty and Doug Thompson of Pioche.

The wedding took place April 8 at the Wailea Seaside Chapel at the hotel. The Rev. Ron Winkler performed the traditional service.

John Rhodes, the groom's brother, did a reading and offered a personal message of faith, love and devotion for the new family as a part of the ceremony.

Michael Rhodes, the groom's oldest son, served as best man. The groom's two brothers, John and Steven Rhodes, served as ushers.

The bride wore a beaded white satin halter-style gown with a full tulle skirt. A tiara held the cathedral-length veil. The bride's oldest son, Devon Zec, escorted his mother down the aisle and gave her away in marriage.

Annie Dobbs-Kolenda as matron of honor attended the bride.

Ryan Rhodes and Jared Zec spread rose petals preceding the ceremony. Austin Zec carried the rings down the aisle.

The reception took place on the Grand Wailea's outdoor patio with a formal dinner and dancing in the ballroom. Each guest received a crystal box filled with silver heart candies. The wedding cake was decorated with fresh red roses on a silver carriage cake stand. There was a special buffet table for the junior guests with a menu to delight the children's palates, including an ice cream sundae bar.

Michael Rhodes proposed the toast to the bride and groom. For the reception, the bride changed into a fitted peau de soie gown with a beaded bodice with beaded shoulder and crossing back straps and a tulip skirt.

On returning to their rooms after the wedding, guests found a bottle of Dom Perignon engraved for the occasion.

The newlyweds will reside in Las Vegas.